Alternative Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast Cancer is a frightening diagnosis to receive. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available today that offer hope. We now know that this is a multi-faceted disease, and there are various ways of fighting it. Many people still assume that the only options for treating Breast Cancer are the mainstream therapies of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. For those who have tried conventional approaches and want other options, or for patients who prefer other options, Sanoviv offers an abundant field of alternative, holistic, and integrative breast cancer treatment options.

At Sanoviv, we understand that a diagnosis of breast cancer can strike fear in the hearts of any woman, her loved ones, and her friends. We know all too well that this is a serious disease. The “C” word is so emotionally charged that many people, upon hearing cancer as a diagnosis, feel as though their life is over. We understand these feelings and concerns. We also know how patients and physicians can feel overwhelmed with the amount of information they must sort through when considering options for treatment. This becomes even more complicated given the fact that breast cancer is not a single entity, but there are different types of breast cancer disease. There is no single answer to what causes breast cancer and no single answer to treat breast cancer effectively. All of this can leave you feeling numb with fear and doubt, confused about your next step. We are here to tell you that you do not have to walk alone.

Here is an overview of some of the most effective treatments for breast cancer. Our objective is to support your own defenses, weaken cancer cells, detoxify your body, and improve your overall well-being.

One effective breast cancer treatment is to starve cancer cells of foods that will promote their multiplication. At Sanoviv, we serve a whole-food diet that is mostly organic, high in nutrition, and free of potential allergens such as gluten and dairy. We believe in using the energy in food to promote health and to help your body heal. Part of our program includes learning healthy eating habits and recognizing unhealthy eating and cooking patterns. This program is provided by professional, certified nutritionists.

Immunotherapy is based on biological immune system modifiers/stimulators. It provides an integrative treatment to modify, modulate, and stimulate your body’s regular immune system function and mechanisms so that it can recognize and treat cancer cells.

The detoxification pathways of the human body are a network of enzymes and enzyme systems; they help protect cells from reactive oxygen species such as free radicals. Enzymes work to detoxify a wide range of cancer-causing chemicals, which may have implications for the reduction of cancer rates. A contributor to breast cancer may be toxicity, therefore eliminating the exposure to toxins and encouraging the detoxification systems of the body to be at their best may be a potent strategy for healing. Also, clinical trials in enzyme therapy have shown that enzyme combinations can mitigate side effects from chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, improving the patient’s quality of life.

Tumor hypoxia or lack of oxygen in tumor cells may be a factor for poor prognosis in a cancer patient. Some studies show that cancer cells do not thrive in an oxygenated environment. Oxygen therapy may help create an environment that may hinder the progression of breast cancer as well as reduce side effects from conventional cancer treatments. Many researchers think the lack of oxygen in our cells is a possible risk factor for some forms of cancer. An impressive variety of new ways to introduce oxygen into the body is emerging. Flooding cells with oxygen may retard the growth of cancer cells and maintain healthy cells at their normal functioning level.

Holistic and alternative cancer treatment has relied on nutrition and supplementation to heal cancer for years. At Sanoviv, nutraceutical supplementation provides essential minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to improve nutritional deficiencies, fight free radicals, promote detoxification, and support an effective biochemical balance in the body.

Modern Homeopathy, known as Homotoxicology, may offer a holistic cancer treatment to aid in the fight against breast cancer, as progressive deterioration of the body’s own cleansing system leads to gradual compromise of the defensive mechanisms. Reversing this process will have great value in the fight against cancer cells, helping the body recapture its lost biological ability to compete against the invasive cells.

Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive, positive mind and spirit will help the breast cancer patient’s fight against cancer. A constant pattern of anger, resentment, and bitterness can put the body into a stressful environment. At Sanoviv, you will learn from our integrative psychology department, which will help you to promote a loving and forgiving mind, body, and spirit, creating a positive physiological impact on your body.

Exercise is also very important for blood circulation and oxygenation. Exercise programs are tailored to suit the individual’s needs and abilities. Practices such as Yoga may be beneficial, as some studies have demonstrated mental and physical benefits for cancer patients.

