What is the Neurooncology Program?
The Neurooncology Program is a cohesive collaboaration between oncology and neurosciences at BC Children's Hospital, serving children and adolescents across the province with brain, spinal cord and nerve sheath tumors. We also address neurological issues that arise in children and adolescents with cancer. In addition, we serve those with nervous system tumor predisposition syndromes and collaborate with other disciplines to optimise their care. We focus on the best curative treatment of the tumor or cancer whilst aiming to mitigate the short term and long term adverse effects of the tumor and its therapy to provide children and adolescents the best chance possible to thrive with their family, in school, and in their community.
Hand in hand with providing compassionate holistic multidisciplinary care, we offer the opportunity for our patients to participate in local, international and national clinical trials as we strive to advance the care of children with nervous system tumors or neurological consequences of their cancer therapy.
What services are provided by the Neurooncology Program?
We will evaluate the tumor type and tumor burden, your child's neurological function and general health. We will provide medical care and advice, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to provide the complex care when required. We are a resource and support local community care teams including pediatricians, oncologists, and family physicians to allow care to be provided in the local community when possible.
Who should be referred to the Neurooncology Program?
Children and adolescents with a new diagnosis of a brain tumor, spinal cord tumor, neurofibromas or schwannomas. Children and adolescents with cancer or a tumor predisposition syndrome PLUS neurological dysfunction.
How can my child be referred to the Neurooncology Program?
New diagnosis of a brain or spinal cord tumor requiring urgent care should be referred to Divisions of Neurosurgery or Oncology at BC Children's Hospital.
If the patient has a tumor secondary to tumor predisposition syndrome such as neurofibromatosis or tuberous sclerosis, the patient may be referred on a non-urgent basis to the Division of Neurology at BC Children's Hospital and will be seen in the respective Tuberous sclerosis or Neurofibromatosis clinics.
Multidisciplinary tertiary/quarternary care is coordinated as needed for the benefit of patient care.
If the child or adolescent has cancer and a neurological disorder they should be referred to the Neurology division at BC Children's Hospital.
Who can I contact about BC Children's Hospital's Neurooncology Program?
On referral by your pediatrician or family physician your child will be triaged to see the appropriate specialist in the team for your child's condition.
I don't live in Vancouver. Can my child be assessed by the Neurooncology Program?
While our program is based in Vancouver at BC Children's Hospital and most often your child will need to attend BC Children's Hospital for evaluation by various specialists, testing and treatment. We offer outreach and virtual health when possible.
Where can I find more information about the Neurooncology Program?
We encourage families to connect with :
http://www.bcchildrens.ca/health-info/coping-support/cancer/brain-spinal-tumours
http://www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/clinics/cancer-blood-disorders/#Follow-up
https://www.braintumour.ca/
https://www.tumourfoundation.ca/