Functional Oncology Nutrition:
I am a certified Oncology Nutrition Consultant™ and work from a therapeutic approach to assist with and prevent cancer, enhance the quality of life, and complement and improve response to conventional and alternative treatments with the use of a specifically tailored diet, lifestyle, environment, and orthomolecular supplement protocol that is created, monitored, and adapted based on the changing data and requirements of the client.
This approach is rooted in scientific evidence that macro and micronutrients are required for the proper functioning of all biochemical processes on which our bodies depend. Without them, our bio-regulatory systems are weakened.
Additionally, various phytochemicals (biologically active molecules found in plants), have the potential to impact human health.
I partner with Naturopathic Oncologists trained by Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO alongside the conventional Oncology team and other practitioners to address the body's terrain (the soil the cancer is growing in). Together, we address the hallmarks of cancer to manage the disease process in addition to symptoms (tumors).
My goal is to achieve clinical stability, improve quality of life, and extend life utilizing the medicinal properties of food and a strategic environment and lifestyle design that provides care for the whole person - mind, body, heart, and soul. While physicians, both conventional and alternative, treat the symptoms (tumors). I approach each client case with the following tenants in mind:
Recognize Bio-individuality
Every person has a unique genetic make-up, life experience, lifestyle, health history, type of cancer, and approach to food. Thus, each element must be assessed in order to appropriately tailor a successful protocol.
Based on genetics, nutrient status, current and historical state of health, motivation for change, and laboratory assessments, nutrition therapy protocols are devised and adapted according to changing needs, treatment and pharmaceutical side effects, and responses to conventional treatment and nutritional therapies.
Emphasize Nutrient-Dense, High-Quality, Whole Foods
Foods that have one ingredient and have not been altered have the highest nutrient density and should be the focus. These include organic or biodynamically cultivated plants and animals preferably grown or harvested via sustainable and regenerative methods.
Specific food groups have higher anticancer activity and should be the focus. Cruciferous vegetables, foods in the allium family, and omega-3 fatty acid foods including flaxseed and wild and sustainably harvested seafood are recommended.
Prioritize Low Glycemic and Genetically Recognizable Foods
Avoidance of foods that cause elevated blood sugar and insulin levels (including sugars, grain-based flour, and associated products) is a main focus, as they are a major fuel source for cancer cells and a hallmark of cancer.
Foods, especially vegetables and fresh herbs, which are low glycemic, nutrient-dense, and high in fiber are the priority replacements.
Optimize Omega-3 to 6 Ratio
Discouraging the overconsumption of omega-6 fats, including hydrogenated and industrial seed oils (canola, rape seed, vegetable, peanut, safflower, sunflower, soybean, corn, and cottonseed) is a primary focus to reduce inflammation, a main contributor and hallmark of cancer.
Replacement of omega-6 fats with omega-3 fats and specific foods including fish and flax is a goal of oncology nutrition consulting.
Utilize a Systems-Based Approach
Detailed assessment of diet, lifestyle, environmental, and medical history is paramount to determining the highest priority areas to target for rebalancing through diet, lifestyle, environmental change, and supplementation.
The terrain systems evaluated are:
- Genetics, epigenetics, and nutrigenomics
- Digestive health and microbiome status
- Dietary status
- Immune system function
- Hormone system function
- Blood sugar status
- Environmental toxin exposure and detox ability
- Level of inflammation
- Oxidative stress status
- Stress and stress management approaches
Nutrition therapy is not intended as a diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or cure for any disease or diagnosis and is not intended as a substitute for regular medical care.
Cancer Treatment Approach:
I do not consult on cancer treatment as I am not a licensed physician. However, I do advocate for a patient-centered, multi-intervention treatment paradigm that addresses the full range of physical, mental, emotional, and environmental influences on the cancer patient.
This approach enables comprehensive personalization and uses an array of disciplines, including diet, mind-body, and physically active therapies in addition to conventional therapies and dietary supplements to support optimal health.
I highly encourage all clients to add a terrain-based treatment™ certified practitioner trained by Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO in the Metabolic Approach to Cancer (MATC) to your team, this is essential. You can find a list of physicians here. Upon signup, I will review your intake form and recommend a specific MATC doctor for your case.
Your MATC doctor will provide customized alternative treatment and supplement recommendations utilizing the same data outlined above. They will aid in protecting your healthy cells and ongoing quality of life from the toxic side effects of conventional therapies and bring the alternative therapy toolbox to the table.
**Integrative Oncologist costs start at $500 and are not included in this program. They do personalized treatments, and I do customize nutrition and strategic environment, and lifestyle design. You must have both!
