About the Department
As parents, cancer is something you wouldn't want to see your child suffering from, even in your worst nightmares. Once detected, parents have only one goal in mind- to treat it as early as possible, restore their child’s health and help the child live the life they have envisaged for him. At Fortis, we have a fully equipped Paediatric Oncology Department to ensure effective treatment and best support to you and your child through this testing time. We acutely understand the gravity of the responsibility entrusted to us and we make sincere efforts to comfort families by ensuring that our young patients get the best care.
Delivering world-class care closer to home
At Fortis, Bannerghatta we are committed to caring for each patient’s physical, emotional and social needs in a kid-friendly environment. We treat patients ranging in age from newborns to young adults. Our mission is to ensure a comfortable experience, be it chemotherapy for a teen or an emergency procedure for a toddler.
Our pediatricians and trained hospital staff clearly understand that children have different medical and emotional response compared to adults. We create a thriving environment for the kids by delivering best care through our advanced equipment and techniques. We constantly focus on providing the most suitable care to kids and teens so that they heal faster and can get back to their life soon. You can rely on our medical expertise and skill even in the most complex scenarios.
The role of family, in a child's well-being, is instrumental. Parents are the biggest source of confidence and comfort for their children. Hence, they play the most critical role in the healthcare decision making for their child. Keeping that in mind, we always work towards joint decision making and support the entire family while the child is hospitalized and even after they go home. We ensure to take your opinions on every small and big healthcare decision of your child, provide the needed mental support and distraction to the patient’s siblings and ensure to deliver our best to fit our care within your routine.
Giving you the best chance of a cure is our first goal. We live by our commitment to saving and enriching lives by advancing healthcare through our rigorous focus on clinical excellence and distinctive patient care.
Areas of Care
Our expertise in treating childhood cancer is unparalleled, whether it the most common cancer or the rarest. Following are our area of expertise.
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
- Chondrosarcoma
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
- Ewing Sarcoma
- Hepatoblastoma (liver cancer)
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML)
- Medullary Thyroid Cancer
- Neuroblastoma
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children
- Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer in Children)
- Pediatric Brain Tumors
- Pediatric Leukemias
- Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma
- Retinoblastoma (Eye Cancer in Children)
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Skin Cancer in Children
- Soft Tissue Sarcomas
- Wilms' Tumor (Kidney Tumor)
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Possible signs and symptoms of cancer in children
Signs and symptoms of cancer are not easy ones to detect in children as they have a very close resemblance to common illnesses and injuries. Although uncommon in children, the following unusual symptoms might be indicative of cancer if they do not go away.
- An unusual lump or swelling
- Unexplained paleness and loss of energy
- Easy bruising
- A constant pain in one area of the body
- Limping
- Fever or illness that does not go away
- Frequent headaches, often with vomiting
- Sudden eye or vision changes
- Sudden unexplained weight loss
These symptoms can overlap with any common health issues like injury or infection that affect your child. However, to ensure early diagnosis, reach out to professional help if these symptoms do not subside soon.
Our Diagnostic Services
The most suitable way to detect cancer in children is doing a biopsy report. In a biopsy, the doctor takes a small sample of tissue from the suspected body area of cancer and it is analyzed for the presence of cancerous cells. In case of biopsy being difficult to conduct, the doctor might suggest suitable alternative tests for the same.
Here is a list that describes options for diagnosing childhood cancer. Following factors are kept in mind before deciding the test to be done:
- Type of cancer suspected
- Baby’s signs and symptoms
- Baby’s age and medical condition
- Results of earlier medical tests
The tests to be conducted are decided on case to case basis. It is helpful to conduct the following tests under the supervision of a skilled pediatrician. Additional tests that may be used to diagnose childhood cancer include:
- Blood tests
- Biopsy
- Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy
- Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
- Ultrasound
- Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET) or PET-CT scan
- Scans or radioisotope studies
Based on the condition detected, your child's doctor will suggest a suitable treatment after reviewing all the diagnostic test results with you.
Treatment Options
Treatment and recommendations vary depending on the factors like type and stage of cancer, child's overall health, and potential side-effects. At Fortis, latest therapies are offered to our young patients. Following are the range of treatment options for managing pediatric cancers.
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Stem cell transplantation/bone marrow transplantation
Our Team that cares
We are right through with you on your journey to better the health of your child. Our pediatric cancer care team comprises of renowned experts in pediatric cancer.
All, for your one.
Our care team includes highly-skilled and experienced pediatric hematologists, surgeons, neuro-oncologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, trained nurses and many other subspecialists who work together to maximize your child’s chance of a cure. They ensure to provide exceptional attention at every step of your treatment by providing warm and compassionate care in a family-centered environment.
