Diagnosis and treatment phase are the main cost drivers
Specialist pediatric oncology centers treat leukemia, lymphoma, brain tumors and other solid tumors with diagnosis-specific protocols. The estimate must reflect whether the request concerns initial treatment, a second opinion, surgery, relapse therapy, cellular or transplant treatment, or management of complications.
- Pathology and molecular diagnostics
- Chemotherapy protocol and treatment phase
- Cancer surgery when required
- Radiotherapy when part of the plan
- Stem-cell transplantation for selected diagnoses
- Targeted or cellular therapy in selected cases
- Supportive treatment and infection management
- Inpatient, day-clinic and outpatient phases
A short hospital stay may not represent the whole treatment cost
Pediatric cancer treatment can extend over weeks or months and may alternate between inpatient, day-clinic and outpatient care. A quotation for one admission should not be assumed to represent the full cost of a multi-phase protocol unless the hospital says so explicitly.
Stem-cell transplantation is a separate high-complexity pathway
For children being assessed for transplantation, costs can depend on donor evaluation, conditioning treatment, stem-cell processing, isolation, prolonged inpatient care, infection treatment and post-transplant follow-up. Transplant should not be priced or compared as if it were ordinary chemotherapy.
Family logistics matter financially as well
A child's treatment may require a parent or caregiver to remain nearby for an extended period. Ask separately about rooming-in, family accommodation, interpreting, local transport and how long the family should plan to stay in Germany after discharge.
What to send before asking for a quotation
A complete case package helps the pediatric oncology team define the treatment question before the International Patient Office calculates an estimate.
- Pathology and molecular/genetic results
- Bone-marrow reports when relevant
- Current and previous imaging
- Chemotherapy protocols and doses already given
- Radiotherapy and operative reports
- Transplant or donor information when relevant
- Current blood counts and organ-function tests
- Active infections or other treatment complications
- A concise chronological treatment summary
Official sources
Last source-reviewed 2026-08-30. Cost procedures and published service fees can change, so confirm current terms directly with the provider before transferring money or booking travel.
- International patient process and cost estimate — University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) ↗
- Cost Plan — LMU Klinikum International Patient Office ↗
- Finance for international patients — Heidelberg University Hospital ↗
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology treatment program — University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) ↗
- Pediatric Oncology Center at CCC Munich LMU — LMU Klinikum ↗
- KiTZ pediatric oncology program — Heidelberg University Hospital ↗