Sutter Medical Foundation Pediatric Cancer and Hematology Services

A child with cancer deserves the most advanced treatments available, delivered by compassionate, caring experts. With decades of experience treating complicated illnesses in children, Sutter Health network pediatric teams support you and your family through this stressful time and guide you along each step in cancer treatment, from diagnosis to recovery.

Hematology Services

Pediatric oncologists treat blood cancers in children. When a congenital (hereditary) or acquired disorder affects the blood, serious disease can be the result. Pediatric hematologists in the Sutter Health network provide caring treatment for blood disorders in children, including platelet disorders that cause bleeding and clotting problems and disorders of red blood cells such as sickle cell disease.

Diagnosis and treatment are available for these and more:

• Brain and spinal cord tumor care
• Red blood cell disorder care
• Sickle cell care

Special Pediatric Needs

We offer many special services to meet the unique psychological and emotional needs of children. When hospitalization is necessary, clinical social workers and pediatric child life specialists—available at some locations—can ensure that children going through treatment still get to be kids. Programs vary by hospital but may include:

• Pediatric playrooms with age-appropriate toys and activities.
• Education support for children who require longer hospitalizations.
• Music and art therapy.
• Pet therapy.

Pediatric cancer care teams in the Sutter Health network are led by fellowship-trained, board certified physicians who specialize in treating cancers in children. They work together with specialists in other disciplines, such as pathology, radiology, radiation oncology, cancer surgery and anesthesiology, to carefully create individualized treatment plans for each child.

Research and Clinical Trials

We are committed to improving cancer and blood disorder treatments for children. We work closely with researchers both within the Sutter Health clinical network and at major academic medical centers to ensure patients have access to all relevant clinical trials. In addition, Sutter Children’s Center, Sacramento is part of the Children’s Oncology Group, a clinical trials organization supported by the National Cancer Institute.