Treatment Failure in Children with Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is the leading cause of death in American children older than 1 year of age. Currently, due to major drug developments and optimization in treatment protocols, 80% of pediatric cancer patients respond to therapy; however, a significant number of cases of childhood cancer have shown treatment failure.1 Treatment failure can be seen due to either serious adverse effects that limit therapy or the failure of conventional dosing to induce remission in childhood cancer.1 Herein, we evaluated the treatment failure in children with cancer from a spiritual perspective to attract attention to the spiritual dimension of treatment. Advances in medical research technologies have led to a rapid increase in the understanding of the genetics of childhood cancer in the last decade, facilitating the identification of molecular targets that can potentially be exploited for therapeutic benefits.2 Nonetheless, despite remarkable developments in drug therapy, pharmacogenomics, and pharmacogenetics research,1 we could not explain the cause of treatment failure in some children with cancer. Based on the Islamic teachings, we believe that everything cannot be explained by positivism. Allah does his actions and works in the universe through causes. Therefore, it is an unchangeable principle of Allah that the works in the universe occur through a cause. However, while the causes are trivial and simple, the results that appear outwardly from the causes are quite perfect and artistic. The wisdom behind this being so is that a person does not become obsessed with causes and not go to unbelief and ingratitude, knowing the results from the cause. Despite this, most people cannot see the mighty hand and names of Allah behind the causes, and they either fall into disbelief or worship the causes heedlessly.3 Going to a physician and using the prescribed medications are means of the recovery from the disease. Sometimes even if the appropriate drugs are used in the appropriate dosage and at the appropriate time, improvement may not be observed in the disease. In this condition, the patient cannot blame health professionals and/or drugs. Because we strongly believe that “The True Healer is the one who gives medicines their properties and creates their effects.”4 In conclusion, we believe that aside frommedical reasons, spiritual factors also play a role in the efficacy and failure of treatment in children with cancer. In the Holy Quran, it has been reported that “And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me.”5 Themonarch of the universe is one, the key to all things is with him, the authority over all things are in his hand, and everything will be resolved by his command. If you find him, you will be saved from endless indebtedness and countless fears.6