Masumeh Saeidi Health Providers 2820-9192 6 2 2026 12 01 Delayed Referral of Children with Cancer to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: The Need for a Shared Care Pathway Between Oncology and Critical Care 175 177 253979 10.22034/hp.2026.604792.1099 EN Amir Hesabi Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. 0000-0003-1789-1500 Journal Article 2026 09 28 Advances in childhood cancer treatment have substantially improved survival; however, intensive therapies may cause severe infections, organ dysfunction, and rapid clinical deterioration. In these situations, pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) play a crucial role in providing life-sustaining support and enabling the continuation of cancer-directed treatment. Nevertheless, referral of children with cancer to the PICU may be delayed when clinicians perceive the underlying prognosis as poor or consider intensive interventions unlikely to be beneficial. Evidence indicates that many children with cancer survive PICU admission and may subsequently continue curative treatment. This letter highlights the need for a structured, shared care pathway involving pediatric oncology, critical care, infectious diseases, and palliative care teams to facilitate earlier recognition of deterioration and timely PICU referral. https://www.health-providers.ir/article_253979_41c667bf5fc258c5ea737dab04e3112e.pdf