P02.10. 10-year experience from an integrative pediatric oncology centre: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Purpose: Complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) are widely used in pediatric oncology. Till now there are no published data on the clinical practice of integrating CAM into standard pediatric oncology (PO) care. Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of patient records of all PO-patients treated in our integrative pediatric oncology centre (IPOC) with 1st admission between January 1st 1999 and December 31st 2008. Inclusion-criteria were: age 0-18 years, proven cancerdiagnosis and at least one conventional intervention (chemotherapy, operation, radiation) in our hospital. Results: A total of 116 cases (39% female) were analysed. 78% were admitted with their 1st cancer-diagnosis, 22% with any relapse. 58% got their diagnosis in our hospital, 42% in another hospital (9% of them outside Germany). The spectrum of diagnosis was the same as in the German PO-population. Along with a standard conventional therapy according to actual treatment-plans within the GPOH- and/or SIOP-framework 91% of our patients received some form of CAM-medication (e.g. 75% mistletoe-preparations), most out of the spectrum of Anthroposophic Medicine (AM). We could identify a TOP10 of AM remedies prescribed to most patients. The most used non-pharmacological CAM-interventions where: 63% eurythmy therapy, 56% art-therapies (painting, sculpturing), 51% music therapy, 46% external embrocations and compresses. There were no reported serious adverse events for any of the pharmacological or non-pharmacological CAM interventions. Conclusion: It is possible to integrate CAM into an IPOC within the standard-spectrum of PO-diseases. In a retrospective analysis over a 10-year-period we found no indices for relevant toxicities. Statements regarding the effectiveness of this approach cannot be drawn from this analysis. Further prospective studies of this approach are necessary.