The information book - Paediatric Integrated Cancer Service

Amputation & enucleation
For some children with retinoblastoma and sarcoma, surgery includes
the removal of all or a portion of a body part. Advances in childhood cancer
treatment mean that amputation and enucleation (removal of the eye) are
needed less often. Surgery for bone tumours can often be complex, involving
bone grafts and limb salvage. For accurate, individual information it is best
to talk with your child’s Orthopaedic Surgeon or Opthalmologist.
Complementary medicine &
alternative medicine
The Children’s Cancer Centre uses standard medical treatment (conventional
treatment) that has scientific evidence to show that it works. The Centre also
uses some complementary treatments and knows about the use of alternative
medicine in the treatment of children who have cancer.
Complementary medicine and alternative medicine use treatments and
therapies that are different from standard medical treatment or conventional
treatment. Complementary medicine means that it is used along with standard
medical treatment. Alternative medicine means it is used instead of standard
medical treatment.
Choosing a therapy involves different belief systems. A medical belief
system uses scientific evidence like that gained from Clinical Trials with
many children. Psychological and Life Style belief systems use evidence
from people’s experience, beliefs and attitudes. Sometimes the different belief
systems agree, sometimes they don’t. Some families and patients integrate
what they find useful from complementary medicine with conventional
medicine. Some don’t tell their child’s doctor about other therapies because
they fear the doctor will not support what they are doing. Other people find it
hard to watch their child have the side effects of conventional treatment, and
look for something else.
It is not a good practice to use complementary medicine and alternative
medicine without first talking with your child’s oncology doctor. This is because
some chemotherapy and herbal medicines can interact. Your child’s doctor
needs to know if your child is having complementary or alternative medicine.
Please talk about other therapies with your child’s doctor. If you need more
information about conventional treatment and other therapies, the Children’s
Cancer Centre can help you find it.
Cancer Sec.4:7
Updated March 2011