Oncologic surgery

Infants and children with tumors require very unique and specialized care to expertly treat their still growing bodies. Surgery is most often needed to remove a tumor, which is known as oncologic surgery or surgical oncology. Children may also require chemotherapy and/or radiation as part of their treatment, but it depends on the type of malignancy.

At Cohen Children’s, our pediatric surgeons take a collaborative approach to treat a wide array of surgical-related cancers (known as solid tumors). As members of a robust multidisciplinary team, our surgeons work with a dedicated group of pediatric specialists (all leaders in their fields) to determine the optimal treatment for your child. Each case is meticulously reviewed at our “tumor board” so that multiple specialists can gather together to determine the most effective and safest treatment for each child. The team consists of:

• Pediatric oncologic surgeons
• Pediatric oncologists
• Pediatric radiation oncologists
• Pediatric radiologists
• Pediatric pathologists
• Pediatric nurses
• Pediatric nurse practitioners
• Pediatric social workers
• Pediatric psychologists

In addition, Cohen Children’s and our division of pediatric surgery are active members of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), a renowned national organization that cooperates in trying to figure out the best ways to treat childhood cancers of all kinds. We follow COG protocols (the standards of care for treating pediatric cancer) so that our patients receive the most advanced therapies available. We also participate in COG therapeutic trials, which are used nationally to develop new and innovative treatments.  

When it comes to cancer surgery in children, our philosophy is to treat the tumor in the most effective and safest way possible. When appropriate, this can involve the use of minimally invasive techniques, such as thoracoscopy and laparoscopy. These techniques lessen the size of the incisions and the postoperative discomfort, and ease the recovery.