The short answer
Children with cancer are often treated at children's cancer centers, where specialists have training to care for children. Many centers belong to the Children's Oncology Group (COG), a research network. NCI's Cancer Information Service can help families find one.
Children with cancer are often treated at children's cancer centers.
Pediatric teams include many specialists trained to care for children.
Many children's centers belong to the Children's Oncology Group (COG), a large research network.
At these centers, clinical trials are available for most childhood cancers.
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The whole article, with every detail and caution.
This page is for parents and families of a child with cancer. It explains where children are treated, who is on the care team, and how to find a children's cancer center.
The simple version
Children with cancer are usually treated at a children's cancer center. This is a hospital or unit that specializes in treating children with cancer. The team there is made up of specialists trained to care for children.
Why specialized care matters
Children's cancers are different from adult cancers, and children's cancer centers have staff trained for them. Your child's team can explain how they plan care around your child's age.
Children's cancer centers bring together a full team in one place: primary care physicians, pediatric oncologists and hematologists, pediatric surgical specialists, radiation oncologists, rehabilitation specialists, nurse specialists, social workers, and psychologists.
The Children's Oncology Group
Hospitals with childhood cancer expertise are usually member institutions of the NCI-supported Children's Oncology Group, known as COG. NCI calls COG the world's largest organization that conducts clinical research to improve the care and treatment of children with cancer.
NCI says clinical trials are available for most types of cancer in children, and many patients are offered the chance to take part. Ask your care team whether a trial may fit your child.
How common is childhood cancer?
Childhood cancer is rare. For 2025, the American Cancer Society projected about 9,550 new cases in children ages 0 to 14 in the United States, and around 1,050 deaths. No newer national projection for this age group has been published. The most common types are leukemias, brain and spinal cord tumors, and lymphomas.
The outlook has changed enormously. Death rates for childhood cancer fell 70% between 1970 and 2020. By 2020, close to 496,000 people in the United States were living as childhood cancer survivors.
Teens and young adults
Some patients are teenagers or young adults, and the best fit is not always obvious. Ask your care team which kind of program fits your situation best.
Finding a children's cancer center
Your child's doctor can help you find a children's cancer center, ideally one that belongs to COG. The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service can also help you find one. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237), or use LiveHelp chat at cancer.gov.
Many families travel some distance for this kind of specialized care. Ask your social worker about travel and lodging support early.
Second opinions are normal
It is normal to ask for a second opinion, even at a good hospital. Many doctors expect it and can help you get one. Ask your child's team how long you can safely take to get one before treatment starts.
What a children's cancer center gives you
- A team of specialists trained to care for children with cancer.
- Clinical trials, which NCI says are available for most types of childhood cancer.
- A care team that includes nurses, social workers, and psychologists.
- Ask about a plan for long-term follow-up, since some effects of treatment can show up later.
What to ask
Ask whether the hospital treating your child belongs to the Children's Oncology Group. Ask whether a clinical trial is available and right for your child's cancer. Ask exactly who is on your child's care team, and who to call after hours. Ask what support exists for siblings, and for you as a parent.
After treatment ends
Care does not stop when treatment does. Some effects of treatment can show up later. Ask your care team what follow-up your child will need, whether the center has a survivorship clinic, and when to start.
Sources
Common questions
Where are children with cancer treated?
Children are often treated at a children's cancer center — a hospital or unit that specializes in caring for children with cancer, where staff have special training and expertise.
Who is on the care team?
Pediatric teams often include primary care doctors, pediatric oncologists and hematologists, surgical specialists, radiation oncologists, rehabilitation specialists, nurse specialists, social workers, and psychologists.
What is the Children's Oncology Group?
The Children's Oncology Group (COG) is the world's largest organization that conducts childhood cancer research. Many children's cancer centers are COG member institutions.
Why does treatment at a specialized center matter?
At these centers, staff are trained specifically in children's cancers, and clinical trials are available for most types, giving children access to the latest research-based care.
How do I find a center?
NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can help families find COG-affiliated hospitals and answer questions about care and clinical trials.
Questions to ask your doctor
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Talk with a trained specialist or navigator
Cancer Explained provides educational guidance, but does not replace trained specialists, social workers, or your medical team.
Talk to a trained cancer information specialist
Free, confidential assistance from NCI Cancer Information Service via phone, chat, or email.
Contact your oncology team
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Find a genetic counselor
Discuss inherited mutation risk, family history, and genetic testing options.
Find an oncology social worker
Access emotional counseling, family support groups, and mental health resources.
Find a financial navigator
Locate copay assistance foundations, grant programs, and lodging/travel support.
Find a clinical-trial specialist
Search matching studies and speak with NCI trial information specialists.
Get urgent help
Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during chemo, severe pain, or trouble breathing: call your cancer care team right away, day or night. Call 911 for an emergency.
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Last updated: 2026-10-16Next planned review: 2027-07-07
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How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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