Huron Expositor, 1999-12-01, Page 910 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, December 1, 19111)
News
Alternative therapies for cancer patients listed
in new handbook prepared by Huron -Perth group
By Scott Hilgendorff
Expositor Editor
A community resource 'handbook for cancer care
services was_seen a positive move by Dr. Margaret Fitch,
an oncology nurse researcher from Toronto Sunnybrook
Regional Cancer Centre.
Fitch was the guest speaker at the Huron Perth Chapter
of the Canadian Cancer Society's annual meeting Nov.
22 in Seaforth. She spoke about issues relating to the
increasing number of cancer patients seeking alternative
therapies outside that of a doctor's care.
One of the concerns she raised was that patients aren't
always able to access information about the types of
services available to them.
She said a new resource booklet for cancer patients
that was unveiled.at the meeting helps address that.
"It sounds like you're wellon your way to linking
togethertomeet those needs," she said of the new
handbook.
It was prepared by a Huron Perth planning group of
Cancer Care Ontario Regional (CCOR).
The group, which formed this year, is working on
setting up cancer resource centres at each hospital and
formed itshandbook based on one created by the
Wingham branch of the I7anadian Cancer Society.
The booklet offers contact information and background
information on a range of organizations from the Bone
Marrow Registry and Easy Living Equipment Rentals to
transportation and wig services in the region.
Fitch said a doctor doesn't always work outside the
patient's immediate medical needs.
While the booklet is a step in that direciion, Fitch -
spoke about a number of areas that patients are turning to
for helpwith their illnesses.
Fitch said people react differently to learning they have
cancer and each person handles the treatment and
rehabilitation differently.
"Cancer is always a part of their being. They move on
to being a survivor of cancer," she said.
Quoted
'There are all kinds of programs
that could come into place. All kinds
of people who could come into play
to help cancer patients. But all
these groups don't always talk,
work or plan together,' --
Dr. Margaret Fitch, of Toronto Sunnybrook Regional
Cancer Centre
For others, it will come back two or three times and
. some will die, leaving their families to mourn. .
And Fitch said the cancer care system is not set up• to
recognize the emotional and spiritual needs of a patient.
focussing on the treatment such as chemotherapy and
radiation instead. •
She said each person's needs have to be identified and
• matched with a service available from being given a
book toread about different ways of relieving the stress
'they are experiencing to help looking after their children
because their illness is at a stage where caring for their
children is difficult.
"There arc all kinds of programs that could come into
place. All kinds of people who could come into play to
help cancer patients. But all these groups don't always
talk. work or plan together," she said.
Asa result, people can go without knowing a service is'
available.
But she said the systems in place for helping cancer
patients. is starting to -expand and -include other services
from social workers and nutritionists to physiotherapists
and home care providers.
While those services expand,. ideas about alternative
and complementary therapies are also.expanding.
Fitch has been involved in provincial studies relating
. to these therapies; those' that assist with such things as
reducing.thc pain a person experiences to therapies that
aren't medically proved to treat cancer but are tried in
addition to or instead -of treatments like chemotherapy.
• Shc said a 1993^study in the United States showed 1/3
of the people surveyed were using alternative and
. complementary therapies. spending more than $10
billion in .a year on treatments for such areas as sleep
. trouble or arthritis.
In Canada. similar study 'showed 1/5 of the people
surveyed were doing the same.
A study of cancer patients showed as low as nine per
cent and as- many as 81 pc? cent were pursuing other
types of treatment.
Fitch said diet and nutrition is one of the first areas a
• person investigates. turning to lots of fruits and fibre
which she said are also part of conventional treatments.
"We don't have evidence linking certain diets to cures
for cancer." she said.
--"There' Ts3gt'earwavt=, u researchtryitrg•tainvestigate-
• different vitamins and different types of dietary agents,"
she said and predicts in the next 10 years there will be
many developments.
Again, there is no proof that they are cures but people
arc turning to mind -over -body therapies which' can help
reduce a person's stress'and make them feel better.
Herbal and folk remedies are also being explored by
patients and Fitch said there is little research being done
in this area right now. '
People are also getting into pharmacuticals like shark
cartiledge• pills that are being given more and more room
on pharmacy shelves.
"I think the issue with all of them is we don't have all
the scientific knowledge," Fitch said, adding they also
don't know if there is potential harm being done to
patients turning to these non -conventional remedies.
She said because doctors and nurses tend to be viewed
as insensitive when they overlook the emotional and
spiritual needs of the patients, they find people who
practice alternative medicine more willing to listen and
talk. This builds trust and, coupled with a trend in
interest in UFOs, angels and magic, people are more
Dr. Margaret Fitch
accepting of alternati'e methods of treatment.
Surveys among the medical community showed doctors
and nurses 'concerned about talking with patients
regarding alternative methods because ii's,not part of
their training. There was also "deep concern" that people
could he harmed by the therapies because. there.•isn't
enough scientific knowledge about them.
• Fitch said there- are more studies being done in these
areas and there should he more clinical information•
available in the future.
For a patient considering alternative treatments: Fitch
said he or she needs to take the time 10 research the
Quoted
There is a great wave of research
trying to investigate different
vitamins and different types of
dietary agents,' --
Dr. Margaret Fitch
treatment through books. other people who have taken, it
and any other research they can do since the information
is not available directly from their doctors.
"Unfortunately, it will take lots of time to research it,"
she said. •
"I'm seeing quite a growth in libraries. The shelves
that arc assigned to this area are getting higge'r and
bigger."
She also said patients should talk to their health care
- provider too, regardless of whether or not they arc
comfortable addressing alternative issues.
"Have courage. They need to know this stuff too," she
said.
CLINTON RACEWAY
invites you to the
of our new
HORSE BARN
at the North End
Clinton 'Community Park
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1
4:00 pm- 7:00 pm
Come for a tour through our new facility.
Refreshments will be served.
Everyone Welcome!
Tom. 24t,
to fhe lin Racewayfor----
selecting us as your General Contractor
for the new horse barn.
Continued success to the raceway and
our area horsemen!
STEPI'IEM DALE
COMSTRCICTIOM ,
flH4-CLINTON
482-7400