Integrative Cancer Care Treatment
Customized Integrative Cancer Care
Safe, effective, and compassionate support that works alongside your conventional treatment
How We Support Cancer at The Clara Clinic
Chances are if you’re here, you’ve been impacted by cancer and are looking for additional support. For anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, or whose loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, information comes fast and the questions can be overwhelming.
What is my chance of survival?
What will be used to treat my cancer?
How effective will treatment be?
Can I be cured?
How will I feel during treatment?
Do I have to have chemotherapy?
Will surgery cure my cancer?
Can I still work?
What about my family?
How can I reduce the risk of this cancer coming back again?
If you’re looking to ways to take control of your health and feel well in your daily life, whether you’ve been newly diagnosed, are facing a recurrence, or are living with cancer, you’re in the right place. Our team is here to provide you with a personalized support plan that’s safe with your conventional treatments, evidence-informed, and focused on improving your quality of life at every stage of your cancer journey.
Cancerous & Precancerous Conditions We Commonly Support
Breast Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Uterine / Endometrial Cancer
Cervical Cancer + Cervical Dysplasia
Prostate Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Melanoma
Brain Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Head + Neck Cancer
Lung Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Stomach Cancer
Liver Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Bone Cancer
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Multiple Myeloma
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Wherever you are in your cancer journey, our team will meet you where you’re at and take the time to look at everything in detail, helping you to feel in control and comfortable in your body again. Our clinic has a focus on integrative cancer care specifically, and our team has undergone additional training in integrative oncology, to ensure you’re getting the best care possible. Our ultimate goal is always to support overall survival, minimize side-effects of treatment, and improve your quality of life both during and after treatment.
What is Integrative Cancer Care?
Integrative cancer care helps to support anyone who has received a precancerous or cancer diagnosis, has a strong family history of cancer, or is a cancer survivor. Whether you are looking for support while you undergo surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, or you need more aggressive natural therapies to target your cancer directly, we will ensure you have a full understanding of treatment options available to you, so you can make choices you feel comfortable with.
What To Expect from Naturopathic Integrative Cancer Care
No matter where you’re at in your cancer journey, we work with your specific cancer diagnosis to reduce the damaging effects of cancer treatment, reduce symptoms that are affecting your daily life, and support your body’s ability to heal. We’re focused on providing safe and effective care so you can make choices you feel confident about. That’s why we created the Conquering Cancer Program.
Our Conquering Cancer Treatment Program
PHASE 1: at Diagnosis
Target your cancer. We dig into the details of your diagnosis to develop a customized protocol that directly targets your cancer cells, because not all cancer cells act the same.
Lower inflammation. Not only is cancer inflammatory but your immune system’s response to cancer cells creates more inflammation that eventually starts to damage your body.
Prepare your body. By establishing a baseline using our symptoms questionnaire we are then able to set you up with the foundations of health you need most (diet, lifestyle, etc).
PHASE 2: during Cancer Treatment
If You’re Undergoing Treatment
Support your specific treatment regimen. This may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, etc, and is designed to ensure two things:
That treatment is as effective as it can be
That we help reduce the risk or severity of common side-effects, so you can feel as well as possible through treatment (monitored through testing and our side-effect questionnaire)
Build up your immune system. Your immune system has been in overdrive since your diagnosis, trying to attack and kill cancer cells, which is why we not only help your immune system by lowering inflammation but rebalance your immune function during treatment to prevent complications.
If You’ve Completed Treatment
Treatment review. We review your treatment in detail, discussing how you felt, any complications that came up, and how you’re feeling right now (review test results and utilize our side-effect questionnaire)
Urgent support. We set you up with a focused treatment protocol to address any urgent concerns, and move right into phase 3
PHASE 3: Recovery + Prevention post-cancer
This is where we get to talk not only about surviving but thriving again! We look at preventing a cancer recurrence, while also focusing on your healing, and set you up with care that brings the focus back to supporting life and any other health goals you may have for yourself, knowing that we’re always keeping your cancer history in mind so you don’t have to.
