Children’s Has One of the Best Cancer Treatment Programs in the Country

The Children's Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (CCBD) has one of the best pediatric hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant (BMT) programs in the country. Our experts provide world-class care in a state-of-the-art facility, conduct leading-edge research, practice family-centered care and enjoy strong community support. The CCBD at The Children’s Hospital in conjunction with the University of Colorado Denver treats children, adolescents and young adults from birth through early 20s with cancer or non-malignant blood disorders.

Why do kids and teens need The Children’s Hospital for cancer care?

Studies have proven that children with cancer who are treated in a pediatric or adolescent setting have better outcomes than those treated in an adult setting, which is one of the many reasons why Children’s CCBD is a top choice for kids or teens in need of cancer treatment and care. 

For example, adolescents 16 to 21 years of age with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common cancer in children, have about a 70 to 75 percent cure rate if treated in pediatric centers - versus about a 35 to 40 percent cure rate in adult centers.

The CCBD occupies the entire 7^th floor of The Children’s Hospital. It has 24 inpatient beds for hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant patients, an adjacent outpatient clinic and a large outpatient infusion center.

The CCBD’s dedication to providing family-centered care is reflected in the bone marrow transplant section of the unit, which has separate family amenities such as a patient playroom, a patient exercise area, a family lounge and a kitchen.

Our hospital offers many opportunities for patients, families and the medical team.

“I’m unaware of any place else where you have an entire medical campus that was built in the 21st century. In three years we’ll have 1.5 million square feet of lab research space and three hospitals on site. The Children’s Hospital is indeed gorgeous but integrated inpatient and outpatient programs, a family-centered care state-of-the-art facility and an enhanced partnership with our adult counterparts at the University of Colorado are what set us apart from other hospitals,” states Stephen Hunger, MD, section chief of the CCBD.

The CCBD and the University of Colorado Cancer Center treat similar diseases in different patient populations, allowing for collaboration between the pediatric and adult hematologists/oncologists in caring for patients, especially older adolescents and young adults. Many new drugs are first tested in adults and Children’s faculty is able to have direct knowledge of those new therapies, which is a huge benefit.

Care team

The CCBD care team is dedicated to improving the quality of life for cancer patients and no other hospital in the region offers such a comprehensive care team to treat children and young adults with cancer. Our board-certified doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and pharmacists are specially trained in the care of pediatric hematology/oncology/bone marrow transplant patients.

Our social workers, dietitians, case managers, child life therapeutic recreation specialists, art therapists and chaplains work exclusively with the CCBD. Patients also have the opportunity to work with music, yoga, art and dance/ movement therapists from the Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program.

The CCBD’s care team also incorporates a teacher of school-age children so students can continue their studies while hospitalized. Lastly, even the volunteers at the CCBD are specially trained and oriented to the special needs of inpatients, outpatients and their families.

Our programs

The CCBD is divided up into several distinct programs, as detailed below.

The Pediatric Oncology Program provides care to children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer.  We have dedicated subspecialty Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (brain tumor) and Orthopedic Oncology (bone tumor) Programs.

The Experimental Therapeutics Program was established to promote the development and clinical testing of promising new therapies for the treatment of children, adolescents and young adults with cancer that have failed other treatments.

The Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program was established in September 1993 and has been pioneering new treatments since. Children's has the only pediatric bone marrow transplant program in Colorado certified by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).

Transplants conducted to date have included sophisticated procedures, such as unrelated donor umbilical cord blood transplants, T-cell depleted matched unrelated donor transplants, peripheral stem cell infusions and an in utero transplant, in addition to standard matched sibling allogeneic BMT.

The Pediatric Hematology Program is responsible for the care of patients with primary non-cancerous blood disorders, including hemophilia, coagulation disorders that produce excess bleeding or clotting, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and a variety of other hematologic disorders. The Immuno-Hematology Clinic focuses on disorders of white blood cell function, and how the immune system influences blood cell number and function. In relation to this program is the Stroke Clinic, developed by the Pediatric Neurology Program. It is one few dedicated programs in the country that provides treatment and follow-up care for children and adolescents who experience a stroke.

We also have an emphasis on survivorship that includes the H.O.P.E. (Helping Oncology Patients Excel) long-term follow-up clinic and TACTIC (Thriving After Cancer Treatment is Complete) clinic for adult cancer survivors.  Palliative care is also provided through the Butterfly Program for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Where our services are offered

In addition to our main campus in Aurora, the CCBD provides services at the following locations.

• Care by The Children's Hospital, Littleton
• Memorial Hospital for Children, Colorado Springs (In Partnership with The Children's Hospital)