CAM and Children with Cancer

Many parents of children with cancer investigate complementary/ alternative medicine (CAM) to help manage the side effects associated with cancer therapy, augment the efficacy of conventional medications, and provide support for coping with the diagnosis of cancer. Surveys have found up to 84% of children with cancer use CAM. Most use CAM in conjunction with conventional therapies, with relatively few reports describing the use of CAM in lieu of conventional medicine. Reasons for CAM use among children with cancer include: "to try everything possible," to reduce the stress of illness, improve quality of life, symptom care management, and sometimes for a cure. Although some strides have been made over the past several years in elucidating the safety and efficacy of several CAM therapies, there is still a paucity of data regarding the use of CAM in combination with conventional cancer therapy among children with cancer.

CAM and Survivors of Childhood Cancer

As conventional medicine becomes increasingly effective at treating children with cancer, the challenges of survivorship have become a priority area for research. Studies have estimated that 60-70% of children will have at least one disability as a result of cancer therapy including fatigue, bone density, pain syndromes, and anxiety, and are at increased risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, infertility, and second malignancies (Oeffinger 2004). Survivors of childhood cancer report the use of CAM to reduce risk of relapse, cope with late effects from cancer therapy, or reduce their risk of developing a late effect.

Although no research has been done investigating the efficacy of CAM among survivors of childhood cancer, CAM as a component of a healthy lifestyle, may provide support to survivors in coping with many of the late effects of cancer therapy. Potential CAM therapies that may be of specific benefit to survivors of childhood cancer include yoga and meditation which may help with coping with the anxiety of cancer recurrence, disturbances in balance or gait, or as an aid to maintain a healthy weight. Acupuncture may also provide relief to patients who are challenged with fatigue, recurrent pain, infertility or those experiencing disturbances in hormone balance. Some nutrition supplements may have a role in the survivor population as there is less of a concern for interactions with conventional medications.

CAM and palliative care

Conventional therapy alone has not eliminated pain and suffering at the end of a child's life. Providing optimal palliative care for children with advancing cancer may include the integration of CAM modalities into accepted practice in the care of the child suffering with unresponsive cancer. Massage, Reiki, and breathing techniques are often helpful in making children with cancer comfortable at the end of life.

Reference

Oeffinger KC, Hudson MM. Long-term complications following childhood and adolescent cancer: foundations for providing risk-based health care for survivors. CA Cancer J Clin 2004; 54:208-36.