We Can Change the Course of Breast Cancer

Quality of Life, Disease-Free Survival and Side Effect Management

Christina Shannon, ND, FABNO

Clinical Director of Naturopathic Medicine

Cancer Treatment Centers of America® in Illinois

© 2013 Rising Tide

Naturopathic Medicine – The World Today

• Women are using alternative and complimentary therapies on their own

• Often uncomfortable discussing with oncologist

• Potential negative effects

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Complementary and Alternative Medicine Usage

• 83.3% had used at least one CAM therapy concurrent with their conventional treatment

• 40% of these had not discussed CAM usage with their physician

• 24.7% of participants used seven or more CAM therapies

3

Women are at Risk: Dietary Supplement Usage

• 73% had used at least one dietary supplement.

• 25% had used one or more herbal products suspected to have adverse interactions with chemotherapy.

• 53% had not consulted any healthcare professional about their supplement use.

4

Naturopathic Medicine and Integrative Oncology

• Coordinates the use of natural therapies by oncology patients.

• Provides appropriate, effective, scientifically based natural medicine support for oncology patients.

• Creates a safe, open environment for discussion.

5

Knowledge Leading The Way

• Prevent herb-drug-nutrient interactions

• Manage side effects of treatment

• Support immune function

• Address chronic conditions

• Empower the patient through education and options

• Prevent recurrence

6

Side Effect Management Female, 50’s, diagnosed with ER/PR positive breast

cancer

• Ready to stop treatment

• Significant difficulty with chemotherapy treatments

• Debilitating muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue

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Interventions Magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, B vitamins

Quality of Life Female, 60’s, with stage 4 breast cancer

• Quality of life was very low

• Discontinue treatment

• Her goals were to be able to walk to the park, listen to music at outside concerts, make dinner for her husband and enjoy meals with him

8

Interventions Coenzyme Q10, B6 and B complex, Slippery

Elm, Ginger, Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Prevention Female, 49, with a infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the

right breast

• High risk for recurrence

– Large tumor size, positive lymph nodes, BRCA positive

• Completed all conventional treatments

• Completed 5 years of endocrine therapy

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Interventions Whole foods diet, Melatonin, Vitamin D3,

Milk Thistle, Exercise

Knowledge is Power

• Accurate information

• Scientifically based natural therapies can help woman achieve a higher quality of life, manage side effects and help to prevent recurrence

• Respect

Questions?

Thank you