Complementary Cancer Therapy: A naturopathic medical doctor can play a significant role as part of one's overall treatment plan, says Dr. Paul Stallone

Being diagnosed with cancer is undeniably hard, and so are the endless decisions and choices for treatment. These choices should be well thought out and researched, and we have the right to carefully consider every step and move forward with confidence and trust. One of the first priorities should be getting a second opinion with a naturopathic physician (NMD) experienced in treating patients with cancer. Having an NMD involved with cancer treatment from the beginning may help avoid making decisions that could possibly impede the fight against cancer. An NMD will concentrate on our biggest ally: our immune system, but the best thing a naturopath can do is present all the options, which may include alternative and conventional treatments.

What many NMDs have known for a while, and some conventional medicine is now acknowledging, is that natural therapies can complement and enhance the effectiveness of standard cancer treatments. For instance, carefully selected alternative treatments can positively affect the way a tumor cell receives chemotherapy, increasing the likelihood that the cell will die from the treatment. Another advantage in pairing conventional and alternative treatments is that natural therapies may decrease the chance of tumor cells becoming resistant to chemotherapy drugs.

Relying solely on conventional treatments can result in side effects so extreme and severe that dosages have to be decreased or discontinued altogether. Natural therapies may significantly reduce or eliminate these side effects, allowing the patient to receive doses at full strength and increasing the overall effectiveness of the original treatment plan. Natural therapies may also complement conventional treatments such as surgery and radiation that could leave the body with a risk of infection or other complications. Alternative therapies have been shown to speed healing after surgery or repair cells damaged by radiation.

After we have completed cancer treatment, our body will need post-care. This is when alternative and natural therapies thrive, removing the toxins and effects of other medication used to poison cancer cells. Unfortunately, many conventional cancer treatments are known to cause cancer later in life. Detoxifying our body of this material will be the start of helping restore our health and more importantly, help prevent cancer recurrence. After cancer, patient care should focus on preventing cancer, and an NMD will be ideal for guiding us through this process.

Treating cancer isn’t as simple as ABC. One person’s cancer isn’t the same as someone else's because they are not the same as anyone else. Our own treatment can be what we want and believe in, and it should be based on our decisions. Meeting with an NMD educated in oncology doesn’t commit us to one form or another of cancer treatment, just as meeting with an oncologist doesn’t obligate us to chemotherapy or other conventional treatments. An NMD may provide us with the best options that are customized to help us win our fight against cancer in the healthiest way possible.

Paul Stallone, NMD, founded the Arizona Integrative Medical Center, located at 8144 E. Cactus Rd., Ste. 820, in Scottsdale. He combines natural/alternative/conventional treatments to best fit and benefit each individual patient’s needs. For more information, call 480-214-3922 or visit DrStallone.com.