Recovery & Support for Sarcoma in Children

At the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, our doctors, nurses, and wellness experts support your child and your family throughout treatment and rehabilitation. Our team of experts focuses on your child’s health and psychological and social wellbeing, keeping in mind his or her future.

We offer a variety of support programs at the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. These child and family support services and resilience programs are provided by Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care.

Rehabilitation

Experts at the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders work in conjunction with specialists at Rusk Rehabilitation to care for children who require rehabilitation services after sarcoma treatment. Our pediatric specialists help children improve their mobility, balance, coordination, endurance, and fine motor skills, as well as increase their strength.

Our specialists are trained in the rehabilitation of children who have lost their limbs. They help children with prosthetics negotiate stairs, prevent falls, and improve their range of motion, coordination, and endurance. Our goal is to help your child return to his or her home and school.

Our team of experts includes doctors who specialize in rehabilitation medicine, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, and social workers.

Wellness Services

The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders offers daily wellness programs for children, their siblings, and their parents. They include art, music, and pet therapy; massage therapy; counseling services; sibling, teen, and young adult support groups; and yoga, among others. Our medical librarians, social workers, and therapists offer additional information and support.

Treating a Relapse

After treatment, our doctors closely monitor your child through regular physical exams, blood tests, and sometimes imaging tests. Follow-up visits typically occur every three to four months during the first two years after treatment ends, and every six months to a year thereafter.

Despite the best care, a small percentage of children with sarcomas can experience a relapse, or a return, of cancer. If a relapse occurs, your child’s doctor creates a treatment plan based on the type of sarcoma he or she has, the location of the tumor, and the previous treatments.

For some children, an experimental treatment may be appropriate. NYU Langone is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, an organization supported by the National Cancer Institute that unites thousands of cancer experts worldwide. This enables doctors to offer and operate clinical trials, scientific studies that test new and emerging treatments for cancer, including sarcomas. Your doctor can help you decide if participating in a clinical trial is right for your child.