Programs & Services

Diagnosis

To diagnose and find out more about your child’s leukemia, lymphoma or Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), we may need to perform a number a tests or procedures. The team at Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders may use a wide range of tools and methods, including:

• Blood tests
• Bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy
• Lymph node biopsy
• X-ray
• Spinal tap/lumbar puncture
• Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Ultrasound (also called sonography)

Treatment

Once a diagnosis is made, your child’s physician will determine a specific course of treatment based on many factors, including:

• Your child's age, overall health and medical history
• The type and progression of the disease
• Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies
• Your opinions or preferences
• Expectations for the course of the disease and the outcome of treatment
• Family and social support for you and your child

Because each child and each case are different, your child’s treatment plan will be created just for your child. We’ll go over all the options and make sure you understand what to expect as your child’s treatment progresses.

Treatment may include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Bone marrow/stem cell transplant
• Targeted therapy (cancer treatment that uses medicine to target the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide and spread)
• Immunotherapy (antibodies created in a laboratory that are designed to bind to certain substances in the body, including cancer cells, and mimic the immune system’s attack)
• Blood transfusions
• Antibiotics and other medications
• Other supportive care
• Continuous follow-up care for at least 10 years after treatment