Cancers We Treat

A whole person. A more complete conversation.

Integrative Cancer Care is an emphasis on patient-focused care.

Our attention extends beyond the tumour or haematological diagnosis to the person living with it: the tumour microenvironment, immune system, microbiome, mind, spirit, sleep and overall health. People with the same cancer type and stage can have very different histories, needs and priorities. We make room for those differences.

“No two cancers are alike, like a finger print, each one different.”

Conventional approaches such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may be central to your treatment. An integrative discussion also considers diet, nutrition, physical activity, emotional wellbeing and selected complementary approaches. Natural health products, intravenous therapies, hyperthermia and repurposed or off-label medicines require their own assessment of evidence, suitability and interactions.

Our approach also recognizes the perspectives of naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and massage therapy. These approaches are not interchangeable, and a familiar or natural treatment is not automatically appropriate during cancer care. The aim is a personalized programme coordinated with your healthcare team. [2]

We aim to empower people, enhance quality of life and support the best possible outcomes. Research on integrative care varies by therapy and outcome: evidence for symptom relief does not automatically establish longer survival. Care may be considered before, during or after treatment, and in localized, advanced or metastatic disease, with individual assessment rather than a blanket promise of safety.

For over 25 years, LEMMO Integrated Cancer Care has supported people living with cancer. And above all, integrative cancer care provides hope.

Understanding underlying contributors

“Getting to the cause” is an important idea in naturopathic care. In practice, it means asking careful questions about your history and looking for contributors that can be meaningfully assessed. Why has your appetite changed? What is disrupting sleep? Could a symptom relate to treatment, another medical condition, nutrition or something in your daily routine?

That is different from claiming to find a single hidden cause of every cancer. Cancer can involve multiple factors, and known risk factors do not explain every individual diagnosis. A relevant environmental exposure may warrant discussion, but its significance depends on the substance, amount and duration of exposure. [6]

Bring a timeline of your health, your concerns and any established test results. Ask which further investigations would be useful, what question a test is intended to answer, and whether its result would change care. The purpose is to turn uncertainty into focused questions and practical next steps.

Toxicity, environmental exposures and treatment effects

If you are concerned about workplace exposures, medicines or environmental substances, include those details in your history. A discussion of environmental medicine should begin with a credible exposure history and appropriate clinical assessment. “Toxicity” can also mean side effects from cancer treatment or other medicines, which need assessment and monitoring by your treating clinicians.

Addressing a documented exposure or a treatment side effect is different from assuming an undefined toxin burden caused the cancer. Detox diets and cleanses have not been shown to treat cancer, and some can cause harm. Any proposed approach should have a clear purpose, an explanation of evidence and risks, and coordination with your oncology team. [7]

An individualized plan at each stage

You may be preparing for treatment, managing its effects, adjusting to surveillance, or living with advanced disease. An integrative plan should begin with the decisions you face now and the goals that matter to you.

• Before treatment: clarify the diagnosis and proposed schedule, review medicines and supplements, and identify support needs.
• During treatment: discuss changing symptoms, nutrition, sleep and daily function, while keeping your oncology team informed.
• After treatment or during surveillance: revisit recovery, rehabilitation, wellbeing and the follow-up plan.
• With advanced disease: make room for comfort, quality of life, practical support and your preferences alongside oncology and palliative care.

For people searching for holistic or naturopathic cancer treatments in Vancouver, a useful first step is an informed conversation. Ask what a proposed therapy is intended to help, what evidence supports it, how risks will be monitored and how it fits the treatment you are already receiving.