At seven this boy has been through both chemotherapy and radiation because of the leukaemia he has from the past five years. They have been trying everything to help his progress including herbal remedies, bio energy sessions, magnets in his pillow and mattress, fruit and vegetable drinks and acupuncture. Currently he has just undergone a bone marrow transplant while his parents are giving him the best care that they can offer. His mother wants to be of help in every way possible. The doctor told them how to take care of him but later they started trying their own things to see if it worked.
The American Academy of Paediatrics has asked all doctors to try adding treatments which complement the normal course of treatment. Approximately about 30% of parents would like to try Unconventional treatments. Parents don't like to try too much of other drugs with chronic illnesses or disabilities such as cancer, autism, sickle cell anaemia.
The patients should not only feel supported by the physicians but they should also feel cared for. If the treatment that is being used is useful and does have loads of advantages there are chances that they can be used as a complementary treatment for others too. This paediatric haematologist and oncologist at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters says internet is to take the credit for introducing Alternative medicine. If the parents are not asked what Alternative medicine they are trying they could withhold the info.
The parents get encouragement from him but he also does them the favour of telling them the risks involved. The alternative medicine should not have high doses of folic acid because that can take away the effects of chemotherapy. He gives the parent total support for deep touch massage, music therapy, or meditation. He is able to give his support to anything that has absolutely no detrimental effect. Parents have to feel that they did all they could.
Alternative treatments have made the doctors job a tad more complicated. The internet makes it more difficult by putting up more treatments which are scientifically unproven. To find out what is in the making of herbal remedies and vitamin supplements is quite impossible.
Many insurance companies have even started supporting massage or chiropractic care and Medical schools too have been doing some serious research into alternative medicine. However the treatments just don't seem to stop growing. If the parents are going for costly alternative treatments not covered by insurance, the doctor will warn them.
The boy's mother is more than happy for the doctor's guidance on the alternative treatments. For 3 months there will be no fruit and vegetable drink because of the bone marrow transplant. Parents of children who have less serious ailments also have turned to alternative and complementary therapies, often as a more preventive approach.
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