It has been consistently demonstrated that interest in supplements, naturopathic medicine, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)approaches has increased very significantly among patients receiving treatment for cancer in the US over the last several years.  One reflection of that is the array of questions coming in to the Discussion/Q&A Forum here, and/or comments after the posts I write, which often ask questions to which I have little insight to offer.  Well, I could just punt, make up an answer, or do something more helpful, which is collaborate with someone who actually CAN provide a more thorough answer to questions in the realm of naturopathic medicine and CAM.

   Dan Labriola, ND, is a practicing Naturopathic Physician, the Director and Founder of the Northwest Natural Health Specialty Care Clinic in Seattle, WA.  He is also Director of Naturopathic Services for the Swedish Cancer Institute, where I work as a medical oncologist.  We work at the same institution because we all recognize that allopathic medicine and CAM are often not viewed as mutually exclusive concepts, but rather many patients seek a combination of approaches.  Dr. Labriola is a naturopath with whom I and many other oncologists in the Seattle community share a very strong relationship, as I recognize that he works with patients to clarify where there is evidence to support CAM approaches, where there are limitations, and where there may be potential adverse effects in which supplements or other aspects of CAM may potentially interfere with the rest of the cancer treatment care plan.     Some of you may be interested in naturopathic approaches, and others of you won’t be.  But Dr. Labriola and I collaborate together with patients at our own institution to provide a treatment approach that can include the latest developments and best therapies from both his perspective and mine, illustrating that these strategies don’t need to compete with one another.

    I’ve asked Dr. Labriola to check in and respond to a newly formed Discussion/Q&A Forum on Naturopathic Medicine, so please offer up your questions and comments.