Hematology/Oncology

Childhood cancers are different from adult cancers. Unlike adult cancers, which often result from environmental exposure, the causes of most childhood cancers are unknown.

The incidence of the different types of cancers varies with age. Overall, one in every 330 children in the United States develop cancer by the age of 19, which is over 12,000 patients per year.

Cancer kills more children than any other disease, approximately 3,000 patients per year—more than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined.

Types of Childhood Cancers

• Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, affecting over 3,000 patients in the United States each year.
  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common subtype and has had the most dramatic improvement in overall survival (now approaching over 80 percent).
• Lymphoma (Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s) comprise 10 percent of all childhood cancers in the United States and is the third most common malignancy.

Treatment and Research

As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group—a network of over 5,000 pediatric cancer specialists in over 200 hospitals in North America—Scott & White is part of an organization that collectively treats over 90 percent of the children diagnosed with cancer on research protocols.

This coordinated effort enables collaborative research, which has boosted the pediatric cure rate higher than for any other age group – over 400,000 patient years of life are saved each year.

We've seen dramatic improvements in pediatric cancer survival rates over the decades, with the progress largely attributed to over 100,000 patients who have participated in the group’s studies over the past 30 years. Current overall survival rates have risen to 75 percent.

At Scott & White, we also engage in state of the art research in the field of immunoconjugates for childhood leukemia.

The clinical staff in the section of pediatric hematology oncology is proud to continue the tradition of Scott & White in providing personalized, comprehensive, high-quality healthcare enhanced by medical education and research.

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Emergency Information

Kids don't get sick only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If your child is having a true emergency, a staff member from the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Team is on call to assist you when the office is closed.

Please have the following information written down and ready when you call:

• Your child's current medications and pharmacy phone number
• Result of last CBC and last treatment

During office hours, call 254-724-2006 or 254-724-2144. After hours, weekends and holidays, page 254-762-3230

• If you leave a message with the emergency service and do not hear back within 10 minutes, please call again.
• If you have any problems with the emergency service, please let us know so that we may correct problems promptly.

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Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Team

The Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology consists of three pediatric oncologists, chaplains, clinical research associates, clinic nurses, a social worker, a child life specialist, receptionists and nursing assistants. We work closely with other pediatric subspecialists and other departments to provide a multidisciplinary approach to the care of our patients and their families.

Arlynn Mulne, M.D.

Section Chief, Assistant Professor

Jenny Damron, B.S., C.C.L.S.

Child Life Specialist

Becky Ellis

Clinical Assistant

Daniel Hancock, R.N.

Serena Harkins, L.M.S.W.

Clinical Social Worker

Jan Hawthorne, C.R.A.

Data Manager

Samuel Davis, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Rose Jones

Clinical Assistant

Susie Meelbusch

Unit Assistant

Lisa Woytek, R.N.

Case Manager

Hope Young, R.N.

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