Integrative Oncology
What is Integrative Oncology?
Integrative oncology is a holistic approach to cancer care that combines conventional cancer treatments alongside evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies.
The vast amount of information on what may or may not helpful can be confusing, conflicting at times, and honestly overwhelming. No one should go through this alone.
We will work alongside you as a team to help simplify the process. By homing in on the most optimal therapies, you can expect better quality of life, reduced side-effects from cancer treatments, and improved clinical outcomes.
Metabolic Nutrition
Metabolic reprogramming, the way that cancers alter how cells take up nutrients and direct abnormal growth, is one of the main hallmarks of cancer, and has been recognized as one of the major mechanisms of resistance to current therapies.1
Cancer cells have altered metabolic pathways, such as the Warburg effect, which makes them highly dependent on specific nutrients like glucose and fructose (sugars). By understanding and targeting these metabolic vulnerabilities, dietary interventions through Metabolic Nutrition can potentially starve cancer cells, slow tumor growth, and enhance the effectiveness of conventional therapies.2
Synergize & Improve Outcomes
Evidence supporting the use of integrative oncology to improve patient outcomes is growing, and data supports its use alongside standard of care.3
Because cancer is a complex disease, using a combination of many different treatments that address the tumor microenvironment can create synergy between therapies and improve results.4
Metabolic Approach
Fasting
Mistletoe Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen
Low Dose Naltrexone
Repurposed Medication
Reduce Cancer Treatment Side-Effects
Undergoing cancer treatment can be challenging, with many patients experiencing side-effects such as fatigue, nausea, neuropathy, pain, chemo-brain (brain fog), and more.5 Sometimes treatments are paused due to blood cell counts getting too low, which may delay making progress.
Integrative medicine does not replace traditional cancer treatments. Instead, we will support your standard of care “conventional” medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies by reducing side-effects from treatments. This collaboration will help you complete your treatment protocol, and along the way provide comfort, emotional well-being and overall improved quality of life.
Prevent Recurrence
Once the cancer is physically gone, it is important to address the underlying foundations for why the cancer developed in the first place. Prevention is a vital part of your long-term treatment plan. When these pillars are addressed, you can rest assured you have done all you can to prevent the cancer from coming back and begin enjoying a healthy and happy life.
Nutrition
The right foods can help you feel your best, aid in recovery after treatment, and may prevent the cancer from coming back as well. In the long run, nutrition is key to maintaining a dietary environment that is inhospitable for cancer cells. Diet influences metabolism which in turn can regulate the process of cancer and metabolic reprogramming.6
Exercise
Regular physical activity not only reduces cancer risk but also significantly mitigates side effects of cancer therapies.7 Compared with patients who performed no/less exercise, patients who exercised following a diagnosis of cancer were observed to have a lower relative risk of cancer mortality and recurrence and experienced fewer/less severe adverse effects.8
Herbs
Mistletoe extracts from various species demonstrate significant immunomodulatory effects through the activation of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, which are crucial effector cells in anti-tumor immunity.9 NK cells are part of the innate immune system that directly kill tumor cells and help prevent metastasis by eliminating circulating cancer cells.
Biofilms
Mucus-invasive bacterial biofilms comprise a community of microbes that shape the tumor microenvironment and immune system.10 They can colonize different human cells and tissues, subverting the host immune reaction by preventing immune detection. It is important to remove these biofilms as they are carcinogenic and can persist after cancer treatment.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals increase the susceptibility of tumor development and progression in humans.11 Examination of the literature available on the topic of metal-induced carcinogenesis indicates that there is enough substantial data to support the hypothesis of a direct relationship between the presence of heavy metals within the tissues and the increased risk of tumorigenesis.12
Mold Mycotoxins
The cancers that can be caused by mycotoxins include liver cancer, kidney cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, renal cancer, breast cancer, testicular cancer, stomach cancer and reproductive organ cancer.13 Further, it has already been proved that most of these mycotoxins when ingested cause mutations in cellular genome developing cancers in human.14
6. https://www.oatext.com/diet-and-cancer-metabolic-reprogramming.php
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39346906/
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28453622/
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12384309/
10.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38726597/
11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38347295/
12. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11254964/
13. https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/or.2017.5424
14. https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/open-access/an-overview-on-mycotoxins-causing-cancer-in-human-60542.html
Healing Starts Now
Call our office at 509-584-5344 so we can discuss your needs and set up your first appointment.