There are few modalities that are applicable across the entire spectrum of cancer care. However, acupuncture and nutrition are very effective throughout your entire journey from diagnosis to survivorship. They are the perfect marriage of ancient healing theories and the fresh science of nutrition to address this most serious of health crises. Each can help support you in any facet of your journey.

For instance, a recent study found that up to 50% of patients at their first oncology appointment were malnourished! We also know that the better nourished you are going into treatment of any kind, the better the outcome. With a cancer diagnosis nutrition and diet just became even more imperative and a powerful ally in your process. I have heard so many times, “I don’t know what to eat!” from a newly diagnosed patient. To have guidance on what to eat at a particular phase is tremendously valuable and empowering as well. It’s one thing you and your support team can actually DO that will have a profound impact on your life. 

My goal is strictly supportive of whatever treatment regimen you are in.  Supportive cancer care is about improving survival  times and quality of life. I am not trying to “cure” your cancer. I am however, working with TCM principles, as well as fortification with food, to get and keep you as strong as possible for whatever situation you are in in this moment. I never want to interfere with a treatment nor put you at odds with your oncologist. This can happen! I am their ally as well.  Often we are trying to alleviate symptoms enough that you can finish your courses of treatment. Or we may be trying to get you to gain weight before a surgery to ensure the best outcome (but not feed the cancer).

Here are a few situations that I feel are best treated by acupuncture and nutrition

STRESS is ever present, often unrelenting, and can certainly remain after the treatments conclude. This symptom should not ever to be downplayed because it affects your physiology and emotional well being to a great extent. Acupuncture is a very helpful and important aid here.

SIDE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT: Acupuncture may help alleviate the nausea, the numerous GI distresses, pain, and neuropathy associated with treatment and the cancer itself. Remember that these symptoms can cause you to feel so bad that you want to quit treatment.

POST TREATMENT is a very vulnerable time for all survivors because your medical team has departed, you feel alone, friends and family expect you to return to normal, and you’re just not. You are still dealing with chemo brain, lethargy, sleep, anxiety, feat, etc. Acupuncture could be one tool for you to treat these symptoms, but nutrition is going to be a big component in your recovery.

This period is also a very hopeful time as well. You have many tools at your disposal now because we are not worrying about interfering with treatment. Your cells and organs need all hands on deck to repair the damage done; optimum nutrition is critical. The only way to provide that to our ten trillion cells is do a very pleasurable thing: eat. Those cells need and deserve the best. It’s a perfect time to maybe improve that less than perfect diet. I will help you.

My additional goal from the Functional Medicine perspective is to look deeply at the underpinnings of why cancer got a foothold in your body in the first place. Genetics play a role in only about 10% of cancers. Lifestyle is now thought to play a much larger role and happily that is something we can alter. I want your health to be not only resurrected but actually better than pre-diagnosis. We are free now to use diet, supplementation and herbs to help “support the correct” and rebuild from the damage caused by harsh treatments and the cancer itself.

I take a gentle approach in this stage (and all the others, too). I’m not a “throw the kitchen sink at it” practitioner, and I don’t use  “cookie cutter” protocols. You are totally unique. We “start low and go slow” as the saying goes. It takes time and patience on your part, but you’ve been through the hard part.