We know that your stay at Sanoviv is only the beginning of your healing process. At the end of your stay, in order to support you on your way to recovery, you will receive an individualized home program designed to be incorporated as part of your daily lifestyle. We will continue to support your progress with our After Care program that will coordinate any questions or comments you might have for your health team for a period of 6 months.

Assessment

Breast cancer, just like any other form of cancer, is linked to the activity of genes that can promote the growth of cancer known as oncogenes, and certain genes that can inhibit the growth of cancer known as tumor suppressor genes. This activity can be turned “on” or “off” by various physiologic factors that are determined by the interplay between the external and internal environment. While it has been proven that inheritance is not the primary cause of cancer, a small percentage of cases may involve some inherited factors.

Studies show that approximately 85% of breast cancers occur in women with no family history of breast cancer, and are believed to be caused by environmental and lifestyle factors, dietary habits and chronic stress. About 5 to 10% of breast cancers can be directly linked to genetic mutations, being the most common mutations the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Cancer rates have been rising alarmingly in the last century, particularly during the last three decades, when cancer has become the second leading cause of death, behind cardiovascular disease. Although there has been a slow decrease in breast cancers, the numbers are still staggering with a reported 230,480 new cases in the U.S. in 2011.

The main reason is that never before has the human body had to deal with such a vast number of triggers activating oncogenes and paving the way for cancer as it does now.

For breast cancer specifically, these include:

Smoking
Exposure to radiation
Weight
Diet
Alcohol consumption
Hormone replacement therapy
Birth control pills
Not having birthed children
Having children after 35

Part of our mission is to educate our patients about the connection between breast cancer and lifestyle factors. We will help you learn to identify your risk factors, and identify lifestyle changes that can help minimize these risks in the future. Our integrated team of health professionals will thoroughly assess where these imbalances originate in order to find the root causes that are contributing to breast cancer. This is usually a multifaceted problem that no one health professional can fully grasp or treat. The team that you will be working with is led by your Medical Doctor and includes: Dentist, Psychologist, Chiropractor, Nutritionist and Fitness Expert.

Integration

Not only do we have state of the art diagnostic and assessment tools, we have a fully integrated team of health professionals who will study all of this information and connect the dots to reveal why your biochemical, physiological, structural, and psychological individuality has developed breast cancer, but also make recommendations to help you regain your health. Like breast cancer, disease usually comes from multiple imbalances in a person’s life. Here at Sanoviv, you will be working closely with your team of health professionals who will work with the entire staff of health care professionals to design a program specifically for you from all the information obtained.

In your Health team:

Your Medical doctor will facilitate your medical treatment and coordinate all other treatments into your program.
Your Psychologist will help to determine any emotional factors that might contribute to the development of breast cancer and support your healing through relaxation, healing imagery and emotional expression.
Your Dentist will assess and treat any issues that could exacerbate the inflammatory process like gingivitis, cavitations, abscesses and heavy metal toxicity that can affect breast cancer.
Your Nutritionist will assess your diet and give you information on the role food will play in your healing from breast cancer, especially after identifying your metabolic type.
Your Chiropractor will assess and treat any structural imbalances that might be contributing to your health issues.
Your Fitness Expert will help you strengthen and exercise your body in a holistic way to support detoxification, greater energy and overall health.

FAQ

I do not want any allopathic medication. I want an all natural approach. Can you accommodate this?

That is our first goal with every guest. From our point of view, the more natural and less invasive/toxic the approach, the better.

Do you use chemotherapy or radiation along with more natural treatments?

Yes. Sometimes we recommend combining the useful aspects of these with our more alternative approach when it will serve your health goals. We usually only recommend this when no other more natural approaches can offer the same chance at improvement. Ultimately, using these tools will be decided by you with the support of your health team. Our approach is designed to support the optimal functioning of your own defenses, so even when exposed to these treatments, you may be able to deal with them with fewer side effects.

Do I have to have my breast(s) completely removed?

While statistics indicate that removing the breast or breasts in Stage I breast cancer can improve the prognosis, and conventional doctors might recommend this path immediately, our approach is based on looking for any other options that we have that might not be available elsewhere. No one wants to take chances with your life and healthy recovery from Breast Cancer, and we don’t either. We just work harder at taking the known statistics and applying them to your individual circumstances. Every patient is different and can respond differently to treatment. Sometimes we do recommend surgery when we feel it will improve your chance of improvement. We will try our hardest to respect your decisions in this aspect while still offering you the treatment plan with the greatest potential.

