Whole-Person Cancer Care: Integrating Therapies for Better Outcomes
Featuring: Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO
In short
Naturopathic oncologist Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO — herself a long-term ovarian cancer survivor — explains why treating the whole person, not just the tumor, may improve outcomes for people with cancer. She walks through her 'test, assess, address' approach, which uses frequent lab monitoring and personalized adjustments rather than one-size-fits-all protocols. The resource covers a range of integrative therapies, what they cost, and how patients can build a support team to evaluate them.
- •Ask your care team about regular, frequent lab monitoring — Dr. Winters tests her patients monthly and adjusts treatment based on what the data shows, not on a fixed schedule.
- •Consider factors beyond the tumor itself — your gut microbiome, immune system, inflammation levels, hormones, and mental and emotional health can all influence how cancer behaves and how well treatment works.
- •Integrative therapies such as mistletoe, high-dose IV vitamin C, therapeutic fasting, and hyperbaric oxygen are discussed here as potential complements to standard treatment — bring these up with an integrative or naturopathic oncologist to see whether any fit your situation.
- •Budget planning matters: out-of-pocket costs for integrative care can add up quickly, with specialist visits, quality supplements, and treatments like IV vitamin C potentially costing hundreds of dollars per month — ask upfront what is covered and what is not.
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Brad Power May 1, 2024 “We look at our patients' labs every single month. Then we regroup, plus we check in periodically within that. If something starts to change before that next monthly lab is set, we're going to test sooner than that. ” – Nasha Winters “Everyone should be worrying about meditation, acupuncture, nutrition, dietary, massage, lifestyle modifications, yoga, exercise.
” – Nasha Winters “When you take all type stage 4 cancers, and you put them into a bucket, at the end of five years, the average is 12% of those people are still here.
Meeting Summary
Advanced cancer patients are motivated to leave no stone unturned in searching for ways to treat their disease. They may not like their odds in following standard treatments; they may want to know what other combinations of therapies might complement their treatment; or they may have heard stories about "exceptional responders" who defied the odds and beat a terminal diagnosis yet avoided standard treatments.
This pursuit can lead them to find treatments that are not (yet) sanctioned by the medical establishment, which go by a number of names: "integrative oncology", "complementary therapies", "non-Western treatments", "holistic medicine", and "alternative care". A common principle is to treat the whole person, not just the disease.
Examples of alternative treatments include acupuncture, meditation, intravenous Vitamin C, hyperbaric chambers, massage, drinking green tea, mistletoe, dietary supplements, and the ketogenic diet. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO, is uniquely qualified to explore the opportunities and issues in pursuing non-standard cancer treatments. She is an exceptional responder herself, having survived a fatal diagnosis of ovarian cancer when she was 19.
She has been working in the healthcare industry for over 32 years. She is a nationally board-certified naturopathic doctor, and is a fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO).
She is executive director and Co-Founder Of the MetabolicTerrain Institute of Health which promotes the metabolic approach to cancer by treating the root cause and symptoms of each person's unique cancer process through her Test, Assess, Address (TM) methodology. H.
– Research, Education, Advocacy, Community, and Hope – and eventually leading to the creation of a biophilic-designed hospital and research institute on a 1200-acre organic, regenerative farm in Southeast Arizona. She is also CEO of Dr.
, consulting with physicians and presenting on stages around the world, educating hundreds of professionals in the clinical use of mistletoe, understanding of metabolic oncology, and through her creation of robust educational programs for both healthcare providers, institutions, and the public on incorporating vetted integrative therapies in cancer care to enhance outcomes. Dr.
org podcast, another platform to bring awareness and empowerment to the public. Why should you consider integrative/metabolic/naturopathic therapies? To improve outcomes from your cancer treatment, you need to consider your “terrain”, not just your tumor, and tailor your treatment uniquely to you.
Traditional standard treatments can be too blunt, delivered according to a standard protocol, and miss critical factors that may impact you, such as your gut microbiome, immune system, inflammation, hormone modulation, stress, and mental and emotional state. For example, drugs are typically delivered at the maximum tolerated dose, rather than minimum effective dose.
What qualifies as a valuable treatment to consider (or a scam) can depend on your mindset. Medical evidence : relying only on evidence from randomized clinical trials For this discussion, we focus on the natural and complementary mindsets. In a companion discussion with Bapcha Murty , we focus on the complementary and medical evidence mindsets. What can you do to manage your cancer more holistically?
•Take multiple perspectives : Get a comprehensive picture of all of the drivers of your cancer, your mitochondrial health, including your epigenetics, metabolics, toxins, microbiome, immune system, inflammation, hypoxia circulation, hormone modulation, and mental and emotional health. Don’t rush to try new treatments without first assessing your terrain to avoid negative responses.
•Test: Get extensive and frequent testing to predict cancer risk and progression.
•Personalize: Get tailored guidance which takes into account all of the data about you. Protocols don’t work. You need to test frequently and tailor your approach.
