Cancer Support
While one in three of us will be hit with cancer in our lifetime, we never think it will be us, which is why dealing with cancer is often a tumultuous journey. At Remède we understand the challenges patients, friends and family face on a physical, emotional and psychological level.
Our Integrative Oncology approach is delivered by naturopathic practitioners with extensive training, and utilises evidence based complimentary therapies and nutrition programs to work in conjunction with conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy.
Our practitioners will meet with you to review your medical history, listen to your concerns and discuss a variety of natural therapeutic options.
It is important to recognise there are many different types, stages, and grades of cancer diagnoses. Depending on the diagnosis and treatment, there are therapies that may be effective, but others which may be contraindicated or even unsafe. Therefore it is important you are working with a practitioner who is suitably trained and experienced.
Testing is relevant throughout the various stages of the treatment and healing process. We are here to support you from the initial diagnosis, during active treatment and post treatment and recovery.
Our naturopathic practitioners choose from a wide variety of natural therapies, including herbal and botanical preparations, dietary supplements and nutrition plans, consulting with your medical oncologist and other care team clinicians to help you manage any cancer-related side effects and optimise recovery.
Our practitioners work closely with the rest of your care team to reduce the risk of harmful effects from cancer treatments. Throughout your treatment, your practitioner will monitor side effects and modify your treatment plan when necessary. Your practitioner will complement your conventional treatments through immune system support, hormonal balance, diet and gut healing.
Naturopathic support may be used to help manage these side effects:
- Digestive issues
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Mucositis and mouth sores
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Radiation Burns
- Weight loss
- Hormone Management
- Constipation
Care is taken to identify any potential drug-herb-nutrient interactions.
Circulating Tumour Cell (CTC) Count Test
Your practitioner may also look at state-of-the art testing in cancer treatment such as the Circulating Tumour Cell (CTC) Count test. Escapee cancer cells in the blood, or ‘CTCs’ as they are known, can be found by a simple blood test.
Monitoring changes in cancer activity over time is made easy with this test
A CTC Count is one way to:
- Monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatment
- Assess changes in cancer aggressiveness
- Determine risk of cancer spread, recurrence or relapse
You practitioner can also arrange Customised Chemosensitivity Testing. Some CTCs can hide in the blood stream for months or years before activating and forming a second tumour. Some CTCs may even resist treatment. This test analyses how a person’s CTCs respond when exposed to a recommended chemotherapy regimen or botanical treatment. CTCs that die or survive exposure are said to be ‘sensitive’ or ‘resistant’ to the tested treatment, respectively.
Recommended therapies can now be tested. Each test is customised specifically for each patient by the requesting practitioner.
Maintrac’s Customised Chemosensitivity test can be used to:
- Analyse if a person’s CTCs are sensitive or resistant to a recommended treatment
- Assist practitioners in deciding on a treatment plan
- Increase confidence in the therapy’s ability to reduce cancer spread effectively
Maintrac is a state-of-the-art German technology that detects, characterises, and tests CTCs. It has been critically validated and published in peer reviewed journals for over 12 years. Maintrac CTC tests are acknowledged and utilised by many universities, Oncologists and cancer clinics worldwide.