Each year, the Division of Oncology at Children’s National Medical Center treats approximately 225 children as new cancer patients. Patients receive comprehensive, state-of-the-art care and have access to the technical and clinical excellence that gives them their best opportunity for survival.
Children’s plays an active role in childhood cancer research, education, and advocacy. Through participation in more than 100 clinical trials, Children’s strives not only to cure cancer, but to minimize the side effects of treatment. Faculty at Children’s serve as study chairs for several national and international clinical trials in acute leukemia, brain tumors, renal tumors, bone tumors, and other solid tumors. In addition, Children’s is the only center in the region and one of only a handful in the country with access to Children’s Oncology Group’s Phase I trials and Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium protocols.
When a child has cancer, it affects everyone in the family — and Children’s team cares for them all. The Patient and Family Support Program provides mental and psychosocial services and other helpful resources to help families cope as best as possible.
Children’s Potomac Power Program for Teens with Cancer To bring teens with cancer together, Children’s Division of Hematology/Oncology offers an exciting program called Potomac Power. The
Potomac Power group focuses on giving teenagers a sense of social support, peer relationships, and reprieve from the isolation and difficulty of undergoing cancer
treatment during their already tough teenage years. Teens can join in fun activities around the Washington, DC, area, like going to a baseball game, the movies, or a
group dinner.
Recently the Potomac Power group hosted several Children’s Hematology/Oncology patients for a day of makeovers with professional make-up artists followed by an
evening at the Kennedy Center to see a play. Children’s National, Nordstrom’s department store, Corner Bakery and the American Cancer Society teamed up to give
these special patients a day to remember.
Gallery: Children's Potomac Power for Teens with Cancer
This program recently hosted several Hematology/Oncology patients for a day of makeovers and an evening at the Kennedy Center.
