Brain
Brain tumors can be influenced by several growth factors and genetic variants. Our physicians understand the unique tumor environment of the brain that cause blood vessel growth, brain inflammation, and tumor growth. Research studies support the use of homeopathy, diet therapy, and IV therapy for brain cancer. Natural and alternative cancer treatment recogntion continues to expand the options available for those who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Breast
The most important thing to understand while undergoing treatment for breast cancer is that no two breast tumors are alike; they can be influenced by hormones, environmental exposures, genetic mutations, and different cancer growth factors. Our naturopathic physicians understand your pathology reports, the uniqueness of your tumor type, and how best to apply natural therapies to help reduce the growth of your breast cancer. They know that hormones, environmental toxins, genetic mutations, diet, and stress can influence breast cancer growth. By approaching you as a whole person, our doctors will help pinpoint and address the unique features of your breast cancer.
The most common treatments for breast cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The doctors at The Life Center are well versed in the types of therapies commonly used and how to expertly apply natural therapies to increase efficacy, reduce side effects, and support affected systems. CLICK HERE to read more about breast cancer.
Childhood
Children undergoing cancer treatment need support for keeping their little bodies healthy during treatment and to recover healthy system functioning after treatment.
Adult survivors of childhood cancer are a rapidly growing population and long-term complications from treatment can occur 10 – 30 years after initial treatment. Our physicians can help reduce your risk of long-term effects, provide support for the systems in your body that were affected by treatment, and support a lifestyle of health and well-being.
Colon
Colon cancer involves tumor growth in the intestines. It can also include cancer cells that have spread to the liver and tissues surrounding the intestines. Common concerns with colon cancer can include weight loss, fatigue, and metastasis. Our physicians have expert knowledge in supporting these concerns in addition to your individualized needs.
Colon cancer growth has been linked to inflammatory markers such as COX-2 and growth factors such as IGF-1. Several diet related risk factors for developing colon cancer include eating red processed meats, a low fiber diet, and limited vegetables.
Our physicians can help guide you to a diet plan that will reduce inflammation and the risk of colon cancer cell growth. There are also several natural products that have been studied for reducing colon cancer cell growth which will be incorporated into your individualized treatment plan.
If you are being treated with surgery or chemotherapy, side effects can be minimized with a plan that a support affected systems and provides the repletion of depleted nutrients.
Head and Neck
When you have cancer of the head/neck region of the body some of the biggest concerns are weight loss, taste changes, reduced saliva, and beating the cancer. Several natural therapies have been studied for reducing side effects from treatment as well as reducing growth of the cancerous tumor. Some of our recommendations might include nutrients that stimulate saliva production, amino acids that prevent weight loss, and herbs that can help stimulate the appetite. Several herbs and nutrients have also been studied for reducing head and neck cancer growth.
Leukemia
Leukemia represents a dysfunction in the essential development of cells from the bone marrow. This can affect red blood cells, platelets, and white blood. The growth of leukemia can frequently be traced back to faulty gene replication. When it comes to leukemia, we address cellular epigenetics a.k.a. the genetic replication on/off switch; and strive to reduce replication of unhealthy cells.
If you are undergoing any chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, or radiation, our physicians are well versed in how to support the body during these treatments, the best strategies for reducing side effects, and the tools needed to reduce leukemic cell replication.
Liver
Cancer that starts in the liver, gallbladder or the bile ducts can all be supported with natural therapies. If you have a previous diagnosis of cancer, and now have new liver lesions it is important to target the type of cancer you had in the past. A natural approach to liver cancer has several components, which include: supporting healthy liver cells, providing the building blocks for healthy liver regeneration, reducing side effects from bile duct obstruction, improving digestion, and initiating an anti-tumor response from the immune system.
Lung
We understand that lung cancer can be from a variety of factors. While most people link lung cancer just to smoking, hormones and environmental pollutants can also increase this type of tumor growth. Certain manufacturing environments have also been linked to lung cancer risk. A variety of food substances have been studied for preventing the growth of lung cancer including sulforophanes and beta-carotenes. Other natural products that our physicians might discuss include a specialized wheat germ extract, melatonin, homeopathy, and IV therapy. Our doctors will individualize your treatment and include dietary recommendations to address the factors increasing lung cancer growth.
Lymphoma
Since lymphomas are cancers of the immune system, it is very important to work with physicians that understand how to support immune function without stimulating lymphoma cell growth. This can be tricky for less experienced practioners because many of the “typical” natural cancer fighters could stimulate lymphoma cancer growth. Our physicians understand the cell pathways that inhibit and stimulate lymphoma growth and will help guide you in using the right natural therapies for addressing lymphoma. Lymphomas respond very well to naturopathic medicine and specifically homeopathy. They have also been linked to certain types of chemical and environmental exposures, which our team will look take into consideration during an initial visit and throughout treatment.
