The Pediatric Oncology at Tawam Hospital is an 18 bedded unit and provides comprehensive and complex family-centered care to children who suffer from cancer and hematological disorders. It provides care primarily to children/adolescents ranging between the ages of one month to 15 years of age. Our Pediatric Oncology Outpatient Clinic which is attached to the inpatient unit is open for five days from Sunday to Thursday.

Patients who are admitted are primarily patients who require:

• Complex treatment regimes (protocols) which may be inclusive of chemotherapy, radiation or surgical intervention for malignant disease. Our team will explain the principles and description of treatment, method of treatment delivery, potential side effects, and special considerations for each type of treatment.
• Supportive management of complex protocols:

Providing information about the incidence, etiology, treatment, prevention and prognosis for each side effect. May include, but not limited to:

• Intravenous antibiotic/antimicrobial and antifungal therapy
• Parental nutrition.
• Blood and blood product administration.
• Palliative and end-of-life care for our children and their families.

The unit’s philosophy is to provide:

• Individualized, negotiated oncology care to the child and their family.
• Recognition of the rights of children and families and decision making in accordance with ethical principles.
• Provide the highest standard of care with realistic outcomes
• Health care that is culturally appropriate taking into consideration the child’s developmental age, emotional, physical and spiritual needs
• Collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care of the child with cancer.

Pediatric oncology treatment involves caring for children with cancer across the continuum from diagnosis to cure or a peaceful death. We ensure evidence-based practice as guided by international standards. Our care delivery is also governed by policies and practices that recognize and honor cultural diversity, strengths, and individuality within families, including geographic, ethnic, racial, socioeconomic, educational and spiritual diversity.

Our care delivery is family-centered and multidisciplinary based. It recognizes that the family is the constant in a child’s life. We encourage collaboration between the family and healthcare professionals in all levels and settings of care.

Multidisciplinary care is an important factor in providing comprehensive care to patients. Patients will have access to a healthcare system that is flexible, accessible, and responsive to their family needs.

Policy and procedures for the care of chemotherapy and supportive treatment is parallel with professional childhood cancer study groups in both Europe and United States of America. Our protocols are from these professional bodies.