Nutrition for cancer

Integrative cancer care

Naturopathic medicine can support you before, during, and after cancer treatment. Natural therapies can help to reduce side effects of cancer treatments, enhance quality of life, support immune function, reduce inflammation, lower recurrence risk, and provide palliative support. Common therapies used include nutrition guidance, herbal medicine, mistletoe injections, dietary supplements, and lifestyle counselling.

Combining conventional cancer care with natural treatments is often referred to as integrative oncology.   

 What can you expect?

  • Symptom support.

    I strive to help you feel better. Common concerns I work with include fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, anxiety, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, weight loss or gain, mouth sores, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and neuropathy.

  • Nutritional guidance.

    Nutrition for cancer can be complicated. I make suggestions that are specific to your type of cancer, your medical history, and your current concerns.

  • Natural health products.

    This includes dietary supplements (e.g. vitamins, minerals) and herbal medicine. Treatments are specified to your type of cancer, cancer treatments, symptoms, and other medical history.

  • Individualized care.

    We will come up with a plan that addresses your unique concerns, with flexibility to alter our approach if your needs change.

  • Compassion.

    Your story matters. I will always do my best to listen and to respect your experiences and emotions. Sometimes, this is the best medicine of all.

  • Empowerment.

    I will guide you toward ways you can be an active participant in your cancer care and health.

  • Navigation.

    There's a lot of information out there, which can be confusing and overwhelming. I can help you make sense of it.

  • What you will NOT get.

    Extreme diets, blame, guilt, complex and overwhelming regimens, or costly treatments without evidence.

FAQs

  • Naturopathic treatments can be used to manage side effects of cancer treatments (e.g chemotherapy, radiation therapy), improve quality of life, reduce risk factors for cancer recurrences, and provide palliative and end-of-life support. A consultation with a naturopathic doctor can also help you navigate complementary and alternative healthcare, which can be overwhelming and confusing.

  • No. Naturopathic therapies can be used leading up to, during, and after your hospital treatments. An integrative approach to cancer is what I recommend in most instances, as natural therapies are not a cure for cancer and cannot replace conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, immunotherapies, targeted therapies, and hormone therapies. Some people may choose to see a naturopathic doctor during their treatments, and others may wait until after to seek care.

  • Not usually. My goal is to use practical recommendations to help you achieve your objectives, while keeping stress and anxiety to a minimum. Elaborate treatment plans can sometimes create more stress and fear, which isn't helpful. Treatment plans are made together with you, always keeping your goals in mind. As a result, they can range from simple to more complex depending on your goals, preferences, and health needs.

  • Absolutely. Cancer survivors often experience lingering side effects (for example fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues), have mental and emotional health concerns, want to reduce risk factors for cancer recurrence, and reduce risks of late effects of cancer treatment. See my page on cancer survivorship for more information.

Appointments

  • Both in-person and virtual (phone or video) appointments are available to people living in Nova Scotia and Ontario.

  • Initial appointments are 1 hour.

    Follow up visits range from 15-45 minutes.

  • Initial visits are $295

    Follow up visits range from $80-$175

  • Naturopathic services are often covered under private health plans. Please check with your provider. Our office can direct bill most major insurance providers.

 

“We’ve been wrong about what our job is in medicine. We think our job is to ensure health and survival. But really it is larger than that. It is to enable well-being.”

— Atul Gwande, Being Mortal: Illness, medicine, and what matters in the end