Integrative Medicine
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This section reflects our personal experiences and perspectives. It is not medical advice. Treatment choices should always be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals. Integrative medicine is not a substitute for conventional care, but for some, it may offer meaningful support alongside it. Every person’s path is different — we share our story so others might ask questions we didn’t know to ask.
What We Wish We’d Known: Chemo Sensitivity Testing
We later learned about something called chemotherapy sensitivity testing — a lab test that evaluates whether a patient’s specific cancer cells are likely to respond to certain chemotherapy drugs.
In Germany and other parts of the world, this is often standard practice. In the U.S., it’s rarely offered. These tests can help prevent patients from going through grueling chemo regimens that may have little or no benefit for their cancer type.
If we had known about this early on, we absolutely would have asked Brad’s doctor for it.
It could have saved time, energy, and unnecessary suffering.
Continuing to Learn: Herbal Support in Cancer Care
I completed a course from the Israel Institute of Technology, offered through Coursera, called:
“Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care: From Alternative to Integrative.”
📎 Watch the interview with Dr. Alon Reshef here
This program explores how traditional herbal medicine can be integrated alongside conventional cancer treatments. For me, it has been both validating and deeply informative.
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This section is for educational purposes only and reflects our personal journey and research. We are not medical professionals. Always consult with your oncology team before adding, removing, or changing any treatments. Not all integrative therapies are recognized or available in every country.
The Importance of Integrative Medicine
Many people choose conventional treatment — and that’s completely valid. But in our journey, finding an integrative doctor changed everything. Someone who respected both the science of modern medicine and the cultural and personal beliefs of the patient.
We quickly learned that not all doctors think this way. Many oncologists told us that diet had nothing to do with cancer, and that vitamin C infusions, herbs, and holistic treatments were “neutral.” That word stayed with us. Neutral — as if they made no difference.
That attitude made things harder. It created friction when what we needed most was support. We believed in the power of nutrition, the wisdom of our grandparents, and the healing traditions passed down through generations. A good doctor, in our view, should at least consider those beliefs — and even if they disagree, they should listen.
We found that doctors trained outside the U.S. were often more open to integrative care. Many foreign-trained nurses knew about herbal remedies, detox protocols, and nutrition’s role in blood markers. We asked questions constantly — and when we found someone open-minded, we held on tight.
In our experience, the best doctors were proactive, helping create a plan that included not just chemo, but also nutrition, supplements, and emotional support. This approach reduced the damage from chemo and kept the immune system stronger.
