Child Life

The Child Life program specializes in reducing stress and anxiety for children in the hospital through methods of distraction, play, and support. Child Life also fosters an environmentfor emotional growth and encouragement. The Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders includes a Child Life Specialist to serve patients.

Contact a Child Life Specialist by calling (423) 778-7155. Social Services

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology social work isa specialty discipline committed to enhancingthe emotional and physical well-being of children diagnosed with cancer and their families. The center includes a social worker dedicated to oncology who can assist inunderstanding the medical dynamics of a chronic illness, provide educational and financialinformation, and help families through the initial stages of dealing with a cancer diagnosis.A social worker is also responsible forimproving the lives of families living with hemophilia and sickle cell.

Contact our Social Worker by calling(423) 778-4662.

Helpful Links:

www.curesearch.org

www.www.nih.gov

www.sicklecelltn.org

www.stompoutsicklecell.org

www.hemophilia.org

The Center forChildhood Cancer &Blood Disorders at

T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital910 Blackford Street

Chattanooga, TN 37403Phone: (423) 778-7289

Fax: (423) 778-6848

The Center forChildhood Cancer &

Blood Disorders at

The Center forChildhood Cancer &

Blood Disorders at

www.erlanger.org/childrens

Childhood Cancer

The Center for Childhood Cancer and BloodDisorders diagnoses and treats more than fifty newcancer patients per year. Children can receive family-centered care and services that include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation oncology, child life and social services. We are part of theChildren’s Oncology Group (COG), which providesstate-of-the-art cancer research protocols that are implemented in over 230 hospitals around the country.

Families can be treated locally at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital and maintain supportive community ties in order to improve the patient’s healing process. Summer camp activities areoffered as well as weekly entertainment activitiesfor patients and their families. The center also advocates for patients to achieve higher educationand provides information on scholarships for survivors.

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited condition within the African American population.One in every 400 babies is born with sickle cell disease, which causes abnormally shaped red bloodcells. Anemia (low blood), serious infections, painfulcrises and stroke can be prevented and treated if thedisease is well-managed.

The Center for Childhood Cancer and BloodDisorders treats clients with sickle cell disease from birth to 25 years of age in a comprehensiveenvironment. Emphasis on early detection,prevention, and screening for potential complicationsof disease is discussed in multidisciplinary clinics.Additionally, those diagnosed with sickle cell disease learn to advocate for themselves in school and in the work environment, leading to life-long healthy outcomes.

Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding condition inwhich the blood does not clot normally. Throughthe Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, families are educated in acomprehensive, multidisciplinary setting on howto recognize early signs of joint bleeding and how to handle complications of the disease.

Family Education Room

The family education room is located inside the Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders.Educational material regarding diagnosis and treatment of oncology, sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other hematology disorders is presented for families to peruse at their leisure. Psychosocial support information and school age material is available for parents and families.Current information is continuously added to theroom and the staff encourages family members and caregivers to stop by frequently.