Pediatric Oncology
Pediatric oncology is the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in children and adolescents — including leukemias, lymphomas, brain tumors and solid tumors. Care combines chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and, when needed, stem-cell transplant, delivered by a dedicated child-focused team. Because children's cancers and bodies differ from adults', treatment, dosing and support are specially tailored, with the whole family supported throughout.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Childhood cancers are different from adult cancers — the types, how they behave and how they respond to treatment all differ — so they need dedicated pediatric expertise. Common childhood cancers include leukemias and lymphomas (blood cancers), brain and spinal tumors, and solid tumors of the kidney, bone, muscle or nervous system. Treatment is tailored to the specific diagnosis, the child's age and weight, and their stage of development.
Care is usually multimodal — combining chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and, for some children, stem-cell transplant in carefully planned phases — and is coordinated by a pediatric tumor board. Just as important is the child-focused environment: pediatric oncologists, specialist nurses, anesthetists, play and psychological specialists and dietitians work together to support not only the child but the whole family through a demanding journey.
International families are supported by a coordinator with a clear plan and a transparent, itemized cost estimate before travel, including the expected mix of inpatient and outpatient care over what is often a months-long course. Because childhood cancer survivors need long-term follow-up into adulthood, the team explains how care can continue at home, and specialists can review pathology and imaging remotely for second opinions.
Who is a candidate?
- Children and adolescents with a confirmed or suspected cancer needing a treatment plan
- Families seeking a second opinion on a child's diagnosis or proposed treatment
- Children who may benefit from chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy or transplant, alone or combined
- Those who may benefit from advanced diagnostics and a specialized pediatric tumor board
- Children needing supportive, play and psychological care alongside active treatment
- Families wanting a child-focused environment with whole-family support
What happens
- 1
Diagnosis and staging
Biopsy, pathology, blood tests and imaging confirm the type of childhood cancer and its stage, with procedures and scans arranged in a child-friendly way, using gentle sedation where needed.
- 2
Pediatric tumor-board planning
A dedicated pediatric tumor board agrees a treatment plan tailored to the diagnosis, the child's age and weight, combining chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy or transplant as appropriate.
- 3
Multimodal treatment
Treatment is delivered in carefully planned phases — for example chemotherapy with surgery and, where needed, radiotherapy or stem-cell transplant — as inpatient and outpatient care over the course.
- 4
Child and family support
Specialist nurses, play and psychological specialists and dietitians support the child and the whole family throughout, managing side effects and protecting quality of life and development.
- 5
Long-term follow-up
Childhood cancer survivors need follow-up into adulthood to monitor health and development. International families receive a clear plan for continuing surveillance and care at home.
Benefits
- Dedicated pediatric expertise, as childhood cancers differ from adult cancers
- Multimodal treatment combined and dosed specifically for children
- A child-focused environment with play, psychological and dietetic support
- Whole-family support through a demanding treatment journey
- Many childhood cancers are treatable, often with good outcomes in suitable cases
Risks & considerations
- Side effects of chemotherapy, surgery or radiotherapy, managed with pediatric supportive care
- Lowered blood counts and infection risk during intensive treatment, requiring monitoring
- Effects on growth, development or fertility from some treatments, discussed with the family
- A demanding course often lasting months, with a mix of inpatient and outpatient care
- The need for long-term follow-up into adulthood to monitor late effects
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Comprehensive Oncology Center.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Pediatric Oncology — frequently asked questions
Childhood cancers are different in type, behavior and response from adult cancers, and children's bodies and development must be considered in every decision. So treatment, dosing and support are specially tailored by a dedicated pediatric team in a child-focused environment.
Yes. Alongside medical treatment, specialist nurses, play and psychological specialists and dietitians support the child and the whole family throughout what is often a demanding, months-long journey.
Yes. Childhood cancer survivors need long-term follow-up into adulthood to monitor health, development and any late effects of treatment. The team explains how this surveillance can continue at home.
Yes. Share the pathology, blood results and imaging and our pediatric specialists provide an independent opinion on the diagnosis and proposed treatment before you commit to travel.
Childhood cancer treatment is often delivered in phases over months, with a mix of inpatient and outpatient care. Your coordinator explains which parts are best done on site and how follow-up continues at home. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing the case rather than a fixed online price, because every child's plan is individual.
Related treatments
Considering pediatric oncology?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.