Alternative cancer treatments - not a 'one or the other' choice.

According to Statistics Canada, the cancer rate is on the rise. To be fair, we are better able to diagnose many forms of cancer now, and we are living longer than ever before, so more people are living with cancer.

The article that I read in the Montreal gazette quoted Heather Logan, spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society, as saying "that although the research is valuable, healthy living — such as not smoking and maintaining a healthy body weight" and that "about 50 per cent of cancers could be prevented if we applied what we already know and made as many of those healthy choices as easy as possible to implement".

This is where Naturopathic Doctors using Naturopathic Medicine fit it brilliantly. We provide our patients with the time needed to implement these healthy choices. We take a holistic approach and work with our patients to reach their goals. It's one thing to tell your patients to eat more fibre, it's an entirely different thing to sit with them and educate them about how to do that.

More than half of all cancer cases were in the form of breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. We know that these forms of cancer are hugely related to how we live and eat.

Naturopathic Doctors can not only help on the prevention side of cancer (that is where we shine though), but also on the treatment side of cancer. If a diagnosis of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or prostate cancer has already been given out, that does not mean that it's too late to see an ND. We are well versed with what natural treatments are safe and effective to use with chemotherapy and radiation. In fact, there are many natural remedies that actually augment the response to specific chemo's and reduce the likelihood of side effects.

A common misconception about Naturopathic Medicine is that it is not based in science. This is especially untrue with respect to natural cancer treatments. There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of natural medicine while undergoing more conventional treatments.

Educate yourself, and find an ND that is right for you. While I respect Oncologists and Radiologists for their body of knowledge, I also respect that natural medicine is my specialty. It's what I know, it's what I do, and I do it well.

Yours in health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Natural Insect repellent

It's that lovely time of year when the bugs are a humming! How do you protect yourself when you don't want to use the heavy chemical sprays? This is especially important to me now that I have Patrick. We don't want him inhaling all that stuff off of our clothes and hair.

Our first step to protecting ourselves is our dinning tent in the backyard. I bought one big enough to put his sandbox and water table in there with plenty of room for a couple of chairs as well.

Next step - we try to stay inside during the peak times (dusk and dawn).

But what about when you can't (or just don't want) to stay indoors? Or when you want to go hiking through the woods? What products are good?

I like to shop Canadian whenever I can. This year, we will try out Druide's Citronella insect repellent. Sadly, it is not recommended for kids under 2 - but nothing ever is. He will face another summer under a mosquito net - poor kid!

I will keep you posted as to whether or not it works for us.

And of course, we will all take (Patrick included) the homeopathic Ledum. I have had wonderful success, both personally and with patients, with ledum. Although it won't stop the bugs from biting, it greatly reduces the swelling and itching that goes with them.

Happy bug season!

Kerri Fullerton ND

My weight loss journey

I thought that I would share some of journey with you as the start date for the weight loss program Learn to eat, not to diet approaches.

I have struggled with food and weight most of my life. As I look back, my weight problems were really only perceived problems - meaning that what I had was a body image issue, not a weight issue. Nevertheless, my body image issue changed into a weight issue in my late 20's. It blossomed (along with my waist line) after my son was born a year and a half ago. I was horrified to realize that I had crossed the line into 'obesity'. My BMI was over 30.
It goes to show, that it doesn't matter what you know. I didn't have any 'new' information when I decided that I was tired of being overweight and over-consumed with food thoughts and body thoughts. I'm a Naturopathic Doctor for heaven's sake - I have more information about nutrition and healthy living than most people. So what changed?

My attitude. I finally decided that it was time to stop dieting and start living a lifestyle that would take me to my goal. I also gave up the notion of a timeline - I'm in this for the long haul, no matter how long it takes. This is forever. Abandoning a healthy lifestyle because it's not happening at the rate I'd like or because I've achieved my goal weight just won't do anymore. These lifestyle changes have to happen to keep me small, energetic, and authetic. I have lost 25 lbs so far and am still losing. I have the delightful problem right now that my pants keep falling down.

This is what has inspired the weight loss program at Rooted. I would like to inspire and coach people who are also tired of being overweight and are ready to make permenant changes in their lives.

If you can relate to my story, then you are someone who could benefit from this program. I will teach you how to live, how to eat, and how to think so that you can enjoy life again and stop the madness around diets, and deadlines.

Imagine if you hadn't given up all those times before - you'd be at your goal weight and feeling good by now.

Summer program begins on June 16th.

Fall program begins on September 8th.

See you there!

Kerri Fullerton ND

What Fish Are Safe To Eat?

We are told that eating fish is healthy and that we need our omega three fatty acids. But what fish are safe to eat and how much to eat can be confusing.
Here is a link to a comprehensive list of fish and their corresponding mercury levels. Although it does not get into the actual nutritional values of the different fish, it at least let's us know which are safe to eat regularly, and which fish we need to avoid altogether.

What Fish Are Safe To Eat?

Yours in Health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Breast Cancer Vaccine?

There is a breast cancer vaccine in development. It has been used in mice and they hope to start human clinical trials in the next year.

This vaccine is being developed by an immunologist named Vincent Tuohy. It would be given to women in their 40's, since it would detroy healthy tissue if the women were to lactate. The vaccine seeks out alpha-lactalbumin (a protein found in many breast cancers and in lactating breast tissue, but not non-lactating tissue).

Breast cancer affects so many Canadian women every year. It is scary, the treatments are invasive, and many women don't survive. If a vaccine can help save more lives, I'm all for it. But...

With so many looming questions about the long-term safety of vaccines I have some doubts. Guardisil was supposed to save many young women from cervical cancer by creating immunity to HPV strains. There are still a lot of questions about it's safety.

Western medicine is not know for it's patience. I know that women with high risk for breast cancer and reasearchers want these vaccines on the market ASAP, and I understand their point of view. However, what I would like to see is these clinical trials go for 20 years - follow these women and see what happens to them. Are they really healthier for having it or do they develop other conditions in a higher percentage than the rest of the population? Do these women start to develop other cancers? Once we know for sure that these women really are better off to have had the vaccine, then I say put it on the market and let's go. But without these answers, it's just another shot in the dark.

Yours in Health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Suncreens - what you need to know

We should all be concerned about what we put on our bodies everyday. I have to admit though, I didn't pay that much attention until I became pregnant. Then, I was concerned about what I was absorbing and possibly passing on to my unborn child. Once Patrick was born, I then had to decide what I was willing to put on his little body everyday.

My sister-in-law directed me to the Environmental Working Group's website years ago. She was having issues with skin sensitivities and wanted a way to find out what products were safest. I linked it to my website because of how often I refer to it.

Here is their latest sunscreen report. Take the time, it's worth the read.

Our June newsletter will have an expanded article about sunscreens. If you're not getting it, sign up now!

Summary of Findings | Environmental Working Group

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Yours in health,
Kerri Fullerton ND

Vaccination poll by Today's Parent

I need to do a little rant here - surprise, surprise, it's about vaccinations again.

When I was directed to the Today's Parent Poll to share my opinion about vaccinations, I was expecting to fill out a survey. But instead, I found three choices: for, against, don't know what to do.

Come on!!! When those results get posted, they will be slanted. What about all those parent's who educate themselves and decide that some vaccinations are appropriate while others are not? What about those parent's that realize that sometimes vaccinations are the right choice and that for some kids, they are not?

What's my point? Be careful when you read results from such polls. Make sure that you know what the questions are before you interpret the results.

Choosing whether or not to vaccinate your children is a complex issue. It is not a simple, for or against question.

Yours in health,
Kerri Fullerton ND