Bridging the Gap in Cancer Care
Author: Lucas Tims, ND, FABNO
Every day in America, nearly five thousand people hear the words, “You have cancer.” That phrase conjures up a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anxiety, confusion, and hopelessness, to name a few. Once the initial shock wears off, patients are left trying to figure out how they are going to treat their cancer. Typically, the standard of care involves surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy or some combination of those therapies depending on the type of cancer and stage.
These treatments can be life-saving in some, albeit few, circumstances but often fall short. Many patients are left with long term toxicities and side effects. Perhaps the most significant shortcoming of standard cancer care is that the sole focus is on treating cancer rather than strengthening and supporting the human that has cancer.
Here at Riordan Clinic, our approach to cancer treatment is one that complements the traditional standard of care with greater emphasis on supporting the human. This article outlines some of the ways we accomplish this.
IVC
At the backbone of all of our cancer support protocols is intravenous vitamin C (IVC). Why IVC? In addition to its ability to selectively kill cancer cells, IVC has a wide range of other benefits for cancer patients. It decreases inflammation, refuels the immune system, and may even help turn cancer stem cells back into healthy cells. The research behind IVC as an adjunctive cancer therapy is impressive. It has been studied in cases alongside chemotherapy and radiation, showing strong evidence for both safety and synergistic effects.
Strengthening the Immune System with Mistletoe Therapy
The immune system is the missing link when it comes to cancer. We all have cancer cells in our bodies every day. Read that again. Scary, I know! The difference is that in a person with a properly functioning immune system, those cancer cells are detected and eradicated before enough of them can congregate and form a tumor.
The key to regaining an edge on cancer is to increase the immune system’s capacity to eradicate cancer cells. While many of our therapies have immune benefits, mistletoe therapy may be the gold standard. Mistletoe, typically given as a subcutaneous injection, delivers an elegant shock to the immune system by ramping up the production of natural killer cells, macrophages, and inducing low-grade fevers. Like IVC, there is an impressive amount of clinical research behind mistletoe. It is another safe and effective treatment to be used alongside conventional therapies and is an approved treatment for cancer patients in many countries around the world.
Other treatments
We offer several other cutting-edge therapies at Riordan Clinic to help support cancer patients. These include Ozone, Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation, Chelation, and metabolic treatments such as fasting protocols, and repurposed drugs. With an extensive menu of integrative therapies at our disposal, we can put pressure on cancer cells from many different angles and pathways while simultaneously working to rebuild human function.
Customized Clinical Care
Most of our cancer patients come to us already equipped with a lot of their own research, and many have implemented special diets and nutraceuticals. Unfortunately, without proper guidance, patients often miss the mark on what they need during different phases of their treatment and healing journey. For this reason, we spend a lot of time working with the patient to organize their diet and supplement regimen. This enables us to address key nutrient deficiencies and target the factors that are driving their particular type of cancer.
Our standpoint at Riordan Clinic is that cancer requires an “all hands on deck” approach. All too often, cancer patients are told that the traditional standard of care is their only option. That simply is not the case. Integrative therapies are a valuable complement to traditional cancer care and can be incorporated at almost any time during treatment.
