National cooperative trials are usually undertaken to rigorously test new methods of cancer prevention or treatment. The radionuclides are administered by mouth or into a vein. Nuclear medicine scans can often detect areas within the body affected by cancer and some other diseases. Some of these services include intravenous or tube feeding when needed, guidance in choosing a healthy diet to help with recovery, an advice for coping with changes in appetite. Members of a multidisciplinary pain management team including oncologists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists and social workers can help patients obtain relief from pain.
Pediatric oncologists provide chemotherapy and other nonradiation and nonsurgical treatments.
Pediatric oncologists usually serve as the coordinating physician for children with cancer. Apheresis is the process of collecting and separating of blood components by automated cell separation equipment. Plasmapheresis is a type of apheresis sometimes used to remove harmful substances in the blood plasma of patients with some types of cancers. Cytapheresis is used to remove excess cells from the blood of some patients with leukemia. Apheresis is also used for collection of blood components used in transfusion therapy of patients with cancer.