Pediatric cancer surgery

Pediatric cancer surgery has long provided an effective treatment option for many children. At Advocate Children’s Hospital, we always look to the option that’s easiest on your child’s body and considers their long-term health.

We work closely with your family to decide if surgery provides the best option for your needs. In addition to top surgeons, our team includes psychologists, therapists and Child Life specialists to provide full support.

Surgery for childhood cancer at Advocate Children’s Hospital

We frequently recommend surgery for many childhood cancers, though it’s not often used to treat blood cancers. Treatment is provided by a pediatric surgical oncologist, who helps your family understand the potential risks and benefits.

The reasons for surgery and the type recommended varies and depends on your child’s specific needs:

• Diagnosing: Removes part of a tumor to see if it’s cancerous
• Staging: Finds out the size of the tumor and if it’s spread
• Curing: Removes a tumor and some of the healthy tissue around it
• Debulking: Takes out some of the tumor when it’s hard to completely remove
• Providing palliation: Helps ease pressure or bleeding from cancer or inserts a feeding tube
• Reconstructing: Works to improve appearance or body function after treatment, such as addressing scarring

Minimally invasive cancer surgeries for children

Our doctors perform a number of minimally invasive procedures at our Oak Lawn and Park Ridge cancer centers. When taking these approaches, surgeons make the smallest incisions possible, helping your child heal faster and with less pain.

During laparoscopic surgery, your child’s doctor makes a small incision in the skin and uses a tiny camera and instruments to remove the tumor.

New approaches to standard cancer surgeries

Our experienced cancer surgeons also look for ways to make standard, open operations less burdensome. For example, when treating bone cancer, they work to offer limb-sparing surgery whenever possible. In these operations, they remove just the tumor, rather than the whole limb as was often done in the past. They also work to shrink the tumor beforehand, if needed.

Side effects of cancer surgery

Each type of cancer surgery comes with unique considerations for your child. Our doctors help you understand the various options and their side effects. Our team also prepares your child for surgery and recovery.

Possible side effects depend on the type of cancer surgery and how extensive it is. Our doctors help you and your child manage challenges such as pain or tiredness. They also create a plan if your child needs treatment for issues such as swelling or infection.

Childhood cancer survivorship after surgery

Our unique Pediatric Oncology Survivors in Transition (P.O.S.T.) program helps children celebrate their cure and move into life after cancer.

Our team continues to help your child cope with any side effects, including those that may last longer or show up later in life. These side effects may include:

• Scars
• Anxiety and depression
• Body image problems
• Reproductive and sexual development problems
• Growth, development and hormone problems
• Digestive system problems