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Leukemia and Lymphoma Services

Despite being a rare disease, leukemia is the most common cancer in children and teens, accounting for almost one-third of childhood cancers. About 35 percent of our new patients have common cancers such as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Close to 10 percent of our new patients have lymphoma. Our goal is to provide infants, children and adolescents quick access to care and an early diagnosis. Our experienced team can then develop an individualized treatment plan to ensure the best outcome.

Fifty years of dedicated research and development of new drugs and targeted therapies have made all the difference in improving the survival rate of childhood leukemia. After new combinations of drugs were developed and aggressive treatment of the brain and spinal fluid were incorporated into treatment protocols, the five-year survival rate for children with ALL is now more than 85 percent. The development of new treatments for AML has seen similar success, ranging from 60 percent to 80 percent five-year survival rate depending on the subtype of AML and other factors.

As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), we have access to the latest standard protocols for treating leukemia and lymphoma. Dr. Faisal Razzaqi is on the COG Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) steering committee. Dr. Vonda Crouse is the principal investigator for Valley Children’s, while also a co-investigator for COG internationally.

To reduce children’s stress and discomfort we make every effort to treat them in an outpatient basis. The outpatient unit has multiple exam and treatment rooms and an infusion center. To make the environment more comfortable for children undergoing tests and procedures, the infusion center has a play area and child life specialists available to provide play therapy.

Treatments we perform include:

  • Chemotherapy infusions
  • Blood transfusions
  • Bone marrow aspirations and biopsies
  • Lumbar punctures
  • Administration of chemotherapy into the cerebrospinal fluid

Learn more about:
Leukemia
Burkitt lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma