Solid Tumor Treatment

At St. Jude, physicians and researchers dedicate their careers to improving care and finding cures for children with solid tumors.

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An experienced team of experts will work with you and your family to identify the best therapy for your child’s solid tumor.

  

Our specialties include:

 

We’re in awe of what St. Jude has done for us. I want to say, ‘Really? You’re doing all this for our child and our family?’ But they do it not just for her, but for all of these kids.

Melissa, mom of Ewing sarcoma patient

Sara M. Federico, MD, with a St. Jude patient

Solid Tumor Treatment

When your child has a solid tumor, your treatment team will develop and recommend a treatment plan that's right for your child.

How are solid tumors treated?

Alberto Pappo, MD, and Armita Bahrami, MD

Why St. Jude

Our experienced team of physicians and researchers have dedicated their careers to improving care and finding cures for children with solid tumors.

What makes St. Jude unique?

Rachel Brennan, MD, with a St. Jude patient

Solid Tumor Referrals

St. Jude welcomes referrals of children or teens with solid tumors for which we have open clinical trials.

Refer a patient to St. Jude

Belle, solid tumor patient

Patient Stories

In addition to your St. Jude treatment team, you will also meet and find support from other families with children who have solid tumors. Here are the stories of some who have come before you.

Read their stories.

Doctor with a St. Jude patient

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are common questions families ask about solid tumors, treatment and St. Jude. 

Frequently asked questions about solid tumor treatment

Dr. Israel Fernandez-Pineda, MD, Surgeon.

Glossary of Solid Tumor Medical Tests

We want your family to have all the information you need, when you need it. We've made a guide for parents to explain common tests your child may have.

Parents' quick guide to solid tumor medical tests

 

Treatment plans for solid tumors

When your child has a solid tumor, your treatment team will develop and recommend a plan that’s right for your child. Treatment for solid tumors generally combines several types of therapy, which may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

To create the best treatment plan, the team needs information about your child’s specific tumor, including its size and location. Doctors usually get this information in several ways. They include tests such as an MRI, CT or bone scan, or a surgical biopsy.

  1. Surgery is a primary treatment for solid tumors. Every year, St. Jude surgeons perform hundreds of surgeries, many rarely seen by other doctors. The skills and experience of St. Jude surgeons can help improve the chances for best solid tumor outcomes.

    Surgery for your Child's Solid Tumor: What to Expect

  2. Radiation treatment (RT) is used to destroy tumor cells to help control your child's cancer. A large machine points high-energy radiation toward tumors. Radiation can kill healthy cells, too.

    The doctors who kill or shrink tumors with radiation are called radiation oncologists. Using scans, ultrasound or X-ray, radiologists can track the spread of cancer as well as monitor how well the treatment is working.

    Radiation for your Child's Solid Tumor: What to Expect

  3. Chemotherapy is treatment with medicines that kill cancer cells. There are more than 100 chemo drugs.

    Chemo can cure some types of cancer in children, but there is more than one reason a pediatric oncologist gives chemo to a child with a solid tumor.

    Chemotherapy for Your Child's Solid Tumor: What to Expect

 

Adrenocortical Tumors and International Pediatric Adrenocortical Tumor Registry (IPACTR)

The International Pediatric Adrenocortical Tumor Registry (IPACTR) contains data about children and teens who have adrenocortical tumor or ACT.

ACT is a rare type of cancer. It affects a very small number of children each year. That small number makes getting data difficult. Scientists at St. Jude started collecting details about children around the world who have had ACT.

The result is IPACTR. Experts use the IPACTR data to help understand ACT and help design research studies that aim to find new and better treatments. 

Learn How Your Family Can Participate

Without the lifesaving treatment at St. Jude, I would not have been able to watch her grow into the graceful woman she has become.

Catherine Greenslade, mom of patient Emily Land

Solid tumor team

Solid tumor professionals

The Solid Tumor Treatment Team at St. Jude includes health care professionals with specialized training in a variety of disciplines related to the care of children and adolescents with solid tumors. These specialists will be closely involved in your child's care.

 

Solid Tumor Coordinator

The Solid Tumor Coordinator is dedicated to helping you seek treatment or refer a patient.

Joe Brigance
Solid Tumor Coordinator
Phone: (901) 595-6110
Fax: (901) 595-7362
Email: joseph.brigance@stjude.org

 

Meet Your Solid Tumor Team

Miguel’s recent tests came back completely normal. We’ve been able to deal with all the complications of therapy, and now Miguel has a functional limb, no pain and a normal heart. Things are looking rosy for him.

Alberto Pappo, MD, on osteosarcoma patient Miguel's recovery after limb-sparing surgery

Solid tumors treated at St. Jude

A tumor is an abnormal clump of cells. Tumors can occur in bones, muscles or organs. You can learn more about solid tumors generally, or click on the links below to read about individual types of solid tumors St. Jude treats.

What is a Solid Tumor?

 

Resources for parents and families of children with solid tumors

St. Jude is a hospital designed specifically for children and their families. We want you to have the information you need to help you understand options and make decisions.

You can always ask questions of your doctor, nurse or other care team member. You may also contact us if you are at home. Here are some other resources you may find useful.

 

Refer a Solid Tumor Patient

Patient Referrals

 
 

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