Key takeaways
- Supportive care focuses on comfort, nutrition, energy and wellbeing while you go through treatment and recovery.
- It is used alongside the treatment you have chosen or been prescribed, never in place of it.
- A naturopathic assessment looks at your whole picture: symptoms, diet, sleep, stress, lab work and what you already take.
- Good questions at a first visit help you shape a plan that fits your life.
A diagnosis can turn a calm week upside down. Between appointments, scan results and well-meaning advice, many people in Oakville and across Halton simply want to feel a little more like themselves. That is where supportive care fits.
Ready to talk it through? Book a naturopathic assessment at Inside Health Clinic or call 905-842-6654.
What is supportive and complementary care during cancer treatment?
Supportive and complementary care is a set of approaches used alongside standard treatment to help with comfort, nutrition, energy, sleep and emotional wellbeing. It does not aim to treat the cancer itself. The Canadian Cancer Society describes complementary therapies in the same way: used together with conventional treatment, to support overall wellbeing and help with side effects.
At Inside Health Clinic, this work is led by Dr. Lori Bouchard, ND, our clinical director, whose focus includes cancer support and metabolic health, together with Dr. Kyle Viehweger, ND, whose focus includes oncology support and chronic pain management and who draws on lifestyle and nutritional strategies, acupuncture and mind-body therapies. Together, they focus on supporting your body through treatment and recovery. Click a doctor’s name to book, or request an appointment with the team.
What does cancer support include at Inside Health?
Your plan is unique and built around you, so no two plans look the same. It usually starts with a naturopathic assessment, a 60 to 90 minute conversation covering your health history, concerns, diet, stress and daily habits. From there it can include proper blood work and functional lab testing, nutrition guidance, clinical supplementation, acupuncture, and other therapies chosen for your situation.
Your naturopathic doctor reviews every supplement, IV therapy and other therapy as part of your personalized plan, and notes possible interactions with the treatment you are receiving. Some herbs and high-dose nutrients can interfere with certain treatments, which is why a full list of everything you take matters so much.
What can blood work and an assessment tell us?
They show how your body is coping right now, which helps us choose gentler or more targeted supports. Blood work can look at markers such as iron and ferritin, B12 and folate, glucose and HbA1c, thyroid function, liver and kidney markers, and inflammation. Low iron might explain part of your fatigue. Low B12 can contribute to tingling in the hands and feet. These are pieces of context, not verdicts.
Which questions should I ask a naturopathic doctor about a supportive care plan?
Bring a notebook, and consider these:
- What is supportive care meant to help with in my situation, and what is outside its scope?
- What does the evidence say for each therapy you suggest, and where is it limited?
- How will you review my current medications and supplements for possible interactions with my treatment?
- Which lab tests would help guide my plan, and what will they tell us?
- How should we plan around treatment days, when energy dips?
- Which suggestions are about comfort and nutrition, and which are optional extras?
- How often will we review the plan, and what would make us change it?
- What can I do at home between visits?
Writing the answers down helps, especially when you are tired.
What does the research say about supportive care?
Some supportive approaches have encouraging research behind them for comfort and symptom relief. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that acupuncture can help manage treatment-related nausea and vomiting, and has been linked to reductions in cancer pain and fatigue. Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been associated with less anxiety, depression, fatigue and stress, and yoga with small to moderate improvements in fatigue and quality of life. The Canadian Cancer Society gives acupuncture for chemotherapy nausea and yoga for relaxation and sleep as examples of how these therapies can fit alongside standard treatment.
Research also suggests massage may help with pain and anxiety. These are the kinds of comfort-focused supports a naturopathic plan can be built around, chosen for you and reviewed as your needs change through treatment and recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Is supportive care a replacement for my cancer treatment?
No. It is used alongside the treatment you have chosen or been prescribed, and never in place of it.
Who leads cancer support at Inside Health?
Dr. Lori Bouchard, ND, clinical director, together with Dr. Kyle Viehweger, ND, and the wider team of naturopathic doctors at the clinic.
What happens at the first visit?
A naturopathic assessment: history, symptoms, nutrition, stress, sleep, and a review of everything you take. Blood work and other testing may be suggested.
Do you review supplements I already take?
Yes. A simple written list of what you take, including anything prescribed, is all you need. Possible interactions with treatment are noted as part of your plan.
Will it help with side effects?
Some people find comfort measures, nutrition changes and acupuncture useful for things like nausea, fatigue and sleep. Experiences vary.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes. Many people find a second set of ears helpful.
How long is the first appointment?
A naturopathic assessment typically runs 60 to 90 minutes.
If you experience a fever during cancer treatment, trouble breathing, chest pain or any other emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.
Book your naturopathic assessment
Start with a conversation, and leave with a plan built around you. Book a naturopathic assessment with Dr. Kyle Viehweger, ND (or Dr. Lori Bouchard, ND), request an appointment with our team, or call 905-842-6654. We are at 2486 Old Bronte Rd #107, Oakville. Next in this series: our post on nutrition during treatment.
Sources
- Canadian Cancer Society, What are complementary therapies? https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/complementary-therapies/what-are-complementary-therapies
- NCCIH, Cancer and Complementary Health Approaches: What You Need To Know (acupuncture, mindfulness, yoga, massage and supplements). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cancer-and-complementary-health-approaches-what-you-need-to-know
- NCCIH, Acupuncture: What You Need To Know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-what-you-need-to-know