Childhood Cancer

Working Together to Discover New Treatments
No single facility sees enough cases of childhood cancer to make significant treatment advances. That’s why pediatric cancer specialists across the country work together to discover new treatments and determine which therapies are most effective. This collaboration has led to better ways to treat cancer; today, more than 80% of children with cancer survive.

Duke Children’s is part of that effort as a member of the Children's Oncology Group, a worldwide organization dedicated to childhood and adolescent cancer research. In fact, Duke has been recognized within the Children’s Oncology Group as a special site for administering innovative new therapies. 

Dedicated to Improving Treatment for Children with Cancer
In addition to collaborations through the Children's Oncology Group, we work with four other national consortia to develop care and improve treatment for kids with cancer. This means your child has access to the most promising treatments and receives care that’s developed by leading cancer care experts. We’re not only focused on your child’s treatment today; we create a care plan to help reduce side effects from radiation or chemotherapy that may affect their health in the future.

We Use a Team Approach
Your child’s care team includes pediatric specialists in medical oncology, radiation oncology, ocular oncology, orthopaedics, surgery, anesthesia, and pain management, as well as highly skilled nurses who specialize in caring for kids with cancer. The team also includes psychologists, social workers, and dietitians. We bring in experts from other pediatric specialties as needed. We draw from all of the resources and expertise at Duke Health.

Your Child Receives Personalized Treatment
We use advanced diagnostic testing methods to better diagnose and understand your child’s cancer. This allows us to develop a treatment that’s specific to your child's cancer and create a customized plan for long-term follow-up. We use a full range of tests to design a treatment that offers your child the best results. Tests may include blood and bone marrow testing, biopsies, and imaging exams such as ultrasound, MRI, and PET.

You'll Be Well-Informed
You’ll receive clear information about your child's condition, treatment options, and side effects so you can make informed decisions. We offer a wide range of services to help: emotional support for the entire family, help with coordinating your child’s care, and much more. We're here to support you and offer guidance whenever you need us.

Transition to Adult Care
We help children transition from pediatric to adult follow-up care. They can see doctors who will continue to treat them in adulthood and can learn about managing their healthcare needs on their own.

Duke Children’s provides a variety of services designed to make your child’s experience as positive as possible.

Outpatient Care Over the Weekend, After Hours
Some outpatient services can be accessed after usual business hours and over the weekend through the Duke Children’s Valvano Day Hospital. These services are offered as a way to help continue routine care and potentially reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations.  

Your Child's Comfort Is Important
Our team focuses on managing your child’s symptoms and other aspects of treatment that affect your child’s quality of life. We help with pain management, supportive nutrition, relaxation techniques, and more to help your child through treatment.

Family-Friendly Services
Having a child with cancer is hard for the entire family. We understand the impact cancer can have, and we offer a variety of family-friendly services to help you through it. We help siblings understand what’s happening and provide emotional support to everyone in your family. You can depend on knowledgeable, compassionate experts at your side.

We Help You Navigate the Medical System
We help you coordinate the variety of health services your child needs. Our social workers can help you work with insurance providers, connect you with resources, and help you manage the details related to your child’s care.

Teen and Young Adult Oncology Program
Teens and young adults are too old to be treated like young kids but too young for adult care. Our Teen and Young Adult Oncology Program brings together the expertise of pediatric and adult cancer specialists to determine what’s best for each person, along with psychological support.

Childhood Cancer Survivorship Services
Once your child has finished treatment, we continue to support you through childhood cancer survivorship services. We offer long-term follow-up services for preventive health care, including screenings, ongoing surveillance, and care for symptoms that may develop later as a result of treatment.