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Where your child gets treated first is essential in determining long term treatment success. Our pediatric neurosurgical team, which sees about 70 children with central nervous system (CNS) tumors each year, has a tremendous amount of experience with the often delicate task of removing a brain tumor in a child whose neurologic development is still in progress. Complete surgical resection without secondary neurologic side effects is critical in improving the chance that your child can make a full recovery.

Special Needs

Children with brain and spinal cord tumors have different needs from other children with cancer. Some of the symptoms that brought children with CNS tumors to medical attention originally (seizures, visual changes, cognitive/behavioral changes, weakness of arms or legs, and hormonal changes to name a few) require highly trained specialists to help manage the problems while treatment for the tumor is ongoing. It is necessary that a closely-knit interdisciplinary team of experienced medical professionals evaluate these children. Such a team exists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering to care for children, teenagers, and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors.

Members of the Brain Tumor Team with a Patient
Members of the Brain Tumor Team with a patient

Multidisciplinary Team

Our team of experts includes two pediatric neurologists who specialize in the care of children with brain tumors who may have neurologic concerns such as weakness, seizures and developmental delay. Our team also consists of nurses, a psychiatrist, endocrinologist, ophthalmologist, physical and occupational therapists, and integrative medicine providers who work closely together to ensure that your child is receiving the appropriate attention for the symptoms related to the tumor.

Close monitoring of your child during treatment is essential for detecting and treating any side effects of treatment which your child may experience. Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation services are available at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and become an integral part of restoring your child to his/her previous level of functioning, both during and after treatment.

Nursing Care

Our dedicated team of nurses cares for your child during outpatient visits and inpatient hospital stays. Nurse practitioners work in collaboration with the primary physicians on your child's team to oversee care. This allows our nurses to assess your child's needs, triage symptoms, and if necessary, make referrals to other departments within Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Nurse practitioners and registered nurses can also help your child and family understand the details of the treatment plan and what to expect throughout the course of treatment.

Supportive Care

Our social workers provide counseling, offer information, and assistance throughout the course of treatment, and can guide and direct you to resources you may need. Child life specialists, teachers, and session and physician office assistants all work together to meet your child's non-clinical needs.

Support Programs and Services
Our programs and services help children cope with
cancer
treatment

Close Partnerships

We also work closely with various foundations and societies like the Children's Brain Tumor Foundation and Make-A-Wish to help your child and your family cope with the difficulty of being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Once your child has completed treatment for his or her brain tumor, we continue to provide support for any tumor or treatment related side-effects. These may include on-going cognitive changes, neurologic symptoms, and school re-entry issues.


Last Updated: Jan. 23, 2006
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