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Department of Radiation Medicine & Applied Sciences Radiation Medicine
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Pediatrics

Radiation therapy is a key part of care for many childhood cancers—used alone or alongside surgery and chemotherapy to precisely target tumors while protecting growing tissues. At our center, most children receive proton therapy (see photo), which can lower radiation to nearby organs like the heart, lungs, brain, and abdomen to help safeguard learning, growth, hearing, hormones, and fertility. We commonly treat brain and spinal tumors (medulloblastoma, ependymoma, low/high-grade glioma), bone and soft tissue sarcomas (Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma), neuroblastoma, kidney tumors (Wilms tumor), lymphomas, and leukemias with CNS or other sanctuary involvement. Care is delivered by a pediatric-focused team with child-life support, and gentle anesthesia is available when needed to keep kids comfortable and still. Your team will explain if and how radiation fits into your child’s treatment plan.

Why do Proton Therapy in Children?

For many children who need radiation, proton therapy helps target the tumor while reducing dose to healthy, growing tissues. Unlike traditional X-rays that pass through the body, protons can stop at a precise depth, lowering exposure to the brain, heart, lungs, abdomen, and bone marrow—important for protecting learning and memory, growth and hormones, hearing, and future fertility. This precision is especially helpful for brain and spine tumors (including craniospinal treatments) and cancers near critical organs; in select cases we can even use vertebral body–sparing plans to limit dose to the spine’s growth centers. Proton therapy aims to maintain excellent cure rates while reducing some short- and long-term side effects. It isn’t right for every child, so your team will explain whether protons—or standard photon therapy—best match your child’s diagnosis and anatomy.

Meet the Pediatric Oncology Team