The headlines are blazing across the Internet right now. I’m going to boldly say you are already hearing the good news from family and friends that, yes, your child’s allergy will soon be a thing of the past and peanut clusters will be back in Christmas stockings. As visions of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches dance through grandma’s mind, the cringe begins for parents of peanut allergic children. If only life was this easy!
The reality is that Aimmune has released results from Phase Three of their study of AR101 – a peanut biologic oral immunotherapy (OIT) product – which is a great thing, but not a cure. Out of passion and love for people with food allergies, well-meaning family and friends might not understand this good news is simply one glorious step towards a therapy which may work well for some, but not be a dream come true for others.
Great news for peanut allergy sufferers; Oral desensitization therapy effective for many to help protect against accidental exposure. Not a cure, but a good first step!
New Peanut Allergy Drug Shows ‘Lifesaving’ Potential https://t.co/6YoccfK5M6— Dr. James R. Baker (@JRB_UMFA) November 19, 2018
You and I know this Thanksgiving we’ll be spending some time explaining why this new “drug” is actually OIT therapy, which your family might or might not have already experienced in private practice. I want to share some tips that I’ve used in the past when these kinds of headlines are on fire. The goal is to enjoy the kind thoughts, but keep everyone rooted in the reality without adding in any extra pressure from grandpa that you had better get a move on that new drug! Therapies are complicated individual medical choices, which can’t be taken lightly.
5 Tips for talking about new food allergy drugs or therapies
- Remember they love you. Relish in the concern and love family and friends have for you as they are so excited to hear a solution is available to your family.
- It has to be right for YOU. Politely share this is great news and a good step for many children with peanut allergies and you’ll be exploring if this therapy is a good choice for your family if you have not already addressed OIT. As with all therapies, time, quality of life, money and the ability of the child to participate are a few factors each family needs to consider. Explain these choices require research and should never be taken lightly.
- Deflect. There will those who cynically want to call you out for keeping bowls of peanut salted caramels off the coffee table when they believe you can do something about your child’s peanut allergy. Deflect their energy and conversations as it is almost impossible to change the mind of these kinds of people. Move on to the punch bowl.
- Keep it short and simple. Those who love us sometimes think they also know what is best for us, avoid a family debate on the merits of different therapies – unless you like a good debate, then switch conversations to why Black Friday sales start before Black Friday.
- Knowledge is power. Read a headline or two, check out Aimmune’s website to learn more while sticking to only professionally medically vetted websites to learn more information.
I am thrilled to hear about these results as they are another step in the process to find various workable therapies for the community. I personally like the opportunity of a new headline to bring up food allergies to help educate those around me better! Eighteen years later, the need for education remains the same. But, this is okay since I have remained the same – loving to raise food allergy awareness.
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..