Southeast Cancer Support Services is hosting an upcoming event aimed at helping patients explore ways to improve their quality of life and manage the side effects of conventional cancer treatments.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Naturopathic Doctor Erin Esau says she is\u00a0honoured\u00a0to be the guest speaker at the Hope and Health event and looks forward to sharing information that may help make the cancer journey a little easier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re going to chat about naturopathic medicine and how it relates to cancer care, let people know who are on the cancer journey, what kinds of things they can do outside of their treatments to support them along the way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Related Stories:<\/p>\n
She explains that naturopathic oncology focuses on applying naturopathic medicine within the cancer care space, using minimally invasive therapies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to work with the healing power of nature. So that means instead of just symptom suppression, we want to look for the root cause. We want to use things that we can find in nature, like\u00a0plants and minerals\u00a0and vitamins to support the person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Esau adds that lifestyle management plays a key role, including diet, exercise, and reducing exposure to environmental toxins.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, reducing some of the inflammatory foods like fast food, high\u00a0trans-fat\u00a0foods, and moving toward whole foods, adequate fiber, things like that to just support nutrient status,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is true in whatever we are treating. This is just our approach to health. So, we want to treat the whole person. We\u00a0don’t\u00a0just treat irritable bowel disease or cancer.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She emphasizes that naturopathic care is not a replacement for treatments like chemotherapy, but rather a complementary approach to help support patients at any stage of their journey.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Esau, the event is designed to be an educational and informative evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are some things that would be worth doing to support health for people in general? It’s not an individualized, there’s no medical intake or anything done that day, but just to have a discussion on what\u00a0is naturopathic medicine? What are some dietary changes that we are aware\u00a0of that\u00a0can\u00a0help?”\u00a0<\/p>\n
She notes that people facing cancer often experience muscle loss and fatigue, and the session will explore practical ways to address those challenges.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet’s\u00a0brainstorm ways that we can include some movement, and\u00a0different stages\u00a0will have different things that someone can do. But really our talk is just to bring awareness, like here are some ways that we can exercise as a group. Call up a friend and even a 10-minute stroll,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0the benefits even for mental health.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Esau says taking small steps can help people regain a sense of control during\u00a0a difficult time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t underestimate the difference of how somebody feels quite quickly when they shift from, let’s make it an extreme, eating fast food twice a day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She encourages anyone interested\u00a0to attend, whether they are directly affected by cancer or simply want to learn more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI would just say that if someone’s curious about Southeast Cancer Support and has an interest in learning a little bit about naturopathic medicine, meeting some other people who might be going through the same things, then come on down and we’d love to have them join.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The event will take place April 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Southeast Event Centre. It is free to attend and open to anyone, including those currently on a cancer journey, survivors, caregivers, or community members interested in learning more.\u00a0<\/p>\n