August 13, 2014

Addressing the Unique Health Needs of Cancer Survivors at Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians Event

Highlights from the one-day preconference event presented by the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians held on August 5, 2014, in conjunction with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Primary care practitioners can help cancer survivors transition from being passive participants in a tumor-based process to proactive participants in a person-based process. That was a key message during the one-day preconference event presented by the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) held on August 5, 2014, in conjunction with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
 
“Our goal was to create a concise comprehensive one-day event that gave general practice naturopathic physicians what they need to help cancer survivors,” explained OncANP past president and current Natural Medicine Journal editor Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO. “Based on the feedback we received, we were thrilled to hear that we accomplished this lofty goal.”
 
Shani Fox, ND, kicked off the day by describing survivorship as a distinct phase of cancer care that is now being recognized by many prestigious organizations and government agencies. “Patients are left in limbo as they go from full care to virtually no care,” explained Fox. “They are unguided, and yet they face numerous health issues unique to survivors.” This provides opportunity not only for primary care physicians but also naturopathic physicians who are well versed in wellness education and an expanded view of prevention that involves assessing patient terrain and reversing treatment damage. 
 
Mark Gignac, ND, FABNO, continued the conversation about restoring health posttreatment while Jen Green, ND, FABNO, gave specific examples of how practitioners can alter the oncometabolic terrain to optimize survivorship. Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, focused on diet while Schor described the use of prescription medications to help prevent and treat cancer. Neil McKinney, ND, went over a list of numerous botanical and nutraceutical agents that have anticancer properties. 
 
Natural Medicine Journal Senior Medical Editor, Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO, gave 2 presentations: one that analyzed dosage and data on intravenous vitamin C and one that described how practitioners can be especially diligent in helping to prevent a cancer recurrence in this patient population. 
 
Schor was honored with a special lifetime achievement award that was presented by Alschuler, the organization’s new president. This was the organization’s way of recognizing Schor’s “exemplary service as a physician, teacher, leader, writer, and advocate” while highlighting his long-standing contribution to the field of naturopathic oncology. 
 
“Dr Jacob Schor is incredibly well-deserving of this award,” explained Alschuler. “His dedication of heart, time, and work to the OncANP has positively impacted the members of the organization, as well as the patients we serve. We are deeply grateful that he has promised to remain an active OncANP member.”
Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO, was presented with a special achievement award by newly elected president Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, representing the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
The oncology preconference concluded with a panel discussion featuring all of the speakers (from L to R): Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO; Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO; Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO; Mark Gignac, ND, FABNO; Shani Fox, ND; Neil McKinney, ND; and Jen Green, ND, FABNO.

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