Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders

Hemophilia

In this condition, the bloodstream is less able to form clots and stop bleeding due to a lack of certain key proteins called clotting factors. It is more common in boys than girls.

Thrombophilia

This blood clotting disorder increases the risk of forming unnecessary and potentially dangerous blood clots.

Von Willebrand disease

A bleeding tendency caused by a deficiency of von Willebrand factor, a protein essential for blood clotting. This condition is generally milder than hemophilia and affects boys and girls equally.

Other rare factor deficiencies

This refers to a range of rare bleeding disorders, similar to but less common than hemophilia and Von Willebrand disease, that cause deficiencies in various clotting factors.

Anemia conditions (sickle cell, hemolytic, thalassemia, spherocytosis)

With these conditions, the blood can’t carry enough oxygen to the body, either because there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells available or the cells themselves don’t have enough hemoglobin.

Leukopenia and neutropenia

These result from low levels of white blood cells overall (leukopenia), or low levels of specific white blood cells known as neutrophils (neutropenia).

Thrombocytopenia

This occurs when the bloodstream has a low number of platelets, making it harder for the body to form blood clots and stop bleeding.

Brain tumors

These cancers can result in a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional, and motor control symptoms based on where the tumor is located in the brain.

Hereditary cancer syndromes

Up to 10% of all cancers are genetically inherited — meaning these cancers are caused by gene mutations passed from parents to children.

Leukemia

These cancers develop in the blood-producing centers of the body, causing them to produce abnormal cancer cells instead of healthy, functional blood cells.

Lymphoma

These cancers affect the lymphatic system and cause the body to make excess abnormal white blood cells.

Muscle, soft tissue, and bone tumors

Tumors can appear on many different kinds of tissues and may be benign or cancerous.

Neuroblastoma

These cancerous tumors develop in immature nerve cells, typically in children under age 5.

Hemangiomas

These raised, irregular skin growths are caused by still-developing blood vessels that clump together. They are very common in young children.

Vascular and lymphatic malformations

These are blood vessels that have developed abnormally. Minor malformations may only produce cosmetic birthmarks, but more serious ones can cause pain, restrict movement, or cause circulation problems.

At Corewell Health Children’s, we are moving pediatric cancer and blood disorder care forward. Our team conducts innovative research into new treatments, and through our partnership with Children’s Oncology Group offer access to leading-edge clinical trials. It’s all part of our mission to bring the most advanced care to as many children as possible.

Chemotherapy

This treatment targets cells that divide rapidly, especially cancer cells.

Immunotherapy (antibody therapy)

These therapies help your child’s own immune system to fight cancer better. They can boost overall immune function, as well as supply it with antibodies it can use to attack cancer cells.

Targeted therapies

These treatments are specially designed to target unique parts of cancer cells. This may result in fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.

Proton beam therapy

An advanced form of radiation therapy that uses a robotically controlled proton beam to target tumors. This allows for greater precision and fewer side effects than most other forms of external beam radiation therapy.

External beam radiation therapy

A concentrated beam of radiation (such as X-rays or gamma rays) is aimed at cancer cells to destroy them.

Internal radiation therapy

A small amount of radioactive material is placed inside the body, within or next to a tumor, to destroy cancer cells.

Many cancerous and non-cancerous tumors can be removed surgically. Our doctors use advanced tools such as 3D imaging and real-time MRI to guide the removal of brain tumors. Specialized approaches like robotic-assisted surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy are also used to treat certain types of cancers.