Oncology

Learning your son or daughter has cancer is a difficult experience for any parent. You probably have a lot of questions about what happens next and, most importantly, you want the best possible care for your child.

At Children's National Hospital, our extensive cancer programs offer highly-specialized care and support from a large team of experts. Our personalized treatment plans draw from the most innovative procedures and therapies available today.

Children’s National Oncology: Specialized Pediatric Cancer Care

Our Oncology Program is ranked #6 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Our cancer programs diagnose and care for more children each year than any other Washington, D.C., metro area hospitals. This high volume translates into a high level of experience and expertise in both common and rare cancer types.

Children’s National is home to some of the world’s leading pediatric cancer experts.  We are also the only program in the region with specialized programs for different types of cancer. This ensures your child receives the best possible care for his or her specific diagnosis. 

Learn more about:

• Brain Tumor Institute (Neuro-Oncology Program)
• Solid Tumor Program 
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Program
• Blood and Marrow Transplant Program
• Cancer Genetics Program 
• Experimental Therapeutics Program
• Radiation Oncology Program 

Family-Centered Cancer Care and Support

Cancer is a disease that involves the entire family. We offer services, amenities and resources to ease some of the stress that comes with having a sick child.

• Family-centered care: We value and appreciate your input in important care decisions. Our teams include nurses and social workers who specialize in helping families understand their child’s condition and treatment options. Our physicians also spend a lot of one-on-one time talking with you about your child’s condition and care.
• Child-friendly environment: From a rainforest-themed waiting room to big screen TVs in our infusion stations, we’ve created a “dream clinic” to make every aspect of this experience as child-friendly as possible.
• Resources and support: Your child’s illness can be difficult on the whole family. From spiritual support to practical needs, such as housing for families who come to us from out of town, we offer help, encouragement and hope. Learn more about resources for families.

Improving Care for Children with Cancer

At Children’s National, our Oncology team creates individualized treatment plans for your child based on our innovative research. One unique treatment we offer is KYMRIAH® (tisagenlecleucel), which is for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL. If previous treatment methods have been unable to keep your child's cancer in remission, KYMRIAH may be able to help.

Through our collaborative Radiation Oncology Program, our patients can receive the most advanced proton therapy available in the region at the Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. Proton therapy precisely treats cancer near our pediatric patients’ most delicate organs and offers a new treatment approach for recurrent cancers.