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Our Services

The Cancer and Blood Disorders Center provides the breadth of specialized services and depth of experience to treat a range of cancer and blood disorders conditions, from the most common to the rarest conditions. The center includes an outpatient unit with treatment rooms, infusion center and play area and a fully-equipped, 36-bed inpatient unit, Starship Craycroft.

Valley Children’s is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), a cooperative research collaborative of more than 200 medical institutions worldwide that works to identify cancer causes and pioneer new treatments and cures. Patients currently have access to 90 open protocols for standard treatments. Additionally, our research extends to industry-sponsored trials for cutting-edge therapies, advanced treatments and early clinical studies.

We provide quality treatments and better continuity of care through our following clinic-based programs.

  • Leukemia and Lymphoma:  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.
  • Solid Tumors: Approximately 30 percent of our new patients suffer from solid tumors. The most common types of solid tumors in children include neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, hepatoblastoma, retinoblastoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and Wilms tumor.
  • Neuro-Oncology: Brain and spinal cord cancers affect about 20 percent of our newly diagnosed patients. We treat a broad range of conditions, including astrocytomas, glioblatomas, medulloblastomas and neurofibromatosis.
  • Histiocytosis: Valley Children’s sees about 8-10 cases a year for histiocytosis. As a member of the North American Consortium for Histiocytosis (NACHO), we have access to different treatment protocols for kids with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), especially those who have failed past treatments or need a second line of treatment.
  • Childhood Cancer Survivorship: The Fresno Truck Center Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program helps patients prepare for a healthier future. The only one of its kind in Central California, the program is open to any survivor who is cancer-free for at least three years since completion of therapy.
  • Blood Disorders: We treat general hematology disorders such as thrombocytopenia, platelet disorders and white blood cell disorders. Our Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) provides comprehensive care to individuals with bleeding and clotting problems such as hemophilia, thrombosis and von Willebrand disease. We also have a hemoglobinopathy program that includes sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.
  • Vascular Malformations: Our subspecialists treat abnormal growth of blood vessels such as vascular malformations and hemangiomas through chemotherapy, immune suppressant medications, laser surgery or sclerotherapy.

Starship Craycroft Inpatient Oncology Unit

When an inpatient stay is necessary, Starship Craycroft provides a welcoming atmosphere for children of all ages. The unit features private rooms, each with a high-efficiency filter system to protect patients with weakened immune systems, and accommodations for overnight family stays. All rooms have televisions, with in-room movies and video games on demand.

In addition to the procedures and treatments performed in the outpatient center, we offer inpatient care to children who:

  • Have an acute illness in addition to their form of cancer
  • Need more intensive chemotherapy
  • Need numerous transfusions
  • Are just beginning their cancer treatment
  • Have an acute illness because of their weakened immune system

Valley Children’s also participates in the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), a collaborative organization of 70 hospitals nationwide that does quality improvement projects such as improving pediatric sepsis outcomes. Dr. Faisal Razzaqi, pediatric oncologist, holds a national chair for the CHA and works closely with internal departments to improve sepsis outcomes.

Patient and Family Support Services

At Valley Children’s we believe kids and their families are at the center of everything we do. We build a partnership with our families to improve their child’s well-being and help them overcome any barriers to care. Comprised of social workers, nurse navigators, child life specialists, palliative care and rehab therapists, our goal is to provide mental and physical support for patients as well as emotional and financial support for the families. Learn more about our comprehensive services for patients and families.