Exploring naturopathic care for cancer

Naturopathy has a place in the battle against cancer, and a new workshop planned for Steinbach will address the issue.

Southeast Cancer Support Services (SCSS) announced “An Evening of Hope and Health” with naturopathic Dr. Erin Esau on April 22 at the SCSS meeting room.

The intention, they say, is not to replace traditional hospital-based cancer treatments.

“Naturopathic oncology (cancer care) is all about meeting the person where they are to help facilitate the best outcomes,” SCCS stated in a press release. “It is an individualized, root cause approach to supporting individuals while they are fighting and recovering from cancer. It is safe alongside the conventional treatments like chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.”

Esau agreed, saying one role for naturopathic medicine is supportive, meaning they do everything they can to make the body strong enough to get through chemotherapy and radiation.

“For example, some chemotherapeutics tank blood cells, so then we want to be sure to use herbs that can help stimulate the white blood cell production and then hopefully the next chemotherapy isn’t cancelled due to low counts,” she said.

According to Esau, naturopathic medicine may support quality of life and help reduce side effects of conventional treatment both while undergoing treatment and in terminal cases.

“In remission there is a lot of work to still do to make your body as anti-cancer as possible,” she said. “We work with our patients in remission to optimize their health and remove barriers to health and work on the modifiable factors that contributed to cancer in the first place.”

The workshop is free to attend, and advance registration is required by April 8.

SCCS states the event is open to anyone who wishes to attend, whether they are on a cancer journey, a survivor or caregiver or just want to learn more.

Educating people about cancer impacts is part of SCSS’s mandate.

“Education is a powerful form of support,” Cindi Rempel Patrick, executive director of SCSS said. “We want individuals and families facing cancer to feel informed, confident and connected to resources that can help them navigate this experience.”

To register for the event go to www.secancersupport.ca or call 204-846-4673.