Integrative Cancer Care

After being diagnosed with cancer, it can be very overwhelming to sort through the immense number of cancer interventions promoted on the internet and recommended by friends and family members. With endless information out there, much of which seems conflicting, how do you know whom to trust?

Integrative medicine (IM) is whereby natural therapies are used under the instruction of a qualified doctor to complement traditional treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery).  These natural treatments work by reducing the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation, and when used properly, can INCREASE the effectiveness of chemotherapy.   Natural therapies become “alternative” medicine when they become the primary therapy for patients who are terminal, do not qualify for chemotherapy, have not responded favorably to chemotherapy, or during a recurrence.

Despite the ever-growing popularity of alternative medicine, there are still very few oncologists who are well-versed in naturopathic or alternative methods of healing.  Their focus is to kill the cancer, and in doing so, the person with the cancer can be overlooked.  Naturopathic therapies strengthen the patient (physically, mentally, and emotionally) as they are going through chemotherapy.  Here is an analogy to help explain the role of naturopathic medicine in cancer care- “While cancer is the weed, integrative cancer care deals with the garden as well, making the soil as inhospitable as possible to growth and spread of the weed. “-The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 2010

Integrative naturopathic cancer treatments may include:

• Botanical / Herbal Medicine
• Homeopathy
• IV Vitamin C (intravenous)
• Customized Nutrition
• Iscador injections
• Vitamin/Nutrient Deficiency Testing
• Detoxification