Learning that your child has a brain or spinal cord tumor is scary. This diagnosis is received by approximately 5,000 children in the United States each year. The Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology team at Riley Children’s Health and the IU Health Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center treat children diagnosed with brain or spinal cord tumors.
While the diagnosis of a brain or spinal cord tumor is scary, you can be rest assured knowing that your child's Riley Children's care team will work hard to provide the best treatment options. You will be surrounded and supported by a team that will provide the in-depth information you need in order to be informed and make decisions along with a treatment plan that works for your family.
The care of patients with brain and spinal cord tumors requires multiple specialists viewing and treating the condition from all angles. The Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health provides this integrative care approach. Each member of your child's care team is an expert in their own area of care. In addition to neurosurgery and neuro-oncology, your child’s team may include providers from:
- Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Neuroradiology
- Ophthalmology
- Radiation Oncology
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
These specialists work together to treat the whole patient. This collaboration ensures shared knowledge and communication between all team members. Our holistic approach allows for the best possible care and treatment plan for your child.
Why Choose Riley Children's?
Why Choose Riley Children's?
When your family comes to Riley Children's, you have access to a comprehensive children’s health system that cares for a population of more than 1 million children a year. We care for more than 80% of children with cancer in Indiana. Our Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program serves more than 80 newly diagnosed patients each year.
Superior high-level care. Riley Children's is one of a few hospitals across the nation that’s able to provide care for children with brain and spinal cord tumors with multiple pediatric specialists working together.
Dedicated knowledge and expertise. Our team is made up of specially trained pediatric specialists who are involved in each patient’s diagnosis and treatment planning from the earliest stages.
Multidisciplinary approach. Our program has weekly multidisciplinary meetings to discuss the progress of patients and to gain insights from multiple specialists involved in your child's treatment plan and care.
Extensive research. The comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children's Health is led by a team that is always looking for ways to improve the care provided for children with brain and spinal cord tumors. Our discoveries take place in our practices, operating rooms and laboratories which directly affect your child's health. Our team is actively involved in research projects to improve the understanding of why brain and spinal cord tumors occur while continuing to develop better treatment plans.
Proton Therapy Center Collaboration
Proton radiation therapy delivers precise radiation to target tumors and limits effect on surrounding tissue. It is used in the treatment of many pediatric brain and spinal cord tumors. Currently, there is no proton center in the state of Indiana. When needed, our team collaborates with colleagues at these institutions:
- University of Cincinnati Health Proton Therapy in Cincinnati
- Northwestern Proton Center in Chicago
- St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center in Memphis, Tenn.
- S. Lee Kling Proton Therapy Center in St. Louis
Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials
We understand that research done today will make patient care better tomorrow. Lessons learned in labs and clinical trials are applied to the daily and long-term treatment plans of our patients. Our program is currently a member of the following consortiums:
Conditions & Services
Conditions Treated
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
Services Offered
We offer a number of different Comprehensive Neuro-Oncology Program services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our program.
Doctors and
Locations
Doctors
The expert team of doctors with the Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children's focuses specifically on the treatment of children with brain and spinal cord tumors.
Locations
Locations
Riley Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders
575 Riley Hospital Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Riley Pediatric Neurology
1030 W Michigan St
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Resources
Resources
The Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children’s Hospital at IU Health has curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.
Resources
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American Brain Tumor Association
The goal of this national association is to aid in funding brain tumor research and providing information and education about all tumor types in all age groups.
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The American Cancer Society is a national, community-based volunteer health organization that is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Learn more about brain and spinal cord tumors in children.
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Children's Oncology Group (COG)
The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a National Cancer Institute supported clinical trials group, is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research.
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Little Red Door is an Indiana-based cancer advocacy and support organization offering services for cancer patients, resources for those in need and information on cancer prevention.
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Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF)
PBFT is a non-profit organization that provides leadership and funding to accelerate the number of targeted therapies for children battling brain tumors today, while equipping families with the patient family education, financial relief and emotional support they need to navigate their child's journey.
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Our Child Life Specialists use therapeutic interventions to help children have a normal childhood despite illnesses and hospitalization.
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Regardless of your ability to pay, Riley at IU Health believes in caring for all patients.
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Our nutrition team will work with you and your child to make sure you have the tools you need to make sound dietary choices and manage your child’s condition at home.
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If you're coming to Riley at IU Health for outpatient cancer care, our on-site pharmacy can fill any necessary medications for your child to be picked up before you leave.
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The Safety Store at Riley at IU Health sells child safety products and provides free injury prevention education and on-site helmet and car seat fittings. Indiana residents can order products from the store's webpage.
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With our school program, your child does not have to miss out on important education while receiving treatment.
Related Programs & Departments
Related Programs & Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. In addition to the links to our related programs & departments below, Riley Children's also offers the following programs:
- Cancer Predisposition Program
- Clinic for Non-Surgical Incidental Lesions
- Clinic for Survivors of Brain Tumors
- Neurofibromatosis Program
- Neuropsychology Screening Program
- Fertility Preservation Program
Related Stories
Related Stories
Signs your child may have a brain tumor
The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children's Health offers care when your child experiences a brain or spinal cord tumor. Read on to learn how you can best support your kid on their journey.
Continue readingHealth Professionals
For Health Professionals
Healthcare professionals can refer patients by contacting our brain tumor coordinator by phone at 317.274.8586 or email at rileybraintumor@iuhealth.org, or you can send a fax to 317.274.8587.
Refer A Patient
Riley Children's works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.
Refer A PatientResearch
In partnership with the Indiana University Health Simon Cancer Center, the Comprehensive Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at Riley Children’s Hospital at IU Health participates in research that gives our patients access to the newest developments and treatments for brain and spinal cord tumors.
Research is conducted through the Molecular Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics research group at the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research. The center conducts basic science research as well as translational research. Translational research allows the science innovations discovered in the lab to support the day-to-day work inside the clinical practice.
Researchers within the Wells Center receive more than $9 million each year in federal research funds and grants. Funding support comes from various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Cancer Society.
Education
The Neuro-Oncology Program is part of the Cancer & Blood Diseases Department at Riley at IU Health. This department works daily to train the next generation of pediatric oncologists and researchers. Riley at IU Health is actively affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine and the IU Health Simon Cancer Center. Through this affiliation, we offer a pediatric oncology/hematology fellowship. The fellowship program boasts a three-year training format, with two new fellows chosen each year.