Sparrow Children's Center, in cooperation with the
board certified pediatric oncologists (cancer specialists for children) at
Michigan State University, provides comprehensive care for children with
cancer.
The Sparrow/MSU pediatric cancer team provides
quality, family-centered developmentally-based care using a multidisciplinary
team and state-of-the-art treatment based on national protocols.
The team caring for those experiencing childhood cancer
includes:
- board certified pediatric oncologists from MSU
- pediatric surgeon
- pediatric radiologist
- pediatric subspecialists including cardiology, renal, pulmonary,
gastroenterology, pain management and infectious disease
- master's prepared nurse practitioner with national certification in
pediatric oncology
- registered nurses with special training in chemotherapy
- pediatric psychologist
- child life specialists
- nutritionists
- social workers
- discharge planners
- chaplains
- a full pediatric rehabilitation team
- and nursing associates with years of experience working with children of
all ages
Sparrow and MSU belong to Children's Oncology Group
(COG), an international cooperative that designs, implements, and monitors
state-of-the art treatment plans and clinical trials. Affiliation with COG
provides the medical team with immediate access to additional experts in
childhood cancer throughout the United States and several foreign countries.
Types of cancer cared for at Sparrow Children's Center
- Leukemia (patients less than or equal to 21 years of age)
- Neuroblastoma (patients less than or equal to 18 years of age)
- Wilm's Tumor (any age)
- Lymphoma (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Hodgkin's Disease (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Rhabdomyosarcoma (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Ewing's Sarcoma (patients less than or equal to 30 years of age)
- Osteosarcoma (patients less than or equal to 30 years of age)
- Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) (patients less than or equal to
30 years of age)
- Hepatoblastoma/Hepatocellular Carcinoma (patients less than 21 years of
age)
- Germ Cell Tumor (patients less than or equal to 21 years of age)
- Brain Tumor (ependymoma, medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, PNET, or glioma)
(patients less than 26 years of age)
Psychosocial support
Psychosocial support of the person with cancer and
their family is an important part of cancer treatment, especially for children
and teenagers. All care providers at the Sparrow Children's Center take this
support seriously.
At Sparrow you'll find:
- Strong emphasis on patient and family education
- Help in management of pain and anxiety
- Contact with schools including special classroom and staff
presentations; arranging for homebound teachers and special testing when
indicated
- Special activities to provide distraction, stimulate development and
manage stress
- Parents are encouraged to be a part of the care and overnight sleeping
cots are provided so that one parent can stay with the child at all
times.
- A Ronald McDonald House is across the street from the hospital for use
by members of the family, and as respite for parents or the patient when
services are being provided on an outpatient basis.
There is evidence that attitude can affect health
and that a positive attitude results in better functioning of the immune system.
The team at the Sparrow Children's Center does their best to promote that
positive attitude and to help patients and families through a difficult life
experience. Relationships are established that often do not end with the
completion of the medical treatment.