Advanced Cancer Care Designed Around Children
Every child experiences cancer differently. Some require highly specialized immunotherapy, while others benefit from stem cell transplantation, precision diagnostics, supportive care, or participation in clinical research. Determining the most appropriate treatment requires close collaboration among pediatric hemato-oncologists, immunologists, transplant physicians, radiologists, surgeons, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, and many other healthcare professionals.
At the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, this multidisciplinary approach allows children with some of the most complex pediatric cancers to receive coordinated care under one roof. For children who may be candidates for CAR-T-therapy, evaluation includes careful assessment of their diagnosis, previous treatments, overall health, and disease status before a personalized treatment plan is developed.
Because CAR-T-therapy is highly specialized, treatment extends well beyond the infusion itself. Children require close monitoring before, during, and after therapy by experienced pediatric teams familiar with both the potential benefits and the unique side effects associated with cellular immunotherapy.
Supporting the Whole Family Throughout Treatment
Treating childhood cancer means caring for more than the disease itself. Children continue to grow, learn, and develop throughout treatment, making emotional wellbeing, education, and family support essential parts of recovery.
Sheba’s pediatric program integrates psychosocial care alongside medical treatment while also prioritizing pain prevention whenever possible. Through its Pain-Free Treatment approach, the hospital uses child-friendly techniques, including virtual reality (VR), pain management when appropriate, and individualized comfort strategies, to help reduce pain, fear, and anxiety during routine medical procedures. Children psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, and specially trained medical clowns work together to create a calmer, more supportive environment.
Education also remains an important priority. The Weizman Educational Center, Sheba’s in-hospital school, allows children to continue learning throughout treatment, helping them maintain routines, stay connected to their studies, and prepare for returning to school when medically appropriate.
Caring for International Families Seeking Advanced Treatment
For families traveling from Ukraine and other countries, medical treatment is only one part of the journey. International patients often need help coordinating medical records, arranging appointments, navigating travel logistics, and communicating in a new language while coping with the stress of a child’s serious illness.
Sheba’s Global Patient Services team provides dedicated support throughout this process, coordinating medical evaluations before arrival, assisting with travel logistics, and offering translation and interpretation services in patients’ native languages. Throughout treatment, international coordinators work closely with medical teams to facilitate communication, provide practical assistance, and help families navigate each stage of care, allowing parents to focus on their child’s recovery.
Many Ukrainian families have already experienced this patient-centered approach. After being seriously injured during the war in Ukraine, young Darina was transferred to Sheba, where she underwent surgery, rehabilitation, and continued her education while receiving treatment. Her mother described the compassionate support they received—from coordinated medical care to a Ukrainian-speaking patient coordinator—as an important source of reassurance during an extraordinarily difficult time. After months of rehabilitation, Darina was able to walk independently again.
Families seeking advanced cancer care have shared similar experiences. Elena, whose family searched across multiple countries before reaching Sheba for CAR-T-therapy, described how the hospital’s rapid response and coordinated international support helped transform uncertainty into hope at a time when every day mattered.
For children facing complex cancers, advanced therapies such as CAR-T represent one important part of care. Equally important is the multidisciplinary team that supports every stage of treatment, from diagnosis through recovery, rehabilitation, education, and the return to everyday life. By combining pediatric oncology expertise, advanced cellular therapies, and comprehensive family-centered support, Sheba strives to help children not only overcome serious illness, but also regain the opportunity to learn, play, and simply be children again.
