http://youtu.be/cx5VuAMaW6k What Is Integrative Oncology? Before I get into clarifying what integrative oncology is NOT, let’s first make sure all of our newer readers know what it IS. Integrative oncology is the use of evidence-informed ... [Read More]
Anti-Cancer Recipes From The Experts
When you are first learning about the concepts of anti-cancer nutrition it can be a challenge to figure out how to shop and prepare meals for yourself. With two-thirds of cancer patients searching for nutrition advice online, where do they go to get ... [Read More]
Just Breathe: Calm Your Mind Using The Inner Balance Trainer
I'm a techie nerd, so whenever I have a chance to try out a cool new gadget that may be able to help my patients improve their health I'm all over it. In a previous post, I wrote about the usefulness of activity tracking devices. These wearable ... [Read More]
Who should consider genetic testing (BRCA1/2) for hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers?
The vast majority of cancers occur by chance, but a small percentage are related to inherited genetic abnormalities or mutations. In cases of hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers, most occur as a result of mutations in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 ... [Read More]
The Rising Tide of the Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: Know the Facts
The last decade has seen a steady rise (300% increase) in the number of individuals who are opting to undergo a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) as a means of reducing their risk of developing a new breast cancer in their opposite ... [Read More]
Are You Feeling Distress? Your oncologist needs to know
Are you feeling distress? We have covered this topic in a previous blog post, but this is worth repeating as I encounter this in my patients every day. What is "distress"? "Distress" is purposely chosen as the word we use even though it is a very ... [Read More]
Air Pollution Increases Your Risk of Dying From Breast Cancer
It's hardly a surprise that air pollution has been shown to increase one's risk of developing lung cancer. However, it now appears that living in cities with more polluted air also correlates with a greater risk of dying from breast ... [Read More]
Sleep Your Way To Less Cancer
Not getting adequate sleep (particularly, at night) is now recognized as a risk factor for cancer. It seems that the preponderance of studies suggest that getting at least 6-7 hours of night time sleep is protective against cancer (as well as ... [Read More]
How To Reduce Your Risk of Bone Fracture During and After Cancer Treatment
Bone loss and bone fractures are a significant concern during and after many different types of cancer treatment. Appropriate screening, lifestyle modifications and therapies to increase or maintain bone density are essential. I decided to write ... [Read More]
Reduce Your Risk Of Blood Clots Without A Prescription
This article has been updated, November 2019 (link here) One of the the facts I emphasize during my integrative oncology talks is that the majority of patients with cancer do not die from their cancer, but instead from a side effect or ... [Read More]
Pesticides, Herbicides and Cancer: The Link Is Getting Clearer
The March/April 2013 issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians published a review by the U.S. National Cancer Institute and others reporting the widespread recognition that exposure (through our food, water, skin and air) to MANY different ... [Read More]
Is There Any Other Anti-Cancer Botanical Compound As Exciting As Curcumin?
Curcumin is one of the hottest plant polyphenol extracts being researched, today. Until recently, I was unaware of the extensive history of curcumin research...dating back over 170 years! In the last 10-years, alone, there have been over 4,600 ... [Read More]
Proton Beam Therapy: The Rolls Royce of Radiation Oncology
Have you heard of "proton beam therapy" (PBT)? Simply put, PBT is the most advanced radiation therapy technique available. This star wars-like technology has been used in the treatment of malignant and benign tumors since the 1950's. As of 2011, ... [Read More]
Hey Doc, Can I Take Antioxidants During Chemo and Radiation?
This is one of the most common questions asked by our patients in the oncology clinic, and for most oncologists their knee jerk answer is "NO, It's NOT safe to take antioxidants during chemotherapy and radiation therapy." What's The Claim? When I ... [Read More]
One Baby Aspirin Per Day Cuts Cancer Development, Metastases and Death!
Do you take an aspirin a day for aches and pains or other health reasons? It seems that many people do, and they might be inadvertently protecting themselves from cancer. A Willow Tree Gave Us Aspirin: The ancient Egyptians used the bark of the ... [Read More]
Fight Cancer: Chew (or Juice) Brassicas!
