FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

YES, I am a medical doctor, I have been licensed to practice medicine by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario since June 1987. I am NOT an oncologist or specialist, I am a general medical practitioner, treating a wide cross section of patients ranging from infant to elder care. I began to develop a special interest treating patients with solid tumor cancers using integrative therapies in 2002. I have focused my attention solely to the integrative treatment of patients with solid tumor cancers since 2006.

Integrative treatment is the combination of conventional therapies with complementary AND some alternative treatment modalities. It is NOT the use of ONLY alternative therapies – which are treatment modalities that are used instead of either conventional ( allopathic ) or complementary therapies.

Our clinic uses the integrative treatment approach ONLY. We DO NOT treat patients ONLY with alternative therapy

Conventional treatments are those usual ( allopathic ) treatments which are offered in most hospitals across the world, they have been tested in various clinical trials and are approved by health regulating bodies, and are recognized and given all over the world.

Complementary treatments are treatments used together ( in conjunction with ) in combination with conventional treatments.

Alternative treatments are treatment modalities which are used in lieu of ( instead of ) in place of conventional treatments. So called integrative treatments are treatments which are a combination of both conventional complementary and some well established alternative therapies which are used together (in combination) under medical supervision.

We do NOT employ only natural therapies to boost the immune system, they are only a part of our total patient specific treatment plan and NOT a stand alone modality. We employ multi-modality treatments, always vigilant and giving consideration to new and emergent therapies which we feel may have merit. We constantly follow and exchange treatment information with a number of similar mutli - modality clinics worldwide.

To allow us to give high doses of vitamins and other nutrients which would be impossible to give by mouth. Most patients with cancer have difficulty with digestion and for the most part are not able to assimilate and digest nutrients like a healthy person. By using a central line we can infuse higher concentrations of the above stated products in a blood vessel which has a significant blood flow allowing the infusion to rapidly mix within the blood stream. This is preferable to the usual peripheral IV infusion.

Some of you may already have a port or picc line installed, if not, your own physician may order one for you or we can arrange one but this may take some time depending upon the waiting list for both the picc line and port and this is BEYOND our control.

NO our treatments do NOT CURE cancer.

There are some cancers which respond very well to conventional treatments and long term remission/cure may be seen. However, they account for a small percentage of cancers (<10%) and do not include the most common solid tumor cancers, adenocarcinomas. We do NOT give a guarantee or warranty that ANY of our treatments will work for a given individual.

Due to the aggressive nature of some cancers, there is always a chance of progression in spite of any treatment.

A response implies that we were either able to slow down the tumor growth or reduce tumor size which can be demonstrated on imaging studies. Remission implies that we have stopped further disease progression but the lumps or bumps are still present. This is not synonyimus with a cure, which is the total abscence of cancer cells from the body. Once a tumor is apparent on imaging studies or has spread to another part of the body we can never be sure that by removing the tumor or tumors will ensure a cure. We do not yet have the technology to determine if micrometastatic ( cancer cells which have spread to another site different from where they originated, but remain clinically undetectable using imaging studies because the tumor is extremely small ) disease is present in the body. With advances in diagnostic technology we can now isolate circulating tumor cells from the blood stream but this is presently possible only in the more advanced stages of cancer.

Some examples of solid tumor cancers are: Brain, thymus, thyroid, lung, liver, pancreas, colon, breast, prostate, bladder, ovarian, uterus, bone and muscle ( sarcomas ) etc.

Chemotherapy refers to a group of drugs which are used to treat the many different types of cancer. There are several groups of these drugs classified according to their mode and site of action. Most of these drugs have similar side effects which you have heard about. They can cause immune suppression as well as bone marrow suppression.

Tumor bulk reduction is of utmost importance when treating cancer either in the very early stages or in later stages where there is significant disease progression or recurrence, if possible, surgery chemotherapy and or radiation or a combination thereof may be needed for the best treatment we can offer, the sequence of the treatment modalities is of importance as well. This is where we and others who practice integrative therapy will address the whole patient in terms of nutritional status, immune system, biological make up ( internal environment ), mind body and spirit issues and maintaining a wellness and nutritional state before during and after treatments and in the future to try to keep the cancer from recurring.

