Blood Disorders Treatment Process

The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Hematology Program provides expert care and treatment for children with blood disorders. We also ensure you have the compassionate support you need as your family adjusts to life with a blood disorder.

About blood disorders treatment

St. Jude treats many blood disorder patients from birth through 18 years. As your child grows, we treat the disease and help your family learn how to manage challenges.

Learn more about blood disorders treatment at St. Jude, including a list of diseases treated.

Services we provide

Treatment plan

After your child is accepted for treatment, St. Jude Hematology matches your family with a team of experts. We will work with you to create a treatment plan for your child. The plan will address your child’s specific needs. It will include information from you, your child, your medical team, your support staff, and other specialists.

Outpatient care

Most children at St. Jude are treated as outpatients. This means they do not spend the night at the hospital. They only have to visit the outpatient clinics or Infusion Center for tests, checkups, and treatments.

Inpatient care

During your time at St. Jude, your child might be admitted to inpatient unit. Your child might need to visit for:

• Pain that has become hard to control
• Low blood counts or fever
• Excessive bleeding
• Severe fatigue or tiredness
• Treatment that can only be given in the hospital

Every St. Jude inpatient has a highly trained medical team providing care.

Genetic counseling and testing

If your child has a genetic blood disorder, you or other family members could carry the gene. Many blood disorders are inherited through family members. St. Jude offers resources to help your family.

Some examples of genetic blood disorders include sickle cell disease, hemophilia and von Willebrand disease. A St. Jude genetic counselor can:

• Explain and advise your family about risks
• Offer you genetic evaluation, testing, and counseling
• Help your family understand who might be a carrier and how the gene is passed on
• Outline possible impacts on the health of future children or grandchildren
• Give you and your family educational materials to take with you and share
  

Take time to think carefully about the benefits and risks of genetic testing. Speak with a genetic counselor before testing. If you decide to get tested, talk with your health care provider or a genetic counselor about your results so you can understand what they mean.  

Sometimes, children or adults with a genetic blood disorder may feel sad, anxious, or angry after getting their test results. Parents may feel guilty if they pass a genetic blood disorder onto 1 or more of their children. People with such disorders may also have trouble getting disability or life insurance.   

Read more about genetic discrimination.

To find a genetics counselor in your area, you can also visit Personalized Care for Your Genetic Health.  

Your blood disorders treatment team

Your child will have a team of doctors, nurses, and support staff trained to treat children with blood disorders. You will also have a nursing care coordinator to help coordinate your child's care. Care team members work with you to support your family and answer your questions.

Along with primary doctors, your child’s care team may include:

• Hematology nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nursing care coordinators: Provide medical care and training on how to keep your child safe and healthy at home
• Physical therapists: Help children develop and rehabilitate their muscles and motor skills so they can live strong and play safely
• Social workers: Support your family and help you access community resources
• School specialists: Coordinate with and educate your child's school teachers about blood disorders and safe environments for children who have them
• Child life specialists: Help reduce stress and anxiety for your child, siblings, and the rest of your family
• Genetic counselors: Teach your family how certain blood disorders are inherited. Other family members may be able to be tested for the blood disorder or the gene that causes it.
• Clinical nutritionists: Recommend foods to help keep your child strong and healthy
• Dentists: Address how your child’s disease affects the teeth and provide dental care as needed

Resources and support

St. Jude offers resources and support for families and patients with blood disorders. These include:

• Help with transportation, meals, work excuses, and housing, if needed. Your social worker, along with your nursing care coordinator, will help with these arrangements.
• Patient support groups. St. Jude has several patient support groups to help with emotional issues involved with having and caring for a child with a chronic illness.
• Patient family-centered care and the Family Advisory Council help promote patient family voices in treatment decisions.

Online resources

Learn more