•Adapt: Use adaptive approaches based on frequent testing, adjusting treatment based on your current situation and individual needs
•Combine: Consider a wide array of complementary tools, adding to the standard of care, including off-label drugs, nutraceuticals, supplements, herbs, and lifestyle modifications, to target specific health issues.
•Advocate: You need to take your health into your hands and become an empowered, educated advocate for yourself. What are some promising integrative/metabolic/naturopathic therapies for cancer?
•Various forms of fasting, therapeutic ketosis, restricted in window eating, fasting, mimicking diets, especially to sensitize cells for radiation treatment
•Oxygen therapies, like hyperbaric oxygen, especially to sensitize cells for radiation treatment or with chemotherapy
•Glutamine blockades to slow tumor growth, alter the tumor microenvironment, and promote the production of durable and highly active anti-tumor T cells
•Off label drugs
•Metformin to inhibit growth and promote differentiation of ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancer, and reduce PSA and delay the progression of prostate cancer
•Certain supplements that change metabolic pathways
•Photodynamic (combines light energy, usually from a laser, with a photosensitizer drug, which makes it toxic to a targeted tissue), for several cancers, such as skin, lung, brain, bladder, pancreas, bile duct, esophagus, and head and neck
•Mistletoe as a complement to chemotherapy and for quality of life
•High dose IV vitamin C
•Hyperthermia (heat or cold), especially as a complement to immunotherapies because daddy social back
•Deuterium depletion of water, as an adjuvant, caused 3-7 fold increases of median survival time in lung cancer, twofold in advanced breast cancer, and also prevented recurrences of early stage breast cancer
•Molecular hydrogen water (“H2”, induces anti-proliferative, anti-oxidative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-tumoral effects) How would you know whether an integrative/metabolic/naturopathic therapy might be right for you? If your mindset (as described above) is natural or complementary, then you will want to consider metabolic or naturopathic treatments. However, evaluating medical treatments is not easy, especially when they are non-standard and lack traditional evidence. Most patients and caregivers who lean to the natural mindset solve this difficult treatment evaluation challenge by finding and relying on a quality natural healing center and organizing a team, including some combination of (1) a doctor, (2) a nutritionist or naturopath who specializes in oncology, (3) resources at the integrated oncology department found at a nearby academic research cancer centers. You need to be prepared to pay out-of-pocket for these therapies. You might see a doctor in a natural healing center every three months to advise you on things like infrared sauna, ozone therapy, grounding mats, and red light therapy, which can cost something like $600/hour. A supplement program can cost over $650/month if you are buying only the best quality supplements. The equipment can be expensive. You will need to pay for treatments, such as a nurse practitioner who delivers IV vitamin C treatments every other month. How can you learn more about evaluating complementary treatments?
•Read or view our discussions with Mark Taylor and Gabriele Gavazzi , and Bapcha Murty on complementary therapies and the evidence they have gathered.
•Join the many Facebook pages that focus on health, healing, and natural remedies, such as Jane McLelland’s off-label drugs for cancer, the Patient Led Oncology trial group, Integrative Metabolic approach to health and wellness, Medicine Cabinet-Natural Healing Remedies, Beating Cancer with Diet and Lifestyle, and many more.
•Read books on natural health and wellness. The information and opinions expressed on this website or platform, or during discussions and presentations (both verbal and written) are not intended as health care recommendations or medical advice by Cancer Patient Lab, its principals, presenters, participants, or representatives for any medical treatment, product, or course of action. You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health. Meeting Notes KEYWORDS patients, cancer, work, therapies, labs, tumor, treatment, terrain, tests, standard, testing, doctors, proteomics, platelets, metabolic, approach, care, data, mitochondria, helped SPEAKERS Nasha Winters (73%), Brian McCloskey (8%), Amit Gattani (6%), Eric Hall (5%), Brad Power (3%), Jeff Krolick (2%), Bapcha Murty (2%), Carla Vass (1%), Chad Magnussen (1%) SUMMARY The conversation centered around the importance of integrating conventional and alternative therapies to improve patient outcomes in cancer treatment. Nasha Winters emphasized the need to consider the terrain when treating cancer. Jeff Krolick, Eric Hall, Brian McCloskey, and Chad Magnussen shared their experiences with personalized medicine, metabolic-centric approaches, and holistic healing. Dr. Winters discussed the limitations of traditional standard of care treatments and advocated for tailored approaches that address the whole person, including the gut microbiome, immune system, inflammation, hormone modulation, stress, and mental and emotional state. OUTLINE Integrative medicine for cancer patients with a focus on a naturopathic approach.
•Nasha Winters, naturopathic doctor and integrative medicine expert, discusses her ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment.
•She shares her personal experience with cancer, living well with the disease. Cancer care focuses on terrain, not just tumor.
•Instead of “molecular tumor board”, a “terrain board” concept challenges the traditional tumor-focused approach in cancer care.
•Dr. Winters discusses 10 drivers of cancer, including epigenetics and metabolism, and how they interact with your personal blueprint.
•She emphasizes the importance of understanding your unique genetic and environmental factors in cancer treatment. Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention through mitochondrial health analysis.
