Integrative Cancer Care

​​Cancer is one of the greatest medical challenges of our time, both for the individuals afflicted with it and their treating physicians.  While

conventional medical approaches like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy can have a fantastic impact on certain cancers, their use does not fully guarantee remission or the prevention of a recurrence.  Similarly, while many natural therapies have been shown to exert significant anti-cancer effects, they alone cannot be relied upon to deliver absolute results.  When conventional and natural therapies are combined, both research and clinical experience indicate enhanced benefits for patients.​

Integrative cancer care can be applied to any type of cancer diagnosis.  Working with a medical, radiation and/or surgical oncologist will bring into place the necessary conventional treatment options and requisite blood work and diagnostic imaging.  Concomitantly, the patient consults with a naturopathic doctor (ND) with a specific focus on cancer management.  The ND will discuss the diagnosis and conventional therapy options to determine the best course of naturopathic treatment.  Many nutritional supplements and intravenous therapies have anti-cancer effects, either by directly killing cancer cells, enhancing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, stimulating the immune system to attach cancer cells, and/or stimulating cancer-suppressing genes.  However, if certain supplements are taken at the wrong time or with the wrong chemotherapeutic agents they can have an opposite effect.  As such, a detailed treatment protocol needs to be outlined by the ND to ensure safety and maximal efficacy.  The ND should communicate this protocol to the conventional oncology team to ensure everyone is aware of all treatments being recommended.

A healthy diet is of significant importance to optimize treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of recurrence.  Minimizing inflammatory foods and high levels of sugar by consuming non-processed foods with a low glycemic index is ideal.  Protein intake is important, especially if unwanted weight loss is an issue.  Any food sensitivities should be identified and avoided to further reduce inflammation. 

Nutritional supplements and nutraceuticals are important for many cases, for some of the reasons mentioned above.  Generally, supplements should support chemotherapy effects, work to reduce side effects, boost energy, and work to remove cancer cells.  ​

IV therapies are among the most potent natural anti-cancer treatments available.  Common therapies used at our clinic include high-dose intravenous vitamin C and artesunate.

Injectable mistletoe extract is cytotoxic to cancer cells, activates the immune system against cancer cells, can reduce pain and improving energy and mood, and enhances the benefits of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.