Adjunct to Cancer Treatment:
Functional Oncology Nutrition is an adjunct therapy, and should never be used without a comprehensive treatment program.
I support those who are committed to making changes to their internal and external environments while facing all of the following circumstances:
- Complementing the medical standard of care (“SOC”) for those:
- Undergoing current treatment
- Progression in treatment
- Completion of treatment
- Recurrence after treatment
- Alternative to the medical standard of care:
- Opt out of standard of care
- Standard of care has failed them
- Cancer Prevention
TEST, ASSESS, ADDRESS…DON’T GUESS
No two people are alike, and no two diets should be the same! I utilize the following data to fully customize nutrition, environment, and lifestyle recommendations for your specific case to address your specific cancering process.
Genetic Testing: Nutrition Genome
Nutrigenomics is a branch of nutritional genomics and is the study of the effects of foods and food constituents on gene expression. It is a field of research focusing on identifying and understanding molecular-level interaction between nutrients and other dietary bioactives with the genome.
I work with a specialized genetic testing company called Nutrition Genome that provides insights into how your genetic profile affects your metabolism of particular fats, sugars, carbs, grains, and proteins facilitating an optimal nutrition plan for your DNA.
Nutrition Genome also provides insights into how your genetic profile enables you to tolerate stress, toxins, and DNA damage. This information allows me to customize a stress management, exercise, and lifestyle plan that complements your body's stress tolerance and level of sensitivity to various chemicals, toxins, hormones, pesticides, herbicides, cancer treatments, statins, birth control, fluoride, plastics, medications, chemo agents, antibiotics, steroids and more.
Full Blood Chemistry:
Monthly blood panels are key to our success in monitoring your health, cancer drivers, and progress. Ask your general practitioner or licensed health care provider (not your oncologist) for a “standing order” for the list of blood markers below. Many of these markers will be drawn monthly until your labs are in stable, healthy condition. These labs should be covered by insurance if you list every existing and pre-existing condition as well as your family history of disease.
If your doctor refuses to order all of these tests, find a new doctor who is more open-minded! Remember, your doctor WORKS for you. I can also facilitate self-directed lab work as a last resort in most states, however, this will be an out-of-pocket expense ($250-$750 USD).
Full Blood Panel Markers (FASTING!):
- CBC with Differential (Complete Blood Count) –Whole body organ and immune system function
- CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel) with Chem 20- Whole body organ function, metabolic processes, and cancer growth factors (ex: high calcium)
- LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase)- information about bone, liver, kidney, sugar, inflammation
- hs-CRP (High Sensitivity CRP)- measures inflammation (high sensitivity marker) & can be an indicator of prognosis
- Sedimentation rate (ESR)- measures general inflammation & immune health
- Ferritin – iron storage that can feed/fuel cancer cells and inflammation.
- Iron, Total and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TBC) – Indicator of iron anemia, bleeding, infection & inflammation
- Vitamin D3: 25-OH (D3)- Total, Immunoassay- an indicator of autoimmune issues, bone loss, endocrine health, immune health, and cell differentiation
- AM cortisol- can indicate stress and/or hormone balance
- Insulin, fasting- hormonal response to blood sugar balance
- IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor Number 1)- may indicate malnutrition, too much dairy, and stress/sleep issues. Cancer growth factor.
- HbA1C (hemoglobin A1c)- blood sugar management over 2-3 months
- Complete Thyroid panel including TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T3, T4, Reverse T3, T3 Uptake- metabolic function, thyroid health and function, selenium status
- Thyroid Peroxidase & Thyroglobulin Antibodies- indicative of thyroid autoimmunity, even with normal TSH
- Full lipid panel – Essential for looking at triglycerides, a potential indicator of fatty liver
- Uric Acid- an indicator of oxidative stress, inflammation, renal health
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEG-F)- an angiogenesis indicator
- Copper- a cancer growth factor
- Ceruloplasmin- a cancer growth factor
- Fibrinogen – blood viscosity marker
- Homocysteine- indicative of methylation, B12 status, general inflammation
- Retinol (Vitamin A)- essential to immune function and gene regulation
- Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)- Indicator of Biliary dysfunction, liver damage or dysfunction, glutathione deficiency or oxidative stress
Self-Testing at Home:
I will also ask you to track your food in an online diet diary and use a glucometer to regularly test your blood glucose and ketone levels at home.