•Dr. Winters highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in cancer treatment and prevention.
•She discusses the interconnectedness of the immune system, inflammation, and mental/emotional state in cancer development and progression.
•She discusses the importance of testing for mitochondrial health, including CBC and organic acid profiles, to predict cancer risk and progression.
•She highlights the prognostic indicators in a CBC, such as chronically low white blood cells, elevated platelets, and hematocrit, to predict overall survival and cancer risk. Personalized medicine approach for cancer treatment using frequent testing and tailored therapies.
•Dr. Winters emphasizes the importance of personalized medicine, using blood and tissue assays to understand your metabolic health and potential for treatment response.
•She highlights the limitations of the traditional medical approach, including reliance on initial tumor data and neglect of personal factors such as personality and intuition.
•She describes a holistic approach to healthcare that prioritizes frequent testing and personalized guidance.
•She highlights the need for more clinicians and patient advocates to meet growing demand for this approach. Integrating alternative therapies into cancer care.
•Dr. Winters emphasizes the importance of integrating alternative therapies into standard of care oncology, citing the potential benefits of fractionated radiation, hyperbaric oxygen, and immune therapies.
•She advocates for a collaborative approach between integrative doctors and standard of care oncologists, highlighting the need for a bridge rather than a chasm between the two fields.
•She discusses the limitations of traditional cancer treatment approaches and the need for more personalized, adaptive care.
•She provides an example of how to determine when to adjust treatment based on a patient's individual needs. Using mushrooms to boost immune system and treat cancer, with a focus on individualized approach based on patient's immune system and medical
•Dr. Winters discusses a nuanced approach to treating cancer, focusing on metabolic therapies.
•She highlights the importance of understanding cancer's root cause for effective treatment.
•Eric shares his experience with alternative cancer treatments, including supplements and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
•Brian McCloskey mentions Paul Stamets work on mushrooms.
•Dr. Winters cites his book "Mycelium Running" and the idea of seeing the terrain as a microbe terrain.
•She emphasizes the importance of evaluating the individual's immune system before using mushrooms, especially for patients with autoimmunity or taking immune checkpoint inhibitors. Personalized medicine, using data and AI to create treatment plans for complex diseases.
•Brad Power discusses the complexity of cancer treatment options with a menu of exponentially growing possibilities.
•Dr. Winters describes her brain as a systems thinking brain that sees connections and patterns in a non-linear way.
•She describes a data platform under development that elucidates treatment patterns by analyzing vast amounts of information, including biology, tissue assays, and clinical decision making.
•She hopes to develop an AI-powered clinical decision-making tool that can help doctors make more informed decisions in real-time, with the goal of reducing prep time for patients from 6-7 hours to a half hour. Immunotherapy combinations and complementary treatments for cancer patients.
•Dr. Winters highlights the limitations of current cancer treatments, including immunotherapy, and the need to assess a patient's immune system before treatment.
•She advises against rushing to try new treatments without first assessing a patient's terrain and immune system to avoid negative responses.
•She discusses potential combinations of treatments for cancer, including immune therapy, hyperthermia, and ketone bo bodies.
•Jeff Krolick discusses using integrative oncology to boost the immune system during treatment. Integrative oncology and personalized cancer treatment.
•Dr. Winters discusses immunotherapy testing options with a focus on Cyrex Labs.
•Integrative oncologists are essential for integrating alternative therapies with standard care protocols. Using hydrogen water for cancer treatment with mixed opinions.
•Dr. Winters advises getting a personalized approach to cancer treatment based on your individual factors.
•Bapcha Murty discusses hydrogen water's benefits for cancer patients and the possibility of enriching water with hydrogen, despite physics limitations.
•Dr. Winters discusses a technology that can normalize low platelet counts in patients with high fibrinogen levels. Confusing cancer treatment options with conflicting advice.
•Amit Gattani shares his frustration with the lack of consistency in integrative cancer treatments.
•He seeks help navigating complex treatment landscape. Personalized cancer treatment approaches, including metabolic testing and lifestyle changes.
•Dr. Winters emphasizes the importance of a personalized approach to prostate cancer treatment, considering your genetic markers, terrain, and lifestyle factors.
•Dr. Winters educates patients on their cancer treatment, empowering them to take control of their health.
•Patient compliance is high due to Dr. Winter’s approach of patient education, leading to better outcomes than standard care. Cancer treatment and mindset, including personal story of resilience and healing.
•Eric Hall asks about the mind shift from standard of care to lifestyle management for cancer.
•Dr. Winters shares her personal journey with multiple chronic illnesses and trauma.
•She shares personal experience with cancer, trauma, and healing, emphasizing the importance of mindset and tools like EMDR (?) and psychedelics.
•She challenges conventional medical beliefs and practices, advocating for a more holistic approach to cancer treatment and recovery. Integrative oncology approaches for personalized cancer treatment.
•Eric Hall gains confidence in his cancer journey through a holistic approach, including emotional trauma work.
•Dr. Winters discusses metabolomics and methylation in cancer treatment, highlighting
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