Medical Conditions

How is it Treated?

Medical Treatments for Childhood Cancer

St. V’s Children’s Hospital is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). COG’s primary objective is to conduct clinical trials of new therapies for childhood cancer. Over 40,000 children with cancer are currently being treated according to the research protocols of this group. The research of this group is the principal source of treatment for childhood cancer. These treatment protocols are available to member institutions, such as St. V’s Children’s Hospital. Upon each child’s diagnosis, the family is educated on the treatment protocol suited to the needs of their child's illness. These treatments vary based upon the age, diagnosis, sex, and presenting medical status.

What are some Common Medications my child may be given?

Chemotherapy is a treatment for cancer that means using drugs as single agents or in combination, to disrupt or destroy the cancer cells without permanently affecting normal cells.

Chemotherapy drugs in pediatrics are usually given four ways:

1. Intravenous (IV). Medicine is given directly into a vein either by a needle in the arm or hand or by a central venous catheter.
2. Oral (PO). Medicine is taken by the mouth in liquid, capsule or tablet form. The medicine is digested by the stomach or intestines and absorbed into the blood system
3. Intramuscular (IM). Medicine is injected into a large muscle, like the thigh and then absorbed by the blood system.
4. Intrathecal (IT). A spinal tap is performed by the doctor and medicine is injected into the cerebrospinal fluid to ultimately get to the brain.

Chemotherapy doses and possible side effects vary with each treatment plan. The specifics of the treatment plan are always discussed by the doctor with the family.

Back to top