I was no fan of broccoli when I was a kid. My mom used to have to serve it to me with melted cheese just so that I would eat it (pssst, don't tell my mom, but I used to feed it to our family dog under the table before the cheese ... [Read More]
Use Glutamine To Reduce The Severity Of Mucositis And Neuropathy (During Chemotherapy Or Radiation Therapy)
If you are about to start a course of chemotherapy that can cause mucositis (i.e. of the mouth, throat or esophagus) or peripheral neuropathy (i.e. hands and feet), ask your oncologist if you can use glutamine to help reduce the severity of these ... [Read More]
Get Metformin-Like AntiCancer Activity Without A Prescription (Berberine)
What Is Berberine? Berberine is one of the active alkaloid extracts, derived from a variety of plants (i.e. Oregon grape, barberry, tree turmeric, goldenseal, Amor cork tree, Chinese goldthread or "huanglian" or "Coptis chinensis", etc.), that have ... [Read More]
Fight & Prevent Breast Fibrosis After Radiation Therapy
I wrote a previous blog post in which I hypothesized that by using a combination of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and pentoxifylline (PTX), patients undergoing breast or chest wall radiation therapy for breast cancer might be able to reduce their risk ... [Read More]
Metformin Supplementation and Cancer Treatment
The Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) annual conference was chock-full of excellent talks on the use of a variety of supplements that may be useful in helping to reduce the risk of cancer development, progression and ... [Read More]
Just Got Back From A Great Naturopathic Cancer Conference (OncANP): Update on Melatonin and Cancer Treatment
The Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) just held their 2nd annual conference, in Phoenix, and it was great! This was the first Naturopathic conference I have attended, and I was VERY impressed with the quality of the ... [Read More]
Keep Your Hair With Scalp Cooling (“Cold Cap Therapy”) During Chemotherapy
If you want to try to keep your hair during chemotherapy read this article. I wish more oncologists would tell their patients about this incredibly simple hair saving technique, but unfortunately many are either unaware of how effective it is or are ... [Read More]
Read About the Numerous Anti-Cancer and Protective Effects of Milk Thistle Extract (Silymarin)
Milk thistle seeds contain a powerful phytonutrient called, silymarin, which is increasingly being recognized for its' wide-range of anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and protective effects against various drugs and toxins. Most studies ... [Read More]
Physical Activity Monitoring Devices Can Play A Role In Integrative Oncology
Most Americans are lazy when it comes to walking. We walk about 30-40 minutes less every day compared with the Swiss, Australians and the Japanese (from a 2003 study.) Based on number of steps per day, Americans barely walk more than than the ... [Read More]
Loneliness and Cancer: Is There A Link?
Increased inflammation and diminished immune function can both drive cancer growth and progression. Loneliness, sadness, depression have all been linked with these cancer-promoting physiologic conditions. It is certainly not a far stretch to believe ... [Read More]
Flavonoid Polyphenols and Cancer
What are Flavonoids? Flavonoids are plant-made chemicals (phytochemicals) in the “polyphenol” family of molecules. They are widely found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, herbs, spices, stems and flowers, teas, red wine, beer, beans, cocoa, and many ... [Read More]
Penile “Rehab” During and After Prostate Cancer Treatment
One of the most common complications of radiation therapy and surgery (prostatectomy) for prostate cancer is erectile dysfunction (ED.) Studies report rates as high as 30-60% of men who undergo these treatments will develop ED as a result of ... [Read More]
Alzheimer’s Drug Reduces Memory Loss and Cognitive Decline After Brain Radiation
Brain radiation is one of the most effective treatments for stopping or slowing the growth of brain tumors and cancers that have spread to the brain. Unfortunately, this treatment can lead to varying degrees of cognitive and memory deficits ... [Read More]
A Medicinal Mushroom Warning (Cordyceps Sinensis)…Buyer Beware!
I recently discovered a very alarming issue surrounding one of the most commonly used medicinal mushrooms, Cordyceps sinensis (CS.) It has been marketed and prescribed for years for its’ immune-stimulating effects (as well as, anti-cancer, ... [Read More]
Mucositis of the Mouth and Throat: An Integrative Oncology Approach to Management
Mucositis is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment, and one that can cause a great amount of distress when not addressed both preventatively and therapeutically. Dr. Lise Alschuler, ND (an internationally known naturopathic ... [Read More]