What to Expect
We are here for you and want you to be as comfortable as possible as you begin your care with us.
Not sure what you need to bring to your child’s appointment? View these checklists to help in your planning.
The treatment we recommend depends on the patient’s age, type of cancer, and the cancer’s location. Our program offers the most up-to-date medical, surgical and radiation therapies as well as clinical trials for all types of childhood cancer. We also offer bone marrow transplantation. We perform autologous, allogenic, and umbilical cord transplants. Our physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and support staff all work together to provide family centered continuity of care.
Clinic Overview
The Reelin’ for Research Pediatric Hematology Oncology Clinic is located on the first floor of the N.C. Basnight Cancer Hospital. Our clinic provides a friendly atmosphere that is appropriate and comfortable for young patients of all ages.
In most cases procedures are pain free (such as bone marrow and spinal taps) as they are done under general anesthesia or conscious sedation.
Clinic features
- Our waiting area has a virtual reality mat with interactive games, as well as books donated by the Book Fairy and Karl’s Books for our patients and siblings to enjoy and take home.
- The Mary Claire Satterly playroom has lots of age appropriate toys, weekly craft projects, and homemade hats made by various community groups. The playroom is staffed by our recreation therapists and by community and UNC-Chapel Hill student volunteers.
- We have two computers dedicated to patient and family use, and a nutrition center with snacks and drinks. A refrigerator located in the nutrition center is available for patient and family use during your clinic stay.
- Each infusion bay has its own TV and Playstation 3 console, we also have Nintendo DS game systems and movies that can be checked out for use during your time in clinic.
- We participate in the Beads of Courage program as well as several local and national childhood cancer awareness events such as Pedal for Peds, St. Baldrick’s, and the CureSearch Walk.
- A school classroom is located in the back of clinic for use by our hospital school teachers and patients as they attend school or work on homework in clinic.
- A recreation therapist staffs our clinic daily, and plans activities for patients as well as providing therapeutic play and coping techniques during stressful procedures.
- A social worker and child psychologist also staff the clinic, and counsel patients and their families, and a nutritionist is available by appointment.
Support Groups
Our program is involved in a number of in house support groups, parent support groups and an amazing teen group. Additional programs to help support our patients and families include Carolina PALS, Andy’s Special Friends, and various summer camp opportunities. Read more about support groups and other available resources.