Pediatric Oncology

Trust the cancer experts at Essentia to provide exceptional care in a healing environment. The Erick Peter Person Children’s Cancer Center in Duluth, Minnesota, is the only pediatric cancer center in the Northland. It offers skilled staff and advanced technology and provides comprehensive cancer care for children. We also offer pediatric cancer care for patients and families in the Fargo area at our Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic. 

Staying close to your home and support network can reduce stress and provide comfort to you and your child. Depend on Essentia’s compassionate team to answer your questions, provide guidance for at-home care, and help you talk to your child about their diagnosis and treatment.

What's a Pediatric Oncologist?

A pediatric oncologist is a pediatrician who has completed additional training in oncology. These specialists treat cancer in children and teens. At Essentia, our pediatric oncologists are also pediatric hematologists who treat blood disorders.

Conditions Treated

See the full list of conditions we treat, and select a condition to find providers and locations near you.

Cancer Treatments

Rely on your pediatric oncology team to create a care plan tailored to your child. It may include:

• Chemotherapy – Delivers medications by mouth, injection, or infusion to stop cancer cells from growing
• Immunotherapy – Affects the immune system to help the body fight cancer
• Radiation therapy – Destroys cancer cells with high-energy radiation
• Surgery – Removes cancerous tissue
• Targeted therapy – Uses medications to attack specific types of cancer cells and causes less harm to normal cells than traditional chemotherapy
• Clinical research studies – Uses promising new treatments not yet widely available

Inpatient & Outpatient Care

Talk to your child’s care team about services your child can receive on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Inpatient means your child stays at the hospital. In Duluth, Minnesota, that hospital would be the St. Mary's Children's Hospital. Outpatient means your child stays at home and visits the cancer center or hospital for treatment. In some clinic locations, pediatric cancer patients can receive care from a cancer provider in Duluth via a TeleVideo Exam.

Team-Based Care

Expect coordinated care from a team that works together to treat cancer, ease pain, and help your child rebuild strength and energy. Your child’s multidisciplinary team may include:

• Pediatric oncologists and hematologists
• Doctors from other specialties, such as neurologists
• Your child’s primary care doctor or pediatrician
• Nurses, including nurses trained to give chemotherapy
• Rehabilitation therapists
• Dietitians
• Psychologists and social workers
• Child life specialists
• School liaison services

Support for Kids & Families

Choose Essentia to address your child’s medical, emotional, and developmental needs. Your child’s care team may recommend events or services that can benefit your child and family, such as:

• Art and music activities
• Nutrition education
• Online journaling programs
• Beads of Courage, which gives patients a bead to symbolize each type of care they’ve received
• Events coordinated by Essentia for patients and their families
• Survivorship program, which offers long-term support for patients in remission

Risks & Benefits of Clinical Research Studies