Taking the lead on child-cancer treatment

Cats and dogs are widely believed to help their owners be more chilled-out. So, it seems a logical step that pets may be able to serve a therapeutic role in helping rehabilitate patients and treat pain.

At least that is what a team of researchers being part-funded by Luxembourg children's cancer charity Een Häerz fir Kriibskrank Kannner hopes to find out.

Professionals based at the Saarland University Hospital in Homburg have been conducting a research project on the soothing effects of dogs on child patients with life-limiting diseases for the past few months.

The ground-breaking treatment allows patients to spend time with one of three fully-trained dogs, either at the hospital or at home, who they can talk to, play with or simply stroke.

Social Care Worker Ute Jarolimek explained: “It's about distraction from the disease and from the hospital and all the nasty things concerning the disease. A lot of children are afraid when it comes to their disease and treatment. You can use the dog to calm them down and give them a feeling of safety.”

To help patients regain lost skills, for example motor skills to get out of bed, staff suggest a number of different ways in which the dog can work with patients from simply going for a walk in their wheelchair with the animal to feeling the dog's fur or listening to it breathing, techniques which are used with severely disabled children.

“The idea is that they are distracted by the animal,” said Ute, adding: “It doesn't feel like work. When they are working with the dog, it feels like they are playing.”

Other activities involve growing a child's confidence through games and giving commands. Ute explained: “It's nice for the children when they can give orders and the dog will obey. They feel safe with them and the dog will go with them during treatment. Normally, the child is having things done to them, like tests. But they can tell the dog what to do. It gives the patient confidence.”

While the dogs may look like your typical docile pets, they are far from dumb. The animals undergo six to nine months' of training after which they have ongoing training to maintain their skills for working effectively with a patient and ensuring they do not become aggressive.

Dogs are considered best-suited for working in this way because they share similar emotional sensors to humans or appear to be on a similar wavelength emotionally. Nonetheless, the work requires concentration on the dog's part and as such time with a patient is limited to 25 minutes and the dogs can only see up to two patients per day.

The project is one of many supported by Luxembourg Children's Cancer Charity the Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner, which pays for the food and upkeep of the dogs.

Find out more

The asbl Een Häerz fir kriibskrank Kanner is to co-host an information evening about care for cancer-sick children in Luxembourg on February 15.

The event is to be held at the Kirchberg Hospital auditorium and will include speakers Jean-Marie Machtelinckx, from the charity, Professor Dr. Norbert Graf, director of paediatric oncology at the Universities hospital in Homburg, Dr Sven Gottschling, director of child therapy and paediatric care at the Universities hospital in Homburg and Dr Marc Diederich, director of the Luxembourg laboratory for molecular and cellular cancer.

9 rue Edward Steichen, L-2540. From 7pm. The session is given in French and German. It is supported by the Luxembourg ministries of health and families.