Mother who lost custody of her son after she stopped his chemo fights to win him back

A New York mother is fighting to win back custody of her 13-year-old son after she stopped his chemotherapy treatments when he went into remission from cancer.

Nicholas Gundersen has been undergoing court-mandated chemotherapy at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola for a rare and deadly form of leukemia.

His mother, Candace, lost temporary custody of her son earlier this month after she refused to admit him to the hospital and took him to Florida to seek ‘alternative treatments’.

Candace, who is a holistic and wellness coach, says the chemotherapy is hurting her son’s health – but doctors argue that Nicholas’s cancer is not gone and, if he doesn’t continue to receive treatment, the disease could return and kill him.

Candace Gundersen is fighting to win back custody of her 13-year-old son Nicholas (pictured) after she demanded his chemotherapy treatments stop when he went into remission 

Nicholas (pictured) been undergoing court-mandated chemotherapy at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola since October after he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia 

Nicholas (pictured) been undergoing court-mandated chemotherapy at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola since October after he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia 

Candace (pictured), who is a holistic and wellness coach, was actively against her son receiving chemotherapy from the start and wanted Nicholas to receive 'nontoxic' alternative care, including healthy foods, juices and supplements

Candace (pictured), who is a holistic and wellness coach, was actively against her son receiving chemotherapy from the start and wanted Nicholas to receive ‘nontoxic’ alternative care, including healthy foods, juices and supplements

In a video from Winthrop Hospital, Nicholas said that he felt like he is a hostage.

‘I don’t have cancer, so there is no need for chemotherapy,’ he says. ‘It’s causing me a lot of stress and I can’t deal with it anymore.’

Doctors insist they are trying to reduce the recurrence of the cancer, but Candace says she doesn’t believe that physicians actually have her son’s best interests at heart.

‘They have literally taken away my ability to protect him and look after him in the very best way I know how,’ she told reporters at a news conference on November 9.   

‘Once the cancer cells are no longer present, the chemotherapy just destroys the body and I don’t agree with that. I feel my son should have the opportunity to pursue a nontoxic alternative.’

Alternative therapy are used in replacement of conventional therapy, different from complementary therapy, which is used in addition to conventonal treatments. 

In June 2018, Nicholas was diagnosed with mixed phenotype acute leukemia, which is two forms of leukemia combined: acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

It is very rare, representing two to three percent of all cases of acute leukemia, a rapidly spreading form of the disease. Five-year survival rates are 50 percent.

After being declared to be in remission, doctors told Candace that her son would need chemotherapy for two to three more years to prevent the cancer's recurrence. Pictured: Candace hugs her son before he is taken away by CPS

After being declared to be in remission, doctors told Candace that her son would need chemotherapy for two to three more years to prevent the cancer’s recurrence. Pictured: Candace hugs her son before he is taken away by CPS

After missing his appointments twice and being taken to Florida for 'alternative treatments' Suffolk County Child Protective Services took custody of Nicholas (pictured)

After missing his appointments twice and being taken to Florida for ‘alternative treatments’ Suffolk County Child Protective Services took custody of Nicholas (pictured)

The fast-moving nature of mixed phenotype acute leukemia means it is especially crucial for people who are newly diagnosed to be treated quickly.

According to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, there are two phases of treatment.

The first is the induction phase, which focuses on using chemotherapy to rid the body of leukemia cells. 

The second is the post-remission phase, which focuses on destroying any hidden cells, meaning potentially more chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant. 

Nicholas’s mother, Candace, told ABC 7 that she agreed to the first round of chemotherapy after doctors at Cohen Children’s Medical Center told her they would call Child Protective Services (CPS) to take custody of her son if she did not sign the consent form.

Candace said her son spent a month at Cohen where he ‘lost over 20 percent of his body weight’, had an inflamed cecum (a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines), and even stropped breathing a few times.

Nicholas was discharged on July 24 and received outpatient treatment until the end of August. When his doctors determined he needed further chemotherapy, Candace refused to readmit her son to the hospital. 

A doctor at Cohen’s called Suffolk County CPS and Nicholas was removed from his home over Labor Day weekend.

He was taken to NYU Winthrop where he spent a month. Despite being declared to be in remission, doctors told Candace her son would need to undergo three years of chemotherapy. 

That is the standard in cases like Nicholas’s, but did not sit well with his mother, who wanted Nicholas to receive ‘nontoxic alternative care’, including healthy foods, juices and supplements.

In a video from Winthrop Hospital, Nicholas (pictured) said that he felt like he is a hostage'

Nicholas (pictured) is seen saying: 'I don't have cancer, so there is no need for chemotherapy. It's causing me a lot of stress and I can't deal with it anymore'

In a video from Winthrop Hospital, Nicholas (left and right) said that he felt like he is a hostage. He is seen saying: ‘I don’t have cancer, so there is no need for chemotherapy. It’s causing me a lot of stress and I can’t deal with it anymore’

Nicholas (pictured) has been placed in the care of Sarah Murphy, a family friend, and will continue to receive outpatient treatment. Candace can live with the guardian and her son, but is not allowed to make any medical decisions

Nicholas (pictured) has been placed in the care of Sarah Murphy, a family friend, and will continue to receive outpatient treatment. Candace can live with the guardian and her son, but is not allowed to make any medical decisions

Candace is taking the case is being taken to trial and a judgment will likely be handed down in December. Pictured: NYU Winthrop Hospital where Nicholas is undergoing chemotherapy

Candace is taking the case is being taken to trial and a judgment will likely be handed down in December. Pictured: NYU Winthrop Hospital where Nicholas is undergoing chemotherapy

Twice he did not show up for his appointments. After the second time, Suffolk County CPS took custody of the boy and placed him in the care of Sarah Murphy, a family friend, according to Newsday. 

‘The thing that concerns me is how this is impacting him because when they take me out of the equation…it’s devastating to Nicholas,’ said Candace, who can live with the guardian and her son, but is not allowed to make any medical decisions.

NBC New York reported that Nicholas has a GPS bracelet to track his movements and Murphy says she will abide by doctor’s orders and take the boy to the hospital for treatment. 

‘Unless chemotherapy is continued, those [cancer] cells can once again multiply and the results are usually fatal,’ said hospital spokesman J Edmond Keating.

The case is being taken to trial and a judgment will likely be handed down in December.

‘A parent’s desire to provide a child with which she feels is the most appropriate level of treatment should be given the first consideration,’ said the Gundersen family attorney Elliot Schlissel at a press conference.

‘Candace wants her child to have the best quality of life for the few years he has left. They are treating him for cancer that does not exist at this time.’

Almost 40 percent of American believe alternative therapies can cure cancer, despite no evidence to suggest otherwise.

A study from Yale University released in July found that  cancer patients who use complementary medicine are more likely to die because they have a higher risk of foregoing their conventional treatment.

However, lead author Dr Cary Gross told DailyMail.com she believes doctors need to discuss non-traditional treatments with their patients, who in desperate times maybe decide to seek the complementary care on their own.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk