Naturopathic Supportive Cancer Care
What is Integrative Cancer Care?
Integrative cancer care is the addition of complementary medicine alongside radiation, chemotherapy, and other traditional treatments. It involves an evidence-informed approach that utilizes therapies that may help:
Improve results from conventional treatments, maximize health after treatment and reduce risk of cancer recurrence
Improve quality of life
Support physical, mental and emotional well-being
Maintain a healthy weight, achieved through diet, supplementation and lifestyle interventions
Support healing and recovery from cancer and conventional treatment
Decrease side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, vomiting, pain, hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, depression and reduced blood counts among many others
Our clinic offers a variety of integrative and complementary medicine practices in support of hospital-based care. All therapies that are provided are done so in a manner that is ethical, supportive, safe and in consultation with clinicians and pharmacists.
What Stage is Supportive Cancer Care Given?
There are supportive cancer options that can be included at various stages of cancer, including:
After a recent cancer diagnosis
While undergoing hospital-based treatments
Before & after hospital-based treatments
Cancer recurrence prevention
Cancer risk reduction (prevention)
What to Expect at Your First Visit?
As a patient, you can expect an initial consultation of around one hour, in which medical history, relevant test results, and current health status are all assessed, and a treatment plan is put in place. Your individual treatment plan will vary, but will consist of nutritional guidelines, herbal and vitamin supplementation, lifestyle changes and exercise, the use of injection therapies where suitable, and referrals to other therapists when necessary. Your return visits will be for 60-minutes and scheduled as needed. An example of a therapy that might be considered is mistletoe injections, a common supportive cancer therapy that has been used for over 100 years. You can read more about mistletoe therapy here.
