Parents of a young cancer survivor have now turned to hypnotism to try and stop their son's food addiction. The 11-year-old English boy has been exclusively eating garlic bread for well over 8 years.
Cancer Treatment Left A Bizarre Side Effect
Louise Blackshaw, 32, and her husband have sought the aid of hypnotherapist Felix Economakis in an attempt to subdue their son's craving for the flavored dough snack. Young Billy Turner has incessantly dismissed any other food since 2008. It was during that year when he underwent six months of chemotherapy to treat his Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
"When Billy was having his chemo, he said eating felt very strange, as the feeling of food moving down his throat felt very pronounced," Blackshaw told The Sun. "The only thing that he said didn't make him feel funny was garlic bread. But, it's now eight years later and he still refuses to eat anything else."
Hypnotism Is Worth A Try
Blackshaw is confident Economakis would restore Billy's normal eating habits. Daily Mail noted that the psychologist and hypnosis expert had already cured a 20-year-old woman from Cornwall, who only ate potato chips since she was 5 years old. The woman experienced considerable improvement after just one session with the renowned clinical hypnotist.
"SED (Selective Eating Disorder) as a phobia is confused with a natural phase in childhood which is fussy eating," Economakis explained. "While a lot of people act as if they are just fussy, people with SED would rather die than eat certain foods."
Chemotherapy Literally Leaves A Bad Taste In The Mouth
For his part, Macmillan cancer nurse specialist John Newlands reported that three-quarters of people who underwent chemotherapy experience changes to their appetite. This is because the treatment crushes cells that divide quickly, like those in the lining of the mouth.
"Chemotherapy drugs are secreted into the saliva, so many patients would say they get a bad taste straight away," claimed Newlands. 'Your tastes are affected by the drugs you received. The taste of foods are dulled or you get a metallic taste."