What is the focus of your treatment plan?

Medical treatment is targeted against the cancer, to support and strengthen your immune system, while not interfering with the healthy functioning of the rest of your body. Other disciplines like Dental, Nutrition, Psychology, Chiropractic and Fitness come into play to ensure that we achieve these goals and bring balance back into your life.

What are the most common cancers that you treat?

Since we focus on the underlying causes and imbalances that create cancer in someone’s body, we can treat various types of cancer. The most common ones that we treat are breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer.

What is your success rate for treatment of Cancer?

We do not have these records at this time. Our difficulty is that we have a varied population with different types of cancer, stages and recommended courses of treatment. This creates a huge difficulty to have a baseline group. What we have found with our approach is that the earlier the stage the better prognosis and very rarely needing invasive treatments. This is focused on prevention of metastasis or other primary cancers. We also focus on the underlying causes and what made you more susceptible to cancer. Our goal with every cancer guest is to slow or stop the progression of the disease, improve quality of life, and increase length of life.

How long do I have to stay?

For optimal results we recommend 3 weeks. This is the amount of time needed to complete our core assessment and treatment protocol.

I have just finished my traditional Cancer treatment. Is there anything else you can offer me?

You might not be feeling optimal even though you have finished your traditional cancer treatment. We can offer to assess what underlying causes can be affecting this and support your optimal recovery from any side effects of these conventional therapies. We can support your immune system, and help your body to detoxify. We can support your ability to recover from these side effects by strengthening your immune system and overall healthy function of your mind, body and spirit. We are very successful at aiding in detoxification from chemotherapy.

Why do I have to see a psychologist?

Most people have an immediate impact when they hear the word Cancer in regards to their health state. This can be manifested as fear, grief, sadness, anger or all of the above. Psychology appointments are there to help you deal with the stress and anxiety of being ill. Our team approach also helps to reduce unhealthy thoughts or feelings that may result in biochemical changes that could contribute to your health issues. The field of Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology (PNIE) studies the relationship that our thought and feelings have with the major communication centers of our body (nervous, immune and endocrine systems). If our thoughts, beliefs and emotions are not balanced, this can affect how our body communicates with itself and create health challenges.

What do you mean when you say you practice “Functional Medicine”?

Functional medicine is an advancement in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Sanoviv was one of the first hospitals in the world to be certified in the Functional Medicine approach.

What is the importance of the integrative team approach?

The importance of this approach is that you are assessed and treated as a whole human being. Many of the health issues that we faced today are multi-faceted; there is no one definitive cause. When a whole team of health professionals come together and make sense of the information, it is easier to see what are the underlying factors that weave together to create your unique symptoms. Once we have this clarity, dealing with it effectively is much easier.

I just saw the dentist recently, why do I have to see one again at Sanoviv?

In our integrated approach the assessment by all the health professionals is very important. Even though all our professionals are certified and licensed by their specific profession’s Board, we go above and beyond what standard practitioners can provide. In regards to dental care, here we practice Biological Dentistry. This form of dentistry takes into consideration many things that traditional dentistry would not. These different paradigms and assessment tools are what set Sanoviv apart from traditional care.

I have a wide range of issues apart from Cancer and feel overwhelmed, what can you offer me?

We will help you organize your health priorities in the order of what may have the most profound impact on getting you healthy again. We will assess and treat the underlying causes through the use of specialized tools and try to prioritize those areas where we can have the most impact. You will leave Sanoviv with a detailed plan on how to approach your lifestyle in a functional way that could contribute to your overall healing. Think of it as your personal owner’s manual.

How soon will I feel better?

It all depends on the duration and severity of your health issues. Our goal is to identify your right path to wellness through an integrative assessment and treatment plan that will combine the best of allopathic and alternative medicine. We will work together and allow you to be an active participant in your health and healing. With our support, you can be the hero of your healing journey.

Will I ever stop using medication if I follow your program?

