Patients and Families

The Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer provides a variety of integrative medicine services to help children and their families as they progress through cancer therapy and into survivorship. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are generally not offered in conventional medical settings. Many CAM therapies can be safely used while your child undergoes treatment, while others may be contraindicated. It is important to discuss any integrative therapy you administer to your child with your physician. The Integrative Therapies Program for Children with Cancer can offer you information and guidance in deciding which modalities may be safely incorporated into your child's treatment plan.

In the sense that our patients and their families are our best ambassadors, here are some profiles we would like to share:

A mother with a 7-year old daughter with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: "The therapy the second time around has been devastating and demoralizing to my daughter and our family and friends. Although we try to make the days pass, we have been in the hospital for the past six months and have been unable to leave our room. The highlight of every day is when the program's yoga physiologist visits us. She has empowered us to make a change and to meditate on healing through the use of breath and yoga poses. She is the only thing getting us through this right now. Yoga is empowering us to be survivors once again."

A mother whose 10-year-old daughter has leukemia states: "I am so happy we were one of the lucky ones who were able to participate in this program. Before, I tried everything to get my daughter just to exercise even for 10 minutes a day. Since my daughter has met Christine [exercise physiologist], she has not stopped. My daughter has harnessed the strength I could only dream of having through the practice of yoga."

A 13-year-old female with osteosarcoma: "Every time I come to clinic I would get sick at just the thought and smell. Thank god for aromatherapy and massage! I couldn't believe it. I had no idea that a simple thing like the smell of peppermint or citrus would ease my nausea and make me feel okay to come to clinic. I still hate what I have to go through, but at least I have something to help me get through it."

A 16-year-old male patient with acute myeloid leukemia: "My doctor told me I needed to gain some weight. The therapy had made me so skinny. Before I met with the nutritionist, I thought that if I ate pork and beef everyday I would gain the weight back. It wasn't until I met with the nutritionist that I realized I had it all wrong. Even if I did gain the weight back, I was putting myself at higher risk for relapse."

Last updated: October 13, 2009