At 5 years old, Nicollette began vomiting every day for a week. It wasn't acid reflux, like the doctor first thought. Then the headaches started. Next the prognosis nobody ever wants to hear: a brain tumor.
The neuro-oncology program at JJCCC provides specialty oncology care for infants, children and adolescents with brain tumors, spinal cord tumors and tumors related to neurofibromatosis. Through membership in the Children’s Oncology Group, the neuro-oncology team at JJCCC provides access to the latest national clinical protocols to develop new pediatric oncology therapies for childhood brain tumors.
In addition to the multi-disciplinary JJCCC health team, the neuro-oncology team also works closely with neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and pediatric surgeons to provide quality, compassionate care.
The neuro-oncology care team offers multi-specialty medical care, including assessment, consultation, treatment and preventative care. The neuro-oncology team meets to review clinical cases and make recommendations on the type of therapy and other care that is most appropriate for each patient that goes through the Neuro-Oncology Clinic.
Neuro-oncology patients are often treated with appropriate conventional therapy, such as:
Clinical trials are always an option to help address the needs of each brain tumor or spinal cord tumor patient. The neuro-oncology care team and the hematologist/oncologist discuss this with the family when there is a clinical trial available that fits the individual patient’s needs.
Brain tumors or other neurological complications of cancer can have long term effects on children and their families, even after the last treatment of chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been given. Follow-up treatment for childhood brain tumor survivors address any long-term physical, psychological, social and intellectual challenges they encounter as a direct result of their treatment in the neuro-oncology clinic.
Psychosocial programs such as family support, education, community support and school reintegration are weaved into the condition management of the child. The STAR Late Effects Program is an important part of the follow-up care for a child in the neuro-oncology clinic, because it ensures that a child is still progressing in developmental and cognitive growth even after the side effects of treatment. Screenings, diagnostic testing and neuropsychological tests can be ordered to ensure that there aren’t negative, long-term effects on patients who received radiotherapy or chemotherapy in the brain and spinal cord area.
Vist the Neuro-Oncology Clinic.