May 20, 2009 10:54 pm US/Central
Doc Who Diagnosed Boy Talks About Childhood Cancer
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Pediatric oncologist Dr. Bruce Bostrom diagnosed Daniel Hauser with cancer. He said Daniel's mother didn't come right out and say she was opposed to chemo but she had a fear.
CBS
Any time parents like Daniel Hauser's get the news their child has cancer, it's terrifying. The doctor who first diagnosed Daniel talks about how his family reacted to the idea of chemotherapy and what parents facing similar diagnoses can expect.
"Many adult cancers don't respond to chemotherapy, but pediatric cancers do, so they're different," said pediatric oncologist Dr. Bruce Bostrom of Children's Hospitals and Clinics.
He said Daniel's mother didn't come right out and say she was opposed to chemo but she had a fear.
"Mom had mentioned to me on the second visit that her sister had allegedly died from chemotherapy," said Bostrom.
There are many chemo drugs used for different types of cancers. They're given either by mouth or through the vein, according to Bostrom.
"Patients usually can get through the treatment fairly well especially children because they tolerate chemotherapy much better than adults," he said.
Bostrom acknowledges patients do experience side effects like losing hair and feeling tired.
"Nausea is common but we have powerful anti-nausea medicines that we can control nausea very well. Chemotherapy can lower the blood counts so there may be a risk of infections and possible need for transfusions," he said.
Daniel's mother said he got sick from chemo, but Bostrom believes he wouldn't have been as sick if Daniel started treatment earlier.
"I think he was very sick mostly from the fact that the tumor was progressing, he had fluid in his lung, he had to get anesthesia to get his chest tube placed," said Bostrom.
Daniel's family wanted to use alternative medicine to treat his cancer. Bostrom said he was open to that but only if it didn't make the chemo less effective.
Children's hospital has what it calls complimentary cancer treatment to help with side effects. It includes things like aroma therapy and herbal therapy.
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