Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation

The word “cancer” refers to a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled, invasive, and abnormal cell division. The most common types of cancer in childhood are leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and lymphoma. In addition, many other types of cancer, though less common, can also occur in children.

For both the family and the child, hearing and accepting a cancer diagnosis is very difficult. However, remember: you are not alone on this challenging journey. With innovations in both diagnosis and treatment methods, cancer has become less frightening. Detecting cancer early can increase the chances of successful treatment.

When Should We Most Often Suspect Cancer?

Depending on the type of disease and the initial or spread areas, one or more symptoms and findings may appear.

For example, in cancers involving the bone marrow, such as leukemia (blood cancer), the following symptoms are common:

• Paleness, fatigue
• Frequent fever, bone pain
• Bruising or purplish spots on the skin
• Generally painless swellings in the lymph nodes
• Swelling in any part of the body
• Unexplained nosebleeds, gum bleeding, blood in the urine or stool

In relatively common childhood brain tumors:

• Headaches and vomiting, more pronounced in the mornings
• Visual disturbances
• Walking difficulties, imbalance
• Eye deviation (strabismus), seizures without fever, personality changes

Also:

• Cat’s-eye-like shining of the pupils in light or involuntary eye movements
• Dark purple discolorations around the eyes may be important signs.

After examination and diagnostic testing, if cancer suspicion persists, patients are evaluated in the “Tumor Board,” where Pediatric Hematology-Oncology specialists, along with Radiation Oncology, Pediatric Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology specialists, jointly determine the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment methods.

In our clinic, chemotherapy drugs used for childhood cancers are prepared robotically. In addition, radiotherapy, surgical treatment, and nuclear medicine treatments are performed by our specialists.

In our HEPA-filtered Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, preparation protocols are specially planned for each patient, taking into account the type of disease and previous treatments received. Our bone marrow transplant unit is designed to meet the needs of children during their hospital stay, with planning aimed at improving their quality of life.