Integrative Radiation Support

Safe, effective, and compassionate support that works alongside your radiation treatment

How We Support Radiation Treatment at The Clara Clinic

We’re so you’re here! Chances are you’re preparing to go through radiation or have completed treatment and are struggling with uncomfortable side-effects. If you’re looking to ways to take control of your health as your go through radiation, or are in recovery and can’t seem to get over the lingering impact, you’re in the right place. Our team is here to provide you with a personalized support plan that’s safe with your radiation treatments, evidence-informed, and focused on improving your quality of life at every stage of your cancer journey.

Common Ways We Support Radiation

• Helping you prepare for radiation: we make sure you aren’t taking anything that will interfere with radiation, while also ensuring you utilize natural support that has the potential to help make treatment even more effective

• Supporting you during radiation: the two main areas of focus are preventing and/or reducing side-effects of radiation and improving radiosensitivity (i.e. improving tumour cell sensitivity to radiation)

• Recovery after radiation ends: initially we focus on reducing side-effects of radiation, since recovery from these can take a long time, and then we address your risk of long-term damage from treatment which vary depending on where your radiation occurred:

  • Brain: cognitive changes, speech changes, ataxia

  • Head and Neck: cataracts, cavities / tooth decay, difficulty swallowing

  • Chest: heart / vascular issues, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism, lung disease / fibrosis

  • Abdomen and Pelvis: infertility, malabsorption of food, gut dysbiosis

Radiation & Its Impact on Your Body

Radiation is one of the most common treatments for cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, this is a localized treatment, which means how radiation affects your body varies depending on where your tumour is located. 

two primary types of radiation

1. External Beam Radiation: this is the most commonly used form and is done over a few weeks as an outpatient procedure (meaning you do not have to stay in the hospital but will be traveling to and from home daily).

2. Internal Radiation (aka. Brachytherapy): this is when a radioactive source is placed inside the body, either into or near the tumour. It is often done in the hospital and requires an overnight stay, but it can be given to you as an outpatient as well (depending on the type, dose, etc).

What To Expect from Naturopathic Integrative Cancer Care

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 safe and as customized your situation as possible. At The Clara Clinic we promise to provide you with balanced, realistic, individualized support that will actually work with your radiation regimen. 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!