tel. (416) 591-1123Cancer support
Aware that modern medicine has made little advance in its War on Cancer, many people with cancer choose to also include complementary and alternative medicine in their fight against cancer. They reach out and employ a wide range of therapies including naturopathic medicine, meditation, prayer, acupuncture, herbal, botanical, nutritional, homeopathic, dietary and other holistic practices seeking benefit.
As a naturopathic doctor, I was trained in an accredited naturopathic medical school in modern scientific nature cure. I am trained in both modern science and natural medicine. I’ve merged from this training well versed in the use of intravenous therapies (IV), botanical medicine, homeopathy, diet, fasting, nutritional supplementation, orthomolecular medicine, psycho-immunology and other complementary and alternative medical techniques. I can serve as a capable guide for patients interested in exploring alternative medicine.
I have chosen to focus a portion of my practice in naturopathic oncology where I understand both the standard treatments employed by medical oncologists and how best to work with them in a collaborative model of cancer co-treatment. Given my PhD in Pharmacy, I am well suited to identify drug interactions. I am well aware of the multitude of ‘alternative therapies’ promoted to cure cancer and can help patients understand which might be useful and why.
People with cancer often get excited about what they have read about IV vitamin C, Iscador (mistletoe), green tea, resveratrol, fish oil or curcumin. They read websites promoting a wide range of diets that range from Dr. Budwig’s cottage cheese flax oil regime to lists of alkaline and acid foods. Their friends and family, hearing they have cancer, offer to sell them the latest multi-level-marketed products such as mangosteen juice, graviola, or Ambrotose, believing these have anticancer properties and promising miracle cures. Naturopathic doctors can guide patients through this confusing marketplace.
Naturopathic doctors can help patients choose which of these various supplements or dietary concepts will be of help. I understand the science that explains why some supplements may make chemotherapy, radiation and other medical treatments more cytotoxic, killing cancer cells more effectively, and which supplements may prevent treatments from working. I seek out therapies that trigger apoptosis in cancer cells, that is trigger the cancer cells to commit suicide, destroying the tumor.
My treatment goal is:
- To use scientifically grounded, evidence-informed natural cancer care, to strengthen the body’s ability to heal itself and to sustain wellness during aggressive cancer therapies (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery)
- To have open communication and collaboration with allied health professionals and conventional oncologists and radiation oncologists
- To use evidence-based therapies at doses and times that will not negatively impact on conventional therapy but support the body's own inherent healing ability and help patients cope with therapy associated toxicity and side effects.
I have treated the following cancer types:
- Breast
- Prostate
- Colon
- Pancreatic
- Lung
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Ovary
- Cervix
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Skin
- Lymphoma
- Brain
- Mouth
- Tongue
- Throat
The goal of naturopathic medicine is to create a healthy environment both inside and outside the body. This is especially significant for people with cancer. Naturopathic medicine takes a holistic, or whole- person, approach to cancer care. It makes use of time-tested, scientifically grounded, natural methods to strengthen the body’s ability to heal itself. Cancer treatment includes:
- Support normal metabolism during treatment
- Decrease side effects of cancer treatment
- Support the body’s immune system
- Provide strategies for long term cancer prevention and health maintenance
- Improve energy, well-being and overall quality of life
Here are some ways Dr. JJ can help: