In Australia 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. Globally, there has been a sharp rise in cancer among the young; a study in BMJ Oncology found a 79% increase in early-onset cancer (under 50) between 1990 and 2019. These are sobering statistics, but rather than bury our heads in the sand we can take action. Ninety five percent of cancers are not caused by genetics; rather they are driven by lifestyle, nutrition and environment.

Working one-on-one with clients I create personalised plans to improve treatment outcomes. This involves looking at the latest evidence and applying it to their own life.

• Are they a busy mum who also needs to feed a family?
• Are they on a tight budget but keen to avoid as many pesticides as possible?
• Are they leaning more towards a wholefoods/plant-based diet or would they prefer a modified keto approach?

While educating a client on cancer risk factors and known protectants, I am also aware that everyone is different and I’m here to support you the best way I can.

In addition to food and supplement suggestions I routinely run lab tests to look at what else we can do to improve a client’s overall health. These might include:

A Comprehensive Stool Test: Did you know 80% of our immune system resides in our gastrointestinal tract? Research now shows that the composition of our microbiome influences the immune system which affects anti-tumour immunity. This test not only provides a picture of the microbiome – both the pathogenic and beneficial bacteria- it also looks at enzyme output, parasites and inflammatory markers.

Nutritional Status: At least half the global population is deficient in necessary vitamins like calcium, iodine and vitamin C according to a recent study by Harvard. With a simple blood test we can shore-up any areas of deficiency which may hinder recovery.

Circulating Tumour Cell (CTC) Count Test with Maintrac: CTCs are cancer cells which have migrated from the primary tumour and have the potential to contribute to metastases. This blood test looks for the presence of CTCs enabling a patient to monitor the effectiveness of their treatment, determine the risk of relapse and take extra action to reduce the risk of recurrence. If the CTC returns a positive result, the patient may choose to do a further blood test which looks at which treatments – including both chemotherapies and natural treatments – the cells are most sensitive too. The CTC test can also be used for those who have a family history of cancer and would like to do this alongside other annual check-ups, like breast imaging.