Information gathered from these studies is used in developing better treatments. Protocol-based therapy has led to improved cure rates for potentially fatal pediatric diseases. The diagnosis must be a disease under study at St. Jude. In general, the child should be between birth and 18 years of age to be eligible for treatment. Children may be accepted for diagnostic surgery if they have a presumptive diagnosis of cancer.
Final acceptance occurs when the patient is deemed eligible and is enrolled on a protocol.
St. Jude reserves the right to refer any patients who do not meet the eligibility criteria back to their initial physician. The St. Jude physician in charge of the treatment study or the Chief Medical Officer will determine the patient's eligibility. Diseases treated Cancer, blood diseases, genetic syndromes, infectious diseases and immunodeficiency disorders are among the diseases treated and studied at St. Jude. Financial Responsibility Patients are accepted for treatment at St. Jude based on their eligibility for treatment protocols. No children are turned away because of their parents' inability to pay.