Pediatric medulloblastoma: Innovative treatment, amazing care

Medulloblastoma is a cancerous tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain. This part of the brain is referred to as the cerebellum. The cerebellum is involved in muscle coordination, balance and movement. These tumors often grow quickly and can spread to other parts of central nervous system, but usually respond well to treatment. 

Symptoms include:

• Headaches

• Nausea or vomiting in the morning

• Clumsiness

• Problems with handwriting

• Tilting the head to one side

• Difficulty walking

• Balance problems

• Surgery. When the tumor is in an area that doctors can reach safely, surgery will be done to remove as much of the tumor as possible. 

• Radiation therapy

• High energy X-rays. These are used to shrink tumors and prevent them from growing.

• Chemotherapy

Fighting pediatric cancer and blood disorders

Our UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Care specialists offer the most advanced treatment options. Our pediatric cancer and blood disorder experts are national research leaders. We test new therapies and continue to work on therapies for pediatric cancer and blood disorders. For many children with rare or hard-to-treat conditions, clinical trials provide new options.

Search our clinical trials

Receiving care from the UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Center hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant program at American Family Children’s Hospital means you have access to the knowledge and skills of many medical and support specialists for your child’s complex health diagnosis like cancer.

Your child’s care is our top priority and we understand the unique needs they have. Your child’s team will include:

• Oncologists (cancer doctors)

• Hematologists (blood disease doctors)

• Nurse practitioners

• Child life specialists

• Pain management specialists

• Physical, occupational and speech therapists

• Radiologists and radiation technologists

• Social workers

• Surgeons

• Neuro-oncologists

• Pediatric neurosurgeons

• Radiation oncologists

• Neurologists

UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Care experts are dedicated to diagnosing and treating all infants, children and adolescents with cancer, including rare cancers like medulloblastoma. 

Our pediatric oncologists are part of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, which is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. This designation means that the doctors taking care of your child are experts in cancer treatment, research and education. 

There are services available at both American Family Children’s Hospital and in the community to help patients and their families through every step of their journey.

Child life specialists help your child and family cope with any fears and anxieties, and the American Family Children's Hospital patient and family visitor guide features information about:

• Health psychology

• Hero beads

• Hospital school

• Positive Image Center

• Spiritual care services

• Tyler's Place (sibling child care)