Second Opinions for Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders

Whether your family is looking for help with your child’s existing cancer or blood disorder diagnosis, or you’re still looking for answers, Children’s Hospital Colorado can help. Our experts provide an in-person second opinion that will give you peace of mind and help ensure your child receives the best and most personalized care available.

During an initial informational phone call, we’ll gather your child’s health information and history. Based on that call, we’ll help you schedule an in-person second opinion appointment with the experts best suited to your child’s needs and symptoms.

Why request a second opinion from Children’s Colorado?

Children’s Colorado has consistently been ranked among the best cancer treatment centers in the country. Our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders provides advanced oncology, hematology, blood and marrow transplant and cellular therapy care for babies, children and teens. Our experts are recognized as global leaders in their specialties and often participate in expert consults and presentations.

Having access to the best cancer and blood disorder treatments means having access to clinical trials. As a leading research center, our doctors and principal investigators are engaged in more than 400 clinical trials across the globe — the most of any pediatric cancer center in the region.

Learn more about our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

What specialties or programs offer a second opinion?

Children’s Colorado specialists can provide second opinions for numerous questions related to pediatric cancer and blood disorders. Our areas of expertise include:

• Pediatric Oncology: With decades of experience, our providers have built one of the nation’s best pediatric oncology centers specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood cancer.
• Hematology: Our Hematology Program is internationally recognized for its expertise in diagnosing and treating blood and clotting disorders.
• Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy: We perform the most bone marrow transplants in our region and offer some of the most advanced cellular therapy options available. And we consistently meet or exceed international standards for bone marrow transplant survival.
• Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center: Your family has access to one of the world’s premier programs for treating bleeding and clotting conditions in children through our partnership with the University of Colorado Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center.
• Neuro-Oncology: Our neuro-oncology program is one of the largest in the country, offering the most effective, proven treatments for children with brain or spinal cord tumors, as well as access to the most advanced therapies through research.

If you have questions about getting a second opinion for a specific condition, please call us at 720-777-6740.

Learn more about the conditions we treat

Meet our pediatric cancer second opinion providers

Connecting with the most experienced and qualified pediatric cancer experts in the region will give you confidence in your child’s treatment plan. After your initial informational phone call, our team will decide which doctor is best for your child to see for their in-person second opinion appointment.

Get to know our pediatric experts.

Laurel Riess, CPNP-PC

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Molly Hemenway, CPNP-AC/PC

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?

Amanda Winters, MD

Hematology/Oncology - Pediatric, Pediatrics

Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?

Erin Kelling, PsyD

Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?

Meet the team

What should I prepare for my second opinion call?

More information helps our experts provide a more accurate diagnosis and makes our process more seamless. Before your second opinion call, please send the following records to CCBDoutreach@childrenscolorado.org:

• Patient Summary
• Recent and relevant lab test results, if applicable
• Radiology notes
• Operative notes, if applicable
• Pathology reports, if applicable
• Molecular tumor testing, if applicable
• Chemotherapeutic treatment regimens with approximate dates, if applicable
• Radiation therapeutic summary, if applicable
• MRI scans

As the doctor reviews your case we may need additional records, images and scan results.

Second opinions for high-risk leukemia

Some forms of leukemia are harder to treat because they don’t respond quickly to treatment (refractory leukemia), come back after treatment (relapsed or recurrent leukemia) or have certain genetic factors. We offer expert consultation and the most advanced treatments for these high-risk leukemias.

Review of these types of high-risk leukemia issues may require prompt evaluation. For these questions please email us at HighRiskLeukemia@childrenscolorado.org rather than scheduling a second opinion call.

Where will my child be seen for their in-person appointment(s)?

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is on the 7^th floor of our hospital on Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Our outpatient and inpatient services are located near each other for convenience. You will come to the 7^th floor and be directed to the specific area where you will meet one of our pediatric experts.

If you are seeking a consultation about a bleeding or clotting disorder, you will see one of our experts at the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, located just north of the main hospital building. We will give you specific directions when you schedule your visit.

Get answers to questions about second opinions at Children’s Colorado