Dr. John Poothullil & Dr. Peter Phillips

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Thank you, Dr. John Poothullil, and Dr. Peter Phillips for joining me on the Born To Talk Radio Show Podcast.

Here are words, a parent never wants to hear from a physician, “Your child has cancer.”

Dr. John has recently released his 4th book. The title is “When Your Child Has Cancer.” The subtitle is Insights and Information to Empower Parents.

Now What?

Both Dr. John and Dr. Peter take us on a guided tour into their professional lives about childhood cancer.

Dr. John is a retired Pediatrician and Allergist with over 30 years of experience. As an advocate for public health, Dr. Poothullil has devoted 20 years to studying diabetes and cancer.

Dr. Peter has over 40 years of experience as a Pediatric Oncologist and Professor of Pediatrics. His research includes neuro-oncology and cellular mechanisms of neurotoxicity.

Each of these doctors brings their expertise to the show. You will hear about the advances in medicine today. Technology has played a significant difference in treating children with cancer. In Dr. John’s book, he talks about the role parents can play in helping their child with this diagnosis. They are:

Make sure the child does not feel responsible for their condition.
Make the household functions as normal as possible, even under the circumstances. That in turn, reassures the child.
Never show anxiety in the presence of the child. They can read your face. The child may presume it’s about them when it could be completely unrelated.
You almost have to become, detached, but as an extremely interested outsider. Help the child develop logical conclusions based on reliable data.

Takeaways.

Dr. John:

“Diet is key. Limiting grains, including wheat, oat, rice, and corn. They add to the added glucose that feeds cancer. A balanced diet is important. Talk honestly with your child. Ask them what’s on their mind. Their fear of the unknown. Seek support from professionals for the entire family. Involve the child in activities such as cooking. Parents can play a role by acting out what their child might expect.” He has found that these tips can reduce stress.

Dr. Peter:

“I find it important for parents to understand the difference between hope and expectation. Expectation in cancer treatment is what science and research have shown us is likely to happen. It is about where we are right now. Hope goes beyond our current expectations and looks toward much better treatment outcomes in the future. And my colleagues and I are all about hope.”