- Blood Glucose & Ketone Testing – KetoMojo
- Diet Diary & Food Logging - Cronometer
Functional Testing:
Additional testing may be recommended depending on what is seen in the blood chemistry, DNA, and health history.
- Microbiome: Diagnostic Solutions GI-Map
- Hormones: Precision Analytical DUTCH
- Mold & Mycotoxins: Mosaic Diagnostics MycoTOX
- Mitochondrial Function: Mosaic Diagnostics Organic Acids
- Heavy Metals: Quicksilver Blood Metals & Tri-Mercury
- Environmental Toxins: Mosaic Diagnostics GPL-TOX & Glyphosate
Cancer Success Stories
Four-Month Deep Dive Package:
Together we will evaluate your case data and create your personalized nutrition, environment, and lifestyle recommendations.
Includes:
- Three recorded one-hour Zoom video consultation sessions:
- First Zoom video consult – review health history identifying contributors to terrain disruption, existing labs and test results, and Cronometer diet diary
- Second Zoom video consult – review new blood chemistry lab tests and Cronometer diet diary
- Third Zoom video consult – review nutrigenomics data, new blood chemistry lab tests, and Cronometer diet diary
- Unlimited support via PracticeBetter Chat
- Keto for Cancer Cookbook
- Yes/No Foods List
- Quick Start Meal Plans
- Environmental Toxins Research & Review
- Cronometer Walkthrough and Instruction
- Comprehensive Nutrigenomics Analysis
- Lab Spreadsheet
- MATC Doctor Referrals
- Tip Sheets, Food Lists, and Other Resources
- Supplement Review and Recommendations
Service FAQs
Women are my focus simply due to the volume of Lichen Sclerosus cases I get. However, I will work with men as well. I have a lot of male clients on the oncology side of my business. I currently do not work with children.
Unfortunately, I can’t work with anyone that is pregnant or breastfeeding. I use a lot of botanicals and most of these haven’t been tested for safety while pregnant or breastfeeding. The only exception is women who have been diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or postpartum. You are more than welcome to come back to me when you are ready.
Yes! I work remotely with all of my clients and have clients all over the world. We communicate via direct message through my online portal and all sessions are video conference calls through Zoom.
Labs kits are shipped to your address and conducted in the privacy of your own home. Kits include pre-paid mailers which can be dropped off at your local UPS or FedEx location. Turnaround times for lab work vary from 1-5 weeks depending on the lab.
I do all of the work for you. You don’t have to order any labs and you don’t need to go through your doctor either although you may choose to go through your doctor for any blood chemistry that is covered under insurance and your doctor is willing to order. I have all of your labs mailed directly to you at home.
I like to talk to potential clients first because I want to make sure we are a good fit for each other. I also want to hear your story and listen to what symptoms you have been experiencing. This way I can better assess which package and tests might be best for you. Please apply to work with me by booking an intro consultation.
I currently do not accept insurance.
In most cases, functional lab assessments are considered alternative medicine and are not covered under insurance.
If your insurance pays for out-of-network labs then you may be able to get partial or full coverage for labs. Few labs will submit to insurance but most labs will provide you with a receipt which you can turn into your insurance to see if they will cover the cost.
Under many circumstances, you can use HSA (health savings accounts) to cover costs but I recommend checking first to make sure.
Fees and lab fees are usually tax-deductible if you itemize health care costs. Check with your tax specialist to be certain.
Self-treatment protocols are individualized for every client I work with. I use your health history, lifestyle, symptom, functional lab tests, conventional blood work, and genetic data to help guide me to provide you with health-building strategies and drug-free all natural protocols.
As long as it takes to get you feeling better. Everyone is so different and heals at different rates. It often depends on what you have going on. More complex situations can take a lot longer to heal. On average I work with clients for 6-12 months but that may be different for you.
NO. While you are certainly welcome to discuss the possibility of weening off your medication with your doctor, I am not legally authorized to advise you to stop taking prescription medications. More importantly, discontinuing medications without the approval of a licensed medical professional can be detrimental to your health.
In a sense, the process of healing is very much like steering a massive ocean liner. While correcting your course by one or two degrees may not seem to alter your position all that much, three months later you find yourself in friendly uncharted waters! This process is a work-in = work-out scenario. The more dedicated you are to your health and doing the work, the more positive outcomes you are likely to see.
Results are highly individual and may depend on 1) the length of time you’ve been experiencing chronic stress, and 2) to what degree the underlying stress has been present.
I cannot guarantee results; however, there are reasonable expectations that symptoms will resolve or partially resolve as you begin to untangle the web of root cause contributors to your disease process and optimize your terrain.