Like chemotherapy radiation therapy has merit and utility in the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. It can cause both local ( at the site of treatment ) and systemic side effects including immune suppression and bone marrow suppression. The severity of possible side effects is dependent - upon the strength of the dose of radiation given, as well as the total number of treatments ( the total dose of radiation given ).

Yes we treat patients with all stages of cancer but we do have certain contraindications with which we are NOT able to provide our treatments to patients.

Our program involves a six week period of 3 days of treatment per week, after which time we re-assess our patients and change or modify treatment(s) as needed based upon patient response.

Typical treatment cost is approximately $1,200- $1,500.00 per week. This cost can change depending upon what treatments are used. Whatever treatments are offered to our patients the cost is always of concern, both to us and our patients, and this is discussed before any treatment is given. The rationale for the treatment modality is also discussed with the patient. Most lab investigations and studies are covered through health care, but certain lab investigation(s) are not covered by OHIP. In addition, the cost of supplements, vaccines or other custom made treatments for the patient are NOT included in the cost.

Please be advised that the cost of IPT/ Low Dose Chemotherapy costs from $700 per treatment (depending on which reagents are used), and does NOT include the price of the chemotherapy medication itself.

This is a very difficult question because of the wide variety of patients we treat with different stages of disease, the multi-modality treatments we use. It is our hope to induce a remission with the treatment(s) we provide. In the more advanced stages slowing down the disease process and trying to make the disease into a chronic manageable state is our goal, but with very advanced cases this may NOT be possible, and our goal at that time is to give the best possible quality level of life for each and every patient we treat.

This type of treatment is NOT for everyone, Our clinic and the treatment modalities we offer are NOT for everyone. It is for those individuals who have educated themselves in terms of the possible treatment modalities we offer and feel that they may be of some use for them, they are for those patients who either have been treated or seek these types of treatment at clinics abroad, but want to stay in Canada and have the same treatments close to home under medical supervision. It is those individuals who want to use combination multi-modality treatments for their disease. If in ANY WAY you feel ill at ease with the type of treatments we offer, we advise you NOT to embark on this type of treatment as it does involve both a significant monetary and time commitment.

NO, you pay as you go and ONLY for treatments you receive.

YES, ALL of our patients sign a consent form BEFORE starting treatment, you may stop your treatments at ANY time for ANY reason just by giving us your written statement that you wish to do so.

OHIP does not cover any treatments which are NOT in the scope of conventional ( allopathic ) medicine which is considered the standard of medical care in the province of Ontario. ( as well as hospitals and cancer treatment centers worldwide ).

These treatments we provide are considered as non-medically necessary, unproven in clinical trials and experimental in nature, they are NOT endorsed or recommended by any government agency or health regulating body and therefore NOT covered by OHIP and the great majority of insurance companies.

NO we do not. We will give a you a detailed statement for every treatment you receive in our clinic at the time of treatment, it is the YOUR responsibility to make arrangements with your insurance company to determine if you can recover some or all of the cost of your treatments. You should look into possible coverage BEFORE you start treatments in order to clarify this.

Please be advised that the great majority of insurance companies DO NOT pay for integrative treatments.

Because of patient- physician confidentiality issues:

• We do NOT give out the names or ANY details of our patients because of patient physician confidentiality. We do have a number of patients who have offered to speak with new patients considering having treatment at our clinic, in addition potential patients may speak with patients at the clinic undergoing treatment when they have their initial consultation.
• Any patient testimony or statistics we compile regarding our treatments given to our patients are considered as anecdotal case studies.

YOU are responsible for ALL expenses incurred in relation to attending our clinic, from the initial consultation to completion of the course of treatment as well as any follow up treatment. We do NOT cover expenses for potential patients in terms transportation to and from our clinic or for board and lodging while having treatment at our clinic. ANY and ALL expenses incurred while attending consultation or treatment at our clinic are YOUR responsibility.

NO, at the present time due to insurance regulations we are NOT able to offer treatment to any patients who live outside Canada at our Toronto clinic.

Read a detailed article on Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT)

We do not give referrals to patients seeking treatment outside Canada. We do work with some clinics outside Canada which provide some unique treatment modalities which are not available in Canada and in a minority of cases may request a specific drug or treatment on behalf of a patient under our medical care. If you are seeking any treatment outside of Canada it is your responsibility to do your research on the clinic in question, and decide if the treatment is right for you.