Ovarian
Natural strategies can be implemented in ovarian cancer to reduce hormone stimulation of cancer cell growth, improve healing from surgery, and reduce side effects from chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer growth factors can be linked to dietary choices and hormonal influences. There are many food sources of pytochemicals that have been studied for reducing ovarian cancer cell growth. Our doctors can discuss diet choices, nutritional supplements, homeopathy, and herbal therapies that have been studied for reducing ovarian cancer.
Pancreatic
The treatment and support of a pancreatic cancer diagnosis requires a whole person approach. Although we do not focus on the actions of the pancreas on a daily basis, this organ is an essential part of blood sugar regulation, digestion, fatty nutrient absorption, and the regulation of other hormones. When the pancreas begins to malfunction, the whole body is affected. Treating pancreatic cancer with holistic and natural medicine must start with the basis of appropriate whole foods based nutrition. Once the diet is put in place to maintain weight and blood sugar balance, we can add the best of homeopathic and natural therapies to reduce pancreatic cancer cell growth. Some interesting natural therapies for pancreatic cancer include d-limonene, alpha lipoic acid IV therapies, and homeopathic psorinum among other homeopathic remedies might be selected to support you.
Our physicians are comfortable combining natural treatments with emerging chemotherapy and radiation treatment protocols for pancreatic cancer. Many nutrients have been studied for increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation.
Prostate
Prostate cancer can be discovered in several stages and our physicians are prepared to support you at any step of the way. In low to moderate grade prostate cancer simple strategies such as diet changes, breathing exercises, and gentle movement have been shown to reverse prostate cancer cell growth. For more aggressive cancers, other herbs and nutrients can be included to stop and reduce cancer cell growth. You can read Dr. Paulson’s article onpomegranete juice and prostate cancer here and her article on vitamin D and prostate cancer here.
If you are undergoing surgery or radiation to the prostate, there are several adjunctive treatments that can be used to reduce side effects such as bowel changes, pain with urination, and fatigue.
Rectal Cancer
Although rectal cancer is typically linked with colon cancer, rectal cancer can have very different treatments and support recommended. Most rectal cancers are treated with surgery, radiation, or a combination of the two. Our physicians know how to improve bowel function despite radiation and surgery to the rectum. They can also reduce skin changes, fatigue, and improve overall healing of the bowel tissue. Of utmost importance is to reduce risk of recurrence, which can be done through diet counseling, homeopathy, and selected nutrient or botanical therapies.
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Although Renal Cell Carcinoma is fairly rare, we know a lot about how it grows and the types of things that increase renal cancer cell growth. Our physicians will look at markers of blood vessel cell growth, inflammatory markers that increase renal cell carcinoma, and genetic conditions that increase your risk of renal cell cancer before initiating in depth treatment. By targeting the biology of this unique cancer type, we can help improve your recovery from this disease. One of the most important pieces to track and target is VEGF. Many natural supplements have been shown to lower VEGF, and certain natural therapies have been studied specifically in people with renal cell carcinoma. Our physicians keep up to date on new natural therapies and biological targets to reduce renal cancer cell growth.
Our physicians can also work alongside surgery, chemotherapy, and other standard treatments to improve healing, reduce side effects, and support improved outcomes.
Skin
The incidence of UV-induced non-melanoma skin cancer has increased worldwide, accounting for more then 40% of all human cancers in the United States. One possible cause of this increase is the depletion of ozone. Once you have been diagnosed with skin cancer it is important to into place an effective skin cancer prevention program that reduces the chances of future skin cancer. If you skin cancer requires treatment with surgery or radiation therapy, naturopathic medicine will help your healthy skin cells recover and heal quickly.
Melanoma is another type of skin cancer which has an increasing incidence worldwide. In order for melanoma to grow, a combination of events must occur. These events can include immune system dysfunction, gene instability, and hormonal influence on skin cell growth. When you work with our team of cancer specialists they will guide you to the right tests to identify which event might be influencing your cancer growth. Several natural products have been tested for reducing melanoma cell growth including homeopathy, melatonin, fermented wheat germ extract, and berries. Our physicians will guide you to the right natural therapies and dosing for your body type and cancer progression.
Young Adult Cancer
If you are in your late teens, 20’s, and 30’s you fall into this group of cancer survivors. At The Life Center, we understand that cancer has interrupted your life, and we want to help you get back to being busy living. Natural therapies can help protect your healthy cells during chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. We can also help get your energy levels back up so you can keep pace with your friends and family. Have questions about fertility, long-term side effects, emotional support, or reducing risk of recurrence? Our doctor’s will answer your questions and give you advice for moving beyond your cancer, while still acknowledging your experience.
