The Role Of A Naturopathic Doctor In Cancer Care

Cancer.

It’s not a diagnosis anyone ever wants to hear.

The word alone can turn lives upside down, and often leaves people with a sense of hopelessness.

Although there is no cure for cancer, adding elements of Adjunctive Naturopathic Cancer Care to complement a treatment plan can help support the efforts of the medical oncologist, and may help to quicken recovery.

To learn some of the benefits adding naturopathic medicine to your cancer treatment plan can have, keep reading.

Adjunctive Cancer Care

Unfortunately, despite no lack of effort, we haven’t yet found a cure for cancer. Not through modern western medicine and not through naturopathic medicine.

Be wary of anyone trying to sell you a product that they claim can cure cancer.

Treatments from a naturopathic doctor do not replace a properly trained medical oncologist, rather complement conventional treatments.

For the most comprehensive treatment, your medical oncologist and naturopathic doctor should communicate and work together as a team.

Adjunctive Naturopathic Cancer Care?

Naturopathic medicine is about treating the whole person, rather than just targeting the cancer.

It can help to support immune function, metabolism, and decrease side effects of treatment.

The goal is to maintain quality of life and improve health and well-being, which can often suffer during cancer treatments.

Read on for some of the ways naturopathic medicine can be utilized to complement modern medicine in cancer treatment.

1. Reduce The Side Effects Of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is not pleasant to go through.

It is meant to kill rapidly growing cancer cells, but often takes out perfectly healthy cells that grow quickly, such as those in the roots of your hair.

Aside from hair loss, this attack on healthy cells can have side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, nerve damage, and cognitive impairment.

This is one reason to consider treatment from a naturopathic doctor, in parallel with your treatments from your medical oncologist.

Supplementation of nutrients such as fish oil, ginger, and glutamine can aid in reducing side effects from harsh treatments.

Additionally, supplementation of antioxidants such as vitamins C can be used to help combat damage done by free radicals.

I can help you with the correct balance for each of these.

2. Reduce The Side Effects Of Radiation

While chemotherapy works throughout the whole body to target cells, radiation therapy is targeted to the part of the body affected by the cancer.

Many of the side effects of radiation are the same as those of chemotherapy, and therefore many of the same naturopathic treatments which can assist to reduce the effects of chemotherapy will also work to lessen the side effects of radiation.

It’s a good idea to consult with me to find out what type of treatment will work best based on your unique situation.

3. Support Your Body’s Ability To Heal Itself After Surgery

Any type of surgery can be tough on the body, and will always require time to heal properly.

Add in cancer treatment, and the body is in an even more weakened state, which means healing from cancer-related surgeries may take longer than a comparable procedure without cancer. However, there are naturopathic treatments which can help to support the body in healing after a surgery.

Use of naturopathic medicine before and after surgery can support your body’s ability to recover more quickly.

Prior to surgery, building up reserves of nutrients, as well as removing things such as natural blood thinners which could impede recovery times is important.

There may also be naturopathic solutions for helping to handle the anxiety of surgery.

Post-surgery the focus will be on building up nutrients, and supporting collagen formation which will help your body to recover quicker.

Post-surgery support may include a Protein IV, or a “Myer’s Cocktail” which includes vitamin C, magnesium and B vitamins.

4. Keep Your Immune System Strong

Chemotherapy treatment can cause a reduction in your white blood cell levels, which can affect your immune system.

Treatment with intravenous vitamin C can help to improve immune markers, and also improves the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Additionally, IV vitamin C treatment has been shown to help reduce side effects in chemotherapy and radiation patients.

Most patients can receive this treatment 1-2 times per week, based on their chemotherapy treatments and stage of cancer.

5. Keep Your Cancer In Remission

Naturopathic medicine is designed to help the body heal itself.

It takes into account the whole person, rather than just the illness or disease.

If your cancer is in complete remission, it means that no evidence of cancer remains in your body. That doesn’t mean you’re cured though – those with cancer in remission can still see a recurrence in their disease.

A naturopathic doctor can offer naturopathic supplements, IV therapy or nutrioneal programs, which may help to support the body once the cancer treatment is done, and assist in keeping the cancer from returning in full force.

Questions? Ask Dr. JJ

Are you, or is someone you love, going through cancer treatment?

Do you want to learn more about using naturopathic medicine to lessen the side-effect of chemotherapy or radiation treatments, or to help support healing after surgery?

Contact Dr. JJ today for a consultation, and to determine if this might be the right addition for your treatment plan.