September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and to honor the children and survivors affected by this illness, and their courageous families, we are putting the spotlight on the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, every year almost 16,000 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. and hundreds of them reside in Florida. The Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute’s goal is to ensure the best possible care for children with cancer, so that their families may not need to leave their home state for lifesaving care.
“Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is celebrating 75 years of serving the community, and in our rich history that includes caring for the most fragile, children with pediatric cancer. Today, the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute provides care for more newly diagnosed children than any other facility in South Florida, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive treatment centers for children in the region.” said Dr. Ziad Khatib, Medical Director of Hematology/Oncology services.
Compassionate and Committed Care
The Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute provides comprehensive diagnostics, treatment, ongoing management and monitoring for children with different types of cancer and blood disorders.
To make this possible, and truly help care for these children and their families, the Institute counts with a multidisciplinary team of the best pediatric specialists and experts, passionate and committed to providing the highest quality care for each patient throughout every stage of their journey.
Aside from pediatric oncologists, nurses, radiologists and neurosurgeons, the team includes dietitians, child life specialists, music therapists, spiritual counselors, psychologists and many more pediatric healthcare professionals that work tirelessly everyday to support the children being treated, as well as their families.
Some of the treatment programs provided by the institute include Blood and Marrow transplantation (the hospital has performed more than 400 blood and marrow transplants since 1991), Genetic Evaluation and Counseling, Hemophilia Treatment, Leukemia and Lymphoma, Neuro-oncology, Sarcoma and Solid Tumor program, among others.
One that caught our attention is the Survive and Thrive Program. This one is a proof point of the hospital’s commitment to the children’s wellbeing beyond their treatment. Usually, over 70% of long-term childhood cancer survivors experience side effects of their treatments, so the institute developed this program to provide long-term support and follow-up care to these children as a way to improve their health and quality of life well after cancer treatment has ended.
How does research help?
Ongoing research on any disease is essential to fight it and bring hope. It allows scientists and doctors to explore and discover the use of advanced technologies for new effective treatments. This is why cancer research is a priority for the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. Finding new cures, treatments and diagnostics procedures to treat children and teenagers, allows for the hospital to bring hope to suffering families.
A member of the Children’s Oncology Group, the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has access to national research data, latest trials, and many more resources and is currently focused on the study of biotechnology, medical devices, and latest drug treatments. Their goal is to continue to drive innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and blood disorders including brain tumors, leukemia, and sarcoma.
Today, the hospital is the only one in the region that is involved in more than 40 clinical research studies. Ultrasound therapy, incision-less brain surgery, gene therapies, oral medications, and immune therapies, are some of the treatments being researched by the team of specialists at Nicklaus Children’s. In addition to these, and as part of their Precision Medicine program, the hospital is studying the use of precision medicine, which focuses on the patients’ genetics, social and cultural needs to develop a targeted treatment for each child, through all stages of care.
Specific reports and detailed description of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital pediatric cancer dedicated research can be found here.
To continue to support advances in childhood cancer treatment research in South Florida, please visit give.nicklauschildrens.