Each year, more than 12,000 children in this country are diagnosed with cancer, with leukemia accounting for more than one-third of those numbers. When compared to the number of children under age 18 living in the U.S., the numbers are thankfully low; however, even one child with cancer is one too many.

At Sutter, we bring the full force of diagnostic tools, treatment skills and clinical trial participation to more than 500 children each year. By combining the expertise and resources of Sutter Cancer Center, Sacramento and Sutter Children's Services, we ensure each child receives the finest care possible to fight cancers of all kinds. From newborns to teenagers, each patient receives services from a full team of pediatric oncology and hematology specialists supported by a larger team of pediatric specialists and subspecialists, nurses, Child Life specialists, social workers, physical therapists, nutritionists and others who provide support for the family and compassionate care of the whole child.

Started in 1994, the program is now the region's largest, the fourth largest in California and the eleventh largest in the country. The program provides services to children in a 19-county area and offers survival rates among the best in the country. Led by pediatric oncologists and hematologists with excellent academic, clinical and research experience, the program continues to expand it services and reach, treating all types of cancer including:

• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia


• Acute Myeloid Leukemia


• Hodgkin's Disease


• Neuroblastoma


• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma


• Osteosarcoma


• Retinoblastoma


• Wilms' Tumor

Special capabilities of the program include:

• Neuro-oncology and Gamma Knife® Radiosurgery - The program provides advanced neuro-oncology care for brain tumor diagnosis and treatment. Services include Sutter's Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Center, which offers surgery-free treatment of certain brain tumors and blood vessel malformations.


• Clinical Trials - To enhance patient care, the program is a member of the Children's Oncology Group, a research cooperative devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer. Because cancer in children is fortunately rare, almost every child seen through Sutter's program has the opportunity to participate in research studies and clinical research trials exploring more-effective or better-tolerated treatments.

In addition to doing everything possible to help each child resume a normal, healthy childhood, our staff works tirelessly to support the needs of each child and family. Staff is available every hour of every day, reducing emergency room visits and costly, unnecessary admissions. Most important, children in the program receive the one-to-one attention they deserve and require for effective treatment of their illness and the mental and emotional challenges they face.