Key takeaways
Small comfort measures, such as easier foods, pacing your energy and gentle movement, can add up over a treatment week.
Acupuncture, massage and mind-body practices have been studied for comfort and wellbeing in people living with cancer. They are about how you feel, not about the cancer itself.
Your naturopathic doctor reviews every supplement, IV and other therapy with you, and checks for possible interactions with your treatment.
Supportive care sits alongside the treatment you have chosen or been prescribed. It never replaces it.
Some treatment weeks are harder than others. Having a plan for the harder days takes some of the pressure off, so here is what we usually talk through with people, in plain terms.
Ready to talk it through? Book a naturopathic assessment or call 204-943-6079.
What does supportive care mean for everyday comfort?
Which effects you notice, and how strongly, depends on your treatment and your body. Supportive care simply means planning ahead for comfort: food you can manage, rest you allow yourself, and support when you want it. The Canadian Cancer Society has a helpful overview of complementary therapies used alongside standard treatment, and you can learn more on cancer.ca.
What can help with eating when appetite is low?
Most of us start here, because food is where people feel it first. Small, frequent snacks usually go over better than three big plates. Try eating your larger meal when your appetite is best, and lean on foods with some protein. A few things people tell us help:
Plain, cool or room-temperature foods if cooking smells are hard to handle
Sipping fluids through the day instead of large amounts at meals
Keeping plain crackers or toast beside the bed for the morning
Cooking a big pot of soup on a good day and freezing single portions
Dietitians of Canada's Unlock Food site is a good place for more meal ideas.
What about energy and rest?
Tiredness is one of the most common things people describe. Pacing helps: short rests through the day, a steady sleep routine, and gentle movement, like a slow walk around the block, when you feel up to it. Research on yoga and tai chi suggests small benefits for fatigue as an addition to usual care. Tell us how your energy has been that week and we will help you decide what is realistic.
Where do acupuncture, massage and counselling fit?
Studies suggest acupuncture may help with treatment-related nausea, and some evidence suggests massage and mindfulness-based approaches may ease pain, anxiety and stress. The evidence is stronger for some effects than others, and it speaks to comfort and wellbeing only.
At Nature Doctors, acupuncture is provided by Juyin Lu, R.Ac, registered massage therapy by Jennifer Weidemann, RMT, and counselling by Jocelyn MacLeod, CCC. Let each practitioner know about your treatment so technique and pacing can be adapted.
What does a naturopathic doctor review?
Oncology support begins with a conversation about what matters most to you. Dr. Aminder Singh, ND and Dr. Sara Korsunsky, ND both focus on oncology support. They look at your food, your supplements and, where useful, laboratory and functional lab testing such as nutrient status and inflammation markers, and you go over the results together at a follow-up visit.
Supplements, IV therapy and other therapies are reviewed one at a time as part of a personalized plan, and possible interactions with your treatment are noted. Some herbs and supplements can interfere with cancer drugs, so a written list of everything you take, including anything prescribed, lets us review it all before you start something new. Nothing we offer is presented as treating cancer.
On days when travel is too much, virtual naturopathic appointments are available across Manitoba.
What should I prepare for a visit?
A simple written list of what you take, including anything prescribed
Your treatment dates and anything coming up
A short list of what has been hardest lately
Any recent laboratory results you already have
A friend or family member, if a second set of ears would help
Frequently asked questions
What if the nausea only hits at certain times of day?
Jot down when it shows up and what you ate beforehand. That pattern helps us suggest timing and food changes that suit you.
Is it normal for food to taste different?
Many people notice metallic or flat tastes. Cold foods, a squeeze of lemon and plastic cutlery are small tricks people often find helpful.
Can I bring a family member to a visit?
Yes. Many people find it helps to have someone listening alongside them.
Do I need to stop my supplements before I come?
No need to stop anything on your own. Bring the list, and we will review it together.
Can I book if I am between treatments?
Yes. Supportive care can start at any point in your journey.
Safety note: If you have a fever during cancer treatment, trouble breathing, chest pain, or cannot keep fluids down, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.
Ready for more comfortable days?
Start with a naturopathic assessment with Dr. Aminder Singh, ND or Dr. Sara Korsunsky, ND. Book online, call 204-943-6079, or visit us at 7-1200 Waverley Street, Winnipeg.
Learn more
Canadian Cancer Society, Complementary therapies: https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/complementary-therapies
Dietitians of Canada, Unlock Food: https://www.unlockfood.ca
NCCIH, Cancer and complementary health approaches (US source, evidence background): https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cancer-and-complementary-health-approaches-what-you-need-to-know
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