In their fight against cancer, many people choose to seek the advice and care of a Naturopathic Doctor practicing oncology. And rightly so, there are many well–studied, evidence–based approaches to integrative cancer care that all cancer patients should explore.

Our approach integrates complementary cancer practices into all stages of cancer treatment—before, during and after primary conventional therapies—and will not interfere with other treatments. There is significant and proven benefit to an integrative approach over the conventional approach alone including:

• Prolonged survival
• Improved quality of life
• Improvement in the effectiveness of conventional therapies
• Reduced adverse effects of conventional therapies
• Expert advice on nutritional and dietary requirements during active treatment
• Advice to minimize risk of recurrence, including lifestyle and dietary changes
• Help sorting through the myriad of misinformation found on the internet and elsewhere

Build strength and improve health: Before and during chemotherapy we aim to build up a patient’s strength to help minimize and protect from the serious side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Also, this enables patients to come out of their treatment phase feeling stronger and healthier.

Strengthen the immune system: The immune system naturally plays an active role searching for cancer cells. A certain division of the immune system, known as the cell–mediated system is responsible for this surveillance, and its activity is dependent on a factor known as the Th1/Th2 balance. When there is imbalance favouring the Th2 side, the ability to search for cancerous cells is diminished. A shift in the balance to favour Th1 strengthens the body’s own defences in their search for cancerous cells.

Address hormonal imbalances: This factor is of utmost importance in hormone sensitive cancers such as breast, endometrial and possibly ovarian cancers. All sources of estrogenic influence must be evaluated and balanced according to known research. This includes evaluating the ratios of certain estrogens and their metabolites, establishing whether phytoestrogens from our foods need to be avoided, and eliminating environmental chemicals known to have very strong estrogenic effects.

Actively Target the Cancer: Quite a number of proven and effective integrative approaches for cancer treatment are available. In fact, there have been some impressive positive findings noted with several of these treatments when used correctly for cancer, including dramatic cancer–killing ability and improved survival of patients. Many of these approaches complement standard chemotherapy to increase the cytotoxicity (ability to kill cancer cells), and others may be used independently after the treatment phase of chemotherapy has finished. Typically the adverse effects of conventional chemotherapy are not seen with these treatments.

The therapies used in integrative Cancer Care have demonstrated a high degree of safety and low risk profile. The small potential risks that do exist can be anticipated and prevented with thorough laboratory analysis prior to beginning treatment.

Furthermore, while some therapies do need to be avoided during chemotherapy, many are not only safe, but improve the outcomes of chemotherapy. A large amount of research has been undertaken in this regard, and conclusions support both safety and a lack of interference with chemotherapy when integrative interventions are used correctly.

Recent years have seen the body of evidence grow for the use of natural compounds in cancer treatment. Many integrative cancer treatments that have been used in Europe for decades are only now becoming more widespread in North America, and this history of use has produced mountains of clinical evidence.

As mentioned above, medical science has also looked at the theoretical concern of combining certain natural compounds with conventional treatment, and found that the two therapies actually support one another when used properly.

Unfortunately, positive research is rarely mentioned in the negative articles that seem to get much more attention. We are more than happy to discuss research and evidence with our patients and oncologists.