Choosing Non-Conventional Treatment
I heard this segment from Professor Christobel Saunders on the Health Report today. It's about the increasing numbers, approximately 5%, of people with curable cancers who refuse conventional treatmen...
Forum Discussion
I am conflicted over this whole issue. Not for one second did I consider not having surgery, chemo, radiation and herceptin when I was diagnosed with Stage 2 HER+ Breast cancer. I researched the outcomes of treatment vs non treatment and the data was clear - treatment saved more lives when it came to my type and grade of breast cancer. I made an informed choice and trusted my doctors when my life was in the balance and I will NEVER regret this.
But since my own health concerns a few things have happened with my family which have seriously damaged my trust in medical professionals for other conditions. My mother has developed pulmonary fibrosis, a life limiting disease, after being prescribed an arthritis medication for far too long than she should have. My dad was given anti psychotics to control his behaviour from dementia because it's an easier fix and helps the nursing home staff. As a result he has had several TIAs (mini strokes) and falls which are known side effects of this medication and he's a walking zombie. This week there was a change in his specialist geriatrician who told me he couldn't believe my dad was kept on this medication for so long and immediately took him off it to stop further physical decline.
As a result of these experiences, I developed a mistrust with some doctors. I had been battling my 21 yr old son's specialist for over a year after she prescribed him chemo drugs given to leukemia patients for his severe eczema!!! When he was under 18 I wouldn't allow it, I was convinced I was doing what was best for my son. We tried every other treatment available including light therapy, then painful injections 140-150 PER SESSION to no effect. I asked for second and third opinions. After one and a half years of discomfit, my son told me he was willing to take the risk to his long term health by taking the drugs as his condition was severely impacting his quality of life. He commenced these chemo drugs when I was overseas because he knew I wasn't there to talk him out of it. I was devastated, and convinced he was making the wrong choice. And in the end I was totally WRONG about this. His life has improved so so so much. He is living without infection and pain again. His scars are healing. And yes there are still long term health risks because he has to be on these drugs for 20 years, but he says it's worth the risk to have his life back now. I thought I was doing the right thing, but in the end my mistrust of doctors only caused him pain for a year longer than necessary. So my trust in the medical professionals was restored a little. Insert mother guilt right here.
Now on Friday my 19 yr old son was given tricyclic anti depressants for excessive sweating. He's only 19, he has NO depression or anxiety. The drug has a known side effect of stopping sweating. My concern is his brain is still growing and yet this is what the doctor prescribed as the 'first' thing he should try. My son didn't ask any questions about other effects this drug would have on him.
Despite my concerns and pleas for him to research this medication and at least get second and third opinion, my 19 yr old would happily take whatever the doctors gives him no questions asked. He believes the doctors are trained and never make mistakes because of the fear they would be sued. I know my boys are adults and can make them own decisions, but I can't forget that sometimes having blind trust in medical professionals can have health implications just as much as not taking advice from a trusted medical professional can have an adverse outcome.
I guess what I am saying is that I understand people being afraid of doctors being persuaded by big pharma. I understand how people's individual experiences can lead to mistrust. I have been right and I have been wrong and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
The best thing we can do, is to ask questions of our doctors, and be informed. And I don't mean informed only be reading anecdotal negative facebook posts, but by reading a variety of reputable sources and getting second opinions if there is any doubt. In the end people have to be comfortable with the decisions they make about treatment.
But since my own health concerns a few things have happened with my family which have seriously damaged my trust in medical professionals for other conditions. My mother has developed pulmonary fibrosis, a life limiting disease, after being prescribed an arthritis medication for far too long than she should have. My dad was given anti psychotics to control his behaviour from dementia because it's an easier fix and helps the nursing home staff. As a result he has had several TIAs (mini strokes) and falls which are known side effects of this medication and he's a walking zombie. This week there was a change in his specialist geriatrician who told me he couldn't believe my dad was kept on this medication for so long and immediately took him off it to stop further physical decline.
As a result of these experiences, I developed a mistrust with some doctors. I had been battling my 21 yr old son's specialist for over a year after she prescribed him chemo drugs given to leukemia patients for his severe eczema!!! When he was under 18 I wouldn't allow it, I was convinced I was doing what was best for my son. We tried every other treatment available including light therapy, then painful injections 140-150 PER SESSION to no effect. I asked for second and third opinions. After one and a half years of discomfit, my son told me he was willing to take the risk to his long term health by taking the drugs as his condition was severely impacting his quality of life. He commenced these chemo drugs when I was overseas because he knew I wasn't there to talk him out of it. I was devastated, and convinced he was making the wrong choice. And in the end I was totally WRONG about this. His life has improved so so so much. He is living without infection and pain again. His scars are healing. And yes there are still long term health risks because he has to be on these drugs for 20 years, but he says it's worth the risk to have his life back now. I thought I was doing the right thing, but in the end my mistrust of doctors only caused him pain for a year longer than necessary. So my trust in the medical professionals was restored a little. Insert mother guilt right here.
Now on Friday my 19 yr old son was given tricyclic anti depressants for excessive sweating. He's only 19, he has NO depression or anxiety. The drug has a known side effect of stopping sweating. My concern is his brain is still growing and yet this is what the doctor prescribed as the 'first' thing he should try. My son didn't ask any questions about other effects this drug would have on him.
Despite my concerns and pleas for him to research this medication and at least get second and third opinion, my 19 yr old would happily take whatever the doctors gives him no questions asked. He believes the doctors are trained and never make mistakes because of the fear they would be sued. I know my boys are adults and can make them own decisions, but I can't forget that sometimes having blind trust in medical professionals can have health implications just as much as not taking advice from a trusted medical professional can have an adverse outcome.
I guess what I am saying is that I understand people being afraid of doctors being persuaded by big pharma. I understand how people's individual experiences can lead to mistrust. I have been right and I have been wrong and hindsight is a wonderful thing.
The best thing we can do, is to ask questions of our doctors, and be informed. And I don't mean informed only be reading anecdotal negative facebook posts, but by reading a variety of reputable sources and getting second opinions if there is any doubt. In the end people have to be comfortable with the decisions they make about treatment.