The mechanism of action of medication is mostly to block chemical reactions in the body and most of the time won’t have an impact on treating the root factor that is causing the imbalance in the body but rather to artificially maintain balance. As an example, a lot of people will take a Tylenol when they get a headache but the headache is not caused by a deficiency of Tylenol. At Sanoviv, we will work to identify the cause for the headache first, then treat the root cause. When you come to Sanoviv, we start treating the causes of the disease and over time, the body will find its balance again. For this reason, you might start seeing changes in laboratory values and the doctor might have to start reducing the medication and reduce dosage until you reach homeostasis.

Can I bring someone to help me out at Sanoviv?

Yes, you can bring a companion to support your stay. Especially since our program is based on applying lifestyle changes to support your ongoing health, bringing your spouse or significant other can be helpful as both of you can learn firsthand about these recommended changes. We may require you bring a companion for support if you are very compromised and cannot get from appointment to appointment without assistance.

What type of IVs do you use?

We use different types of IV therapy protocols depending on the type of health issues and the biochemical individuality of each guest. For a more detailed explanation of this please refer to our IV Therapy page. Our main goal with IV therapies is to provide vital nutrients to the guest, bypassing the digestive system to allow a greater absorption by the body.

What does a typical day at Sanoviv look like?

Even though we have a set of daily activities, each schedule is different from guest to guest. Your customized schedule includes all appointments and therapies. So, following your schedule will be very important. Usually our days start with an hour of relaxation practices, like meditation and energy medicine class. Then a light stretching class after which you have breakfast. Afterwards, most of the therapies and consultations take place. Usually there is some time for a snack break before lunch. After lunch we have some of our afternoon classes or more therapies and sessions until dinner. After dinner we have the main lecture in our auditorium to end the day.

Do I need to comeback after the end of my treatments?

Usually it takes years of detrimental lifestyle choices and habits to start showing symptoms of imbalances in the body. Regaining your health is a process and we can not expect to reverse all imbalances within a couple of weeks. What we can do is help you get on the road to recovery. Many patients do not need to return to Sanoviv. Others choose to return for periodic assessments to reevaluate their current state of health and help you continue on the path to optimal health. Of course, this is not mandatory but strongly suggested.

Do you do surgeries at Sanoviv?

Yes. Even though our approach is based on finding the most natural and least invasive course of treatment, we know that sometimes surgery is unavoidable and is a necessary step. We offer a wide range of surgeries that can be combined with our innovative therapies and treatments to speed your recovery. Please check our Surgeries at Sanoviv page for more information.

Am I going to be eating twigs and leaves all of my life?

The diet at Sanoviv is a whole-food, cleansing diet that eliminates many of the common food allergens along with processed foods, sugar and damaged oils. Although you eat many vegetables (both cooked and raw) here, your nutritionist will provide you with a diet to follow at home based on your health condition, your access to certain foods, your ancestral heritage, and your desire to make positive health changes. Our goal is to provide you with a diet that will nourish you and improve your health, but also one that is realistic and works with your lifestyle. You may not be eating “leaves and twigs” all your life, but you will have been introduced to many new and different foods during your stay here as well as how certain foods are used as medicine.

I have special dietary needs. Can Sanoviv accommodate these?

Yes. If you have known allergies or food sensitivities, we can certainly accommodate you. We will also educate you on proper nutritional protocols for you. Many people adopt extreme diets they found on the internet, a practice that we discourage. Instead, we will be recommending a customized nutrition program for you individually. Our nutritionists and kitchen staff are highly proficient in adapting our meals to serve you in the best way. Nutrition and eating properly for your biochemical individuality is one of the cornerstones of our treatments.

Programs

Each program focuses our assessment and treatment tools towards a specific health issue and your individual experience of these health issues, you can find more about our programs here.

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Contact a Health Advisor

If you feel that your specific health issue or area of interest does not fit into any of these areas, please contact us to speak with a friendly admissions person. They will be happy to answer your questions and provide information.

Therapies & Classes

At Sanoviv, we are pleased to offer an extensive array of proven therapies from around the world, from therapies, detoxification treatments, nutrition lectures, fitness classes and more.

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