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When a child, teenager, or young adult is diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder, families often face complex decisions and challenges that can impact every aspect of their lives. Every parent or caregiver wants the confidence that their child or loved one is receiving the care that best meets their unique needs, recognizing that the right approach can vary based on age, diagnosis, and individual circumstances.
From early childhood through young adulthood, patients face different challenges and milestones. We are dedicated to ensuring that every young person receives care and support that aligns with their unique stage of life and individual circumstances.
In MedStar Health’s Pediatric Adolescent and Young Adult (PAYA) Hematology and Oncology program, based out of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, we provide expert care for patients from birth through age 39 years.
Care for adolescents through young adulthood.
The National Cancer Institute defines adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients as individuals diagnosed with cancer between 15 to 39 years of age. We recognize the unique needs of the AYA population and are dedicated to supporting patients throughout the AYA age spectrum in our program to address medical and psychosocial well-being throughout the cancer journey.
Patients in this age range can often fall into a gap in the healthcare system, too old for pediatric care settings, yet not fully aligned with adult infusion centers where most patients are significantly older.
Our AYA program addresses the unique medical and lifestyle challenges that come along with being a young adult with cancer, including:
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Fertility preservation: Many life-saving treatments can affect a patient’s ability to have children in the future. We provide counseling about options for fertility preservation and family planning.
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Life milestones: Our teams help patients navigate milestones and goals in school, college, or starting a career while getting treatment.
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Independence: We provide support for young adults as they learn to manage their own healthcare and make informed decisions about the future.
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Financial hardship: Our team understands that undergoing cancer treatment can lead to significant financial challenges for individuals and families. Our team helps navigate financial challenges and offers connection to a variety of recourses to help alleviate hardship.
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Psychological stresses: Our team offers psychosocial support for patients and families throughout the cancer journey and works to connect patients to local and national supportive resources, such as peer connection programs.
Comprehensive treatment for cancer.
We help patients manage a wide range of conditions, ensuring that they each receive a highly personalized treatment plan tailored to their individual diagnosis and circumstances.
Our experts collaborate to offer a full spectrum of treatment options, including chemotherapy, on-site immunotherapy, radiation therapies, advanced surgical options, and leading targeted small molecule therapies.
Advanced oncology care.
Our oncology team is dedicated to delivering the most effective treatments for cancers affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. This includes connecting eligible patients to clinical trials and individualizing treatments for each patient.
We treat many types of cancers, including:
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Leukemia and lymphoma: Specialized care for cancers of the blood and immune system
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Solid tumors: Including bone cancers like osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma and soft tissue cancers such as rhabdomyosarcoma
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Brain and spinal cord tumors: We use advanced technology to treat tumors of the central nervous system
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Rare cancers: Our multidisciplinary team has expertise in treating many rare cancers and will often collaborate with national and international experts to ensure the best possible care
A multidisciplinary team built on collaboration.
Our program relies on a multidisciplinary team of experts, and every patient benefits from our collective experience.
To provide care for the whole person, our program includes a range of services to support patients throughout treatment. These include:
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Nutritional guidance
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Mind-body medicine
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Yoga, massage, and acupuncture
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Nutraceutical and dietary supplement evaluation
Our program also provides psychosocial resources, offering patients and their families access to a variety of specialists and care, such as:
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Child Life program
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Social work
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Back to school (or work) transition services
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Art therapy
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Child psychology or neuropsychology
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Physical, occupational, and speech therapies
To care for the whole person requires a team approach. Our team includes specialists who work together to manage every aspect of each patient’s health:
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Pediatric and adult hematologists and oncologists
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Pediatric and adult sub-specialists
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Specialized nurses
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Social workers and patient navigators
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Psychologists and child life specialists
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Genetic counselors
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Nutritionists
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Integrative medicine specialists
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Physical therapists
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Massage therapists
Our partnership with Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in the region) allows us to bring clinical trials to our patients.
Our care continues after treatment ends. The Long-Term Survivorship program follows patients after completion of cancer therapy, monitoring physical and psychosocial health. In the Long-Term Survivorship program, an individualized survivorship care plan is developed for each patient based on the treatment they received.
If your family is facing a new diagnosis or seeking a second opinion, our team is here to help you navigate the path ahead. We’re dedicated to providing the compassionate, comprehensive care every child and young adult deserves.
