Pediatric Cancer Care
Why Choose Us for Pediatric Cancer Treatment
Our highly trained pediatric hematology and cancer specialists evaluate and treat many blood disorders and cancers. We work together as a multidisciplinary team to determine the best treatments for children, adolescents, and young adults.
University of Utah ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ (U of U ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½) is next to . U of U ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Primary Children’s Hospital work together to provide the best care for children with cancer.
Primary Children’s Hospital treats more than 90% of children with cancer from the Mountain West. Because we work together, you can rest assured your child has access to the very best resources each institution has to offer.
With the youngest median age in the country, Utah has a large population of children and adolescents. So, Huntsman Cancer Institute makes childhood and adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers a priority. Huntsman Cancer Institute is committed to improving ways we treat children’s cancer. We look for ways to prevent it or end it.
Our pediatric cancer specialists participate in the international and provide comprehensive care for childhood cancer patients. Our team includes nurse practitioners, child life specialists, social workers, nutritionists, care coordinators, integrative medicine practitioners, and pharmacists.
Our researchers also work hand in hand with doctors in the clinic to study children’s cancers.
Pediatric Hematology & Cancer Services
Conditions & Diseases We Treat
- Leukemia
- Bleeding and clotting disorders
- Hemophilia, thrombophilia, thrombosis
- Blood disorders
- Brain tumors
- Histiocytosis
- Malignant neoplastic diseases of children (pediatric cancers)
- Sarcomas
- Solid tumors
Pediatric Cancer Treatment
We offer these medical and surgical options for your child:
Children receive most of their cancer care at Primary Children’s Hospital. Radiation therapy for pediatric cancer is provided at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Clinic visits, surgeries, and other procedures may occur at these locations or other U of U ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ clinics.
Learn more about from the National Cancer Institute.
Pediatric Cancer Specialists
Most Common Pediatric Cancers & Symptoms
These are the most common types of cancers in children:
Leukemia
Leukemia is a blood cancer. It is the most common childhood cancer and makes up 28% of childhood cancer cases, according to the . There are two main categories of leukemia: acute and chronic. Acute cancers spread quickly and need prompt treatment. Chronic leukemia grows more slowly but can be harder to treat.
Common Symptoms
- Easy bruising and bleeding
- Shortness of breath
- Petechiae (dark red spots on the skin)
- Weakness, looking tired or pale
- Pain below the ribs
Brain & spinal cord tumors
Brain and spinal cord tumors make up 27% of childhood cancer cases, according to the .
Common Symptoms
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Crossed eyes
- Blurred vision
- Balance problems
- Seizures
Lymphoma
Lymphoma forms in immune system cells and makes up 12% of childhood cancer cases, according to the . It tends to show up first in the throat, armpits, or groin. Lymphomas come in two types: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common in kids. It can show up anywhere in the body.
Common Symptoms
- Painless, swollen lymph nodes
- Fever with no known reason
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Coughing and trouble breathing
Neuroblastomas
Neuroblastomas are tumors that start in nerve cells. They can form anywhere in the body but often turn up first in the stomach area. They make up about 6% of childhood cancers, according to the .
Common Symptoms
- A lump or swelling
- Weight loss
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Problems going to the bathroom
Wilms tumors
Wilms tumors form in the kidneys. They make up about 5% of childhood cancers, according to the .
Common Symptoms
- Swollen belly
- Lump
- Fever
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Blood in the urine
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of soft-tissue sarcoma that makes up about 3% of childhood cancer cases, according to the . It forms in the body’s connective tissues, such as muscle and fat. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, which usually forms before age 6, shows up in the head, neck, groin, or bladder. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma affects kids of all ages. It shows up in the arms, legs, or trunk.
Common Symptoms
- Doesn't go away
- Bulging or crossing of the eyes
- Headache
- Difficulty urinating or having bowel movements
- Blood in the urine
- Blood from the nose, throat, vagina, or rectum
Bone sarcomas
Bone sarcomas make up about 3% of childhood cancers, according to the . There are two main types. Osteosarcoma is more common, and appears mostly in younger teens. Tumors often show up near the ends of arm or leg bones.
Common Symptoms
- Bone pain
- Swelling around the tumor site
Retinoblastoma
Retinoblastoma is a type of eye cancer. It makes up about 2% of childhood cancers, according to the . The cancer usually happens in young children, often around age 2. Doctors often spot the cancer when they see that something looks unusual about the child's eyes, like a dark spot on the pupil.
Common Symptoms
- Eyes appear to point in different directions
- Pain or redness in the eye
- Infection around the eye
- Eyeball looks larger than normal
- Iris and pupil look cloudy
A Relationship Created for the Best Pediatric Care
For pediatric specialty care, Intermountain Children's ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ is affiliated with University of Utah ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. U of U ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ physicians see patients at , , and other locations throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
It's a shared mission of providing health care, education, and research. It comes to life through collaboration on clinical care, research, and educational programs.
Primary Children's Hospital operates as the main pediatric facility for the U of U ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ system, providing care in more than 60 medical and surgical specialties such as surgery, oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, and others. Most of the providers at Primary Children's Hospital are faculty members at U of U ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½.
This partnership delivers care to advance pediatric medicine while educating future generations of health care professionals.
Related Programs & Services
Cancer Questions
The G. Mitchell Morris Cancer Learning Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute is your source for free cancer information. Services include speaking to a cancer information specialist one-on-one, a free cancer library, and community engagement.
Family Cancer Assessment Clinic
The Family Cancer Assessment Clinic helps families find out if they have inherited syndromes that cause a higher risk of cancer. This includes Li Fraumeni syndrome, Lynch syndrome, paraganglioma, and others.
Fertility Preservation for Children
One significant side effect of cancer treatment is that it can lead to infertility after treatment. Discussing cancer and infertility is most helpful when you talk to your doctor as early as possible after cancer diagnosis, as it’s best if fertility treatment occurs before chemotherapy or other cancer treatments.
HIAYA Program
The Huntsman-Intermountain Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Care (HIAYA) Program serves patients between 15 and 39 years old who have been diagnosed with cancer. The program guides AYAs through cancer treatment and survivorship to make sure the unique needs of this age group are met.
Long-term Care for Survivors of Pediatric Cancers
Our specialists work with adult survivors of childhood cancer to manage the unique long-term aspects of their treatment.
Pediatric and Rare Tumor Clinic
The Pediatric and Rare Tumor Clinic focuses on hereditary syndromes that cause an increased risk for cancer and tumors in children and adults.
Pediatric Palliative Care
This program is here to help both the child and family deal with feelings, symptoms, and concerns during a time that may be frightening, confusing, and overwhelming. Our team works with you to develop goals of care for your child based on their medical condition.