Dr. Natala R. Tyukalova, Head of Department, is telling:

The Department of Oncohematology-27 provides treatment to children with the following diagnoses: Hodgkin's lymphoma (lymphogranulematosis) and other lymphomas, lymphocytic and nonlymphocytic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome. Our patients are often in a grave condition and receive courses of highly intensive polychemotherapy.
The department has 40 beds. About 400 patients with oncohematological diseases receive therapy each year. There are 9 isolated wards, among which three are equipped with special Pelican setups for air purification and disinfection.
The staff of the department consists of young yet qualified specialists. The work of the department is round-the-clock.
Among patients with lymphomas, most have Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, and T-cell lymphomas. The main principles of lymphoma therapy have already been elaborated at the department. These tumors are among those regarded as well-curable: the survival rate, depending on the stage of the disease, is 75-90%. Relapses constitute no more than 5-8%.
Treatment of lymphomas is based on intensive chemotherapy cycles. If needed, patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas or early relapses of Hodgkin's disease undergo autotransplantation of hematopoietic stem cells.
Treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is carried out according to protocol ALL MB-2002. Its induction program is carried out in hospital. The results of our ALL treatment are comparable to worldwide achievements. The overall survival rate is up to 80%. The treatment of ALL relapses, just as the treatment of lymphomas, is based on intensive chemotherapy cycles. After the second remission is attained, such patients also undergo marrow transplantation.
For successful treatment, it is very important that the medical staff can prevent and treat urgent conditions (tumor lysis syndrome; hemorrages into vital organs; hemorrhagic, anemic, or septic shock; syndromes due to toxicity of medications), observe the principles of accompanying therapy, and also be provided with a sufficient amount of chemotherapy medications, solutions, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal drugs. Stability in this latter respect is largely due to regular support that we receive from the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children, which works at the Help Group of the RCCH.