Target lingering side-effects. Start by treating any side-effects that you are still struggling with from treatment or symptoms of the cancer itself
Restore immune system function. One of the big concerns in anyone affected by cancer, especially if they’ve been through treatment, is a weakened immune system. So this is the time when we actively rebuild it, to help strengthen immunity so you have a lower risk of infection going forward.
Rebuild your gut. Majority of your immune system is actually located IN your gut, so helping to rebalance your microbiome is a key part of maintaining a strong and healthy immune system. Here we not only care for your microbiome but heal any damage in your gut to reduce digestive problems you may be experiencing.
Identify barriers to healing. Now that you’ve gone through the foundational areas of health and healing in the midst of cancer, you may find that stubborn problems or side-effects have not gone away. Focused testing is what will help to determine the reason for this and allow us to address any lingering imbalances, to help you get back to living well. We can then focus your treatment protocol on preventing a recurrence of your cancer.
How It Works
2 hour initial appointment
4 week follow-up appointment
6 week follow-up appointment
Custom schedule, adjusted to fit your life and treatments
Biannual Thrive visits to ensure you remain supported
At The Clara Clinic we promise to provide you with balanced, realistic, individualized support that will actually work with your conventional treatments. We recognize that every patient and situation is going to be different, so we spend extra time with you, collaborate with your oncologists, and stay up-to-date on current research to ensure your treatment is as current and customized your situation as possible.
Start Your Journey to Supportive Cancer Care at The Clara Clinic
Whether you’re at the beginning, middle, or end of your cancer treatment journey, we’re here to help you feel more in control, more informed, and more empowered. If you’d like to learn more, we offer:
Complimentary 15-Minute Consultations: Connect with Dr. Hayhlee Clarence, ND, or Dr. Monica Velletri, ND —each of whom focuses on Integrative Cancer Care at the Clara Clinic. You’ll have the opportunity to share your main concerns, ask questions about our methods, and see if we’re the right fit.
In-Person Appointments for those looking for Integrative Cancer Care Treatment in Toronto
Virtual Appointments for those looking for remote Integrative Cancer Care Treatment in Ontario
We’re here for you to help break through the confusion surrounding cancer and chart a clear, actionable path to better inform your journey!
Looking for Support?
Meet our Integrative Cancer Care Team
dr. hayhlee clarence, nd, MSCP
Dr. Hayhlee Clarence is co-founder of The Clara Clinic, with a focused practice in perimenopause, menopause, and integrative cancer care. She is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) and holds prescribing authority in Ontario for bioidentical hormones. Learn more about Dr. Clarence or book a complimentary meet-and-greet.
dr. monica velletri, nd
Dr. Monica Velletri is a Naturopathic Doctor whose practice is focused on cancer care and thyroid conditions. To learn more about her practice contact us or book a complimentary meet-and-greet with Dr. Velletri.
Integrative Cancer Care FAQs: Your Questions About Naturopathic Cancer Support, Answered
What is integrative cancer care, and is it safe to use alongside my conventional treatment?
Integrative cancer care combines evidence-informed naturopathic therapies with your conventional oncology treatment — surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy — to support your body through the process and improve quality of life. Safety is the non-negotiable foundation of everything we do. At The Clara Clinic, Dr. Clarence and Dr. Velletri have both undergone additional training in integrative oncology specifically so they can identify which natural therapies are safe with your particular treatment regimen, which to avoid, and which may actively support treatment efficacy. We collaborate with your oncologists and never work in opposition to your conventional care.
Can naturopathic medicine actually help with cancer — or just with side effects?
Both. Evidence-informed naturopathic care can work on two levels: supporting your body's ability to tolerate and respond to conventional treatment, and in some cases, directly targeting cancer cell activity through compounds that have demonstrated anti-tumour properties in research. That said, we are always clear and honest about what naturopathic care can and cannot do. We do not promise cures or suggest that natural therapies should replace oncological treatment. What we can offer is meaningful support — reducing treatment side effects, rebuilding immune function, improving nutrition and energy, and giving you an active role in your own care at a time when that can feel very limited.
When is the right time to start integrative cancer care — at diagnosis, during treatment, or after?
