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Table 1

by , , , , , , , , | Jan 1, 2012

Post Categories: Cancer Treatment and Prevention | Integrative Medicine

Table 1: The Role of Naturopathic Care After Conventional Breast Cancer Treatment

Complementary Care
Help patients recover from side effects and long-term toxicities that may result from surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation and accompanying oral medications. For those taking hormone-modifying medications, offer natural treatments that reduce side effects and potential drug toxicity. Educate patients about and avoid contraindications. Offer agents that act synergistically (see Table 2).

Basic Naturopathic Care
Inspire patients with research on lifestyle changes found to dramatically reduce the risk of recurrence and help them implement these lifelong goals (see Table 3). Provide evidence-based supplements and botanicals that have been found to reduce the risk of recurrence of breast cancer (see Table 4).
Optimize antioxidant status primarily through diet. Optimize immune function and reduce inflammation. Reduce exposure environmental toxins. Optimize function of detoxification pathways. Improve metabolism of hormones. Manage response to stress and encourage mindfulness.

Individualized, Constitutional Treatment
In addition to the above, use naturopathic foundational principles to evaluate and treat the individual. Consider the following constitutional categories, take a thorough history, do a physical examination, test your clinical hypotheses and methodically treat each layer until a healthy constitution is restored.

Detoxification

Inflammation

Stress response
Take a toxic exposure history and listen for other symptoms that may relate to toxicity of chemicals, metals, hormones, etc.1 Question and examine for symptoms and signs of inflammation. Take a social history, life stressor, and trauma history and observe for signs of tension in face, muscles, posture, and pulse.

Test:

  • single nucleotide polymorphisms2

  • organic acids for hepatic stress3

  • amino acids related to detoxification4

  • specific toxin load5

  • estrogen metabolism6

Test:

  • appropriate conventional markers of inflammation such as CRP7,8

  • food allergies

  • digestive function, digestive infection, flora and dysbiosis9

  • thyroid function and autoimmune antibodies10,11

Test:

  • methylation SNPs12,13

  • Neurotransmitters: (catecholamines, GABA, etc.)14

  • DHEA, diurnal cortisol rhythm15,16

  • serum amino acids for precursors to neurotransmitters and GABA17

Educate/coach:

  • tools for avoidance of xenoestrogens and other concerning toxins determined by above testing18

  • foods and beverages for detoxification19

Educate/coach:

  • avoid pro-inflammatory foods20

  • avoid personal allergens

  • increase anti-inflammatory foods21

Educate/coach:

  • schedule modifications to reduce rushing

  • cultivation of inner peace with mindfulness, qi gong, yoga, tai chi, etc.

  • optimize fitness22–25

Treatment:

  • replenish deficient amino acids

  • safely timed toxin-specific cleansing until normal on retesting26

  • optimize 2:16oh-estrone27

  • quarterly 10-day cleanse

Treatment:

  • treat dysbiosis; restore proper balance of bowel flora28

  • implement therapeutic anti-inflammatory/anti-allergic diet

  • naturopathic and Chinese Medicine protocols to reduce chronic inflammation such as curcumin, fish oil29–32

  • Optimize thyroid function33,34

Treatment:

  • botanicals for calming the mind and Shen35

  • amino acids based on deficiencies + L-theanine36

  • adrenal tonics based on test results

  • body-mind-spirit therapies

  • energetic/meridian treatments37

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Author

Amnon Kahane, MD

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