All three, and ideally as early as possible. Our Conquering Cancer Program is structured in three phases specifically because the needs at each stage are different. At diagnosis, we focus on preparing your body, reducing inflammation, and customizing a protocol to your specific cancer. During treatment, we work to support treatment efficacy and minimize side effects. After treatment, we shift to recovery, immune rebuilding, gut restoration, and long-term recurrence prevention. Many patients wish they had started earlier — the earlier we can get involved, the more we can do. That said, if you're mid-treatment or post-treatment, there is still a great deal we can offer.
How do you make sure the supplements or treatments you recommend won't interfere with my chemotherapy or radiation?
This is precisely why our practitioners have undergone specialized training in integrative oncology. The interactions between natural compounds and conventional cancer therapies are genuinely complex — some supplements are safe and beneficial, some are neutral, and some can interfere with treatment efficacy or increase toxicity. We research the specific interactions relevant to your treatment protocol, review your full medication and supplement list, and adjust recommendations accordingly. We also communicate with your oncology team when needed. You should never feel that you have to manage these decisions on your own.
What kinds of naturopathic treatments are used for cancer support, and what do they target?
The specific tools we use depend on your cancer type, treatment protocol, current health status, and goals — there is no standard protocol. Broadly, interventions may include targeted supplementation to reduce inflammation and support immune function, IV nutrient therapy to support energy and recovery, dietary approaches calibrated to your specific cancer and treatment, gut microbiome support (especially during and after chemotherapy), acupuncture for nausea, pain, and fatigue management, and in some cases, evidence-based natural compounds with demonstrated anti-cancer properties used at appropriate doses. Everything is individualized and reviewed in the context of your oncology care.
I've finished cancer treatment and my oncologist says I'm in remission. Do I still need integrative support?
Post-treatment is one of the most important phases to have support, and also one of the most underserved. After conventional treatment ends, the immune system is often depleted, the gut microbiome is disrupted, fatigue and cognitive changes may persist, and the risk of recurrence is a genuine concern. Our Phase 3 — Recovery and Prevention — is specifically designed for this stage. We focus on rebuilding what treatment has depleted, addressing any lingering side effects, and creating a forward-looking plan to reduce your risk of recurrence through nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted support. The goal isn't just survival — it's helping you get back to living fully.
Can integrative cancer care help with the emotional and psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis?
Yes, and this is something we take seriously. A cancer diagnosis affects far more than the body — the anxiety, grief, uncertainty, and loss of control that come with it are real and significant. We address this through several avenues: the time and space our practitioners provide in appointments (your initial visit is two hours), the sense of agency that comes from having an active treatment plan, and where appropriate, a referral to our psychotherapy team. We also recognize that caregivers are often deeply affected, and we're happy to support them in understanding what their loved one is going through.
Do you work with all types of cancer, and does the naturopathic approach differ by cancer type?
Yes to both. We support patients with a wide range of cancerous and precancerous conditions — from breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer to leukemia, lymphoma, and colorectal cancer, among others. And yes, the approach differs significantly by cancer type. How a cancer cell behaves, what it feeds on, how it responds to the immune system, and what conventional treatments are used all shape the naturopathic protocol. This is why our initial appointment is two hours and involves a detailed dive into the specifics of your diagnosis — not a generic cancer support template.
Can I see a naturopathic doctor for cancer if I'm already working with an oncologist or specialist?
Absolutely — this is the norm, not the exception. The Clara Clinic is designed to work within a collaborative care model. We do not replace your oncology team; we work alongside them. Our practitioners communicate clearly, stay current on your treatment status, and focus on the aspects of your care that conventional oncology doesn't have time for: nutrition, quality of life, immune support, side effect management, and the day-to-day guidance that helps you feel less alone in the process.
Do you offer virtual Integrative Cancer Care in Ontario?
Yes. We offer virtual naturopathic appointments for Integrative Cancer Care to patients anywhere in Ontario. Virtual care through The Clara Clinic is conducted on Jane, a secure and PIPEDA-compliant platform. Everything we offer in-person — comprehensive intake, lab requisitions, treatment planning, ongoing monitoring, and coaching — is available virtually. If you are outside of Toronto but within Ontario, virtual care is a seamless option.
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