When I was about 10, my mom gave me a copy of Our Bodies, Our Selves, the first book of its kind cobbled together by the Boston Women’s Health Collective in 1970 and an underground hit by 1971. This book was revolutionary at the time it hit bookstores in those early years of the ERA, […]
Dear Valued Patient, After 22 years of practice, over 17 of which have been dedicated to integrative oncology, I am stepping away from one to one patient care. I will be closing my practice at Bellingham Naturopathic Clinic on March 20th, 2024. If you are in active cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation), you will […]
We’re talking about “deep listening” this month because feeling seen/heard in your life leads to greater personal satisfaction. In addition to facing a range of feelings in October (breast cancer awareness month), those of us in the Pacific Northwest also face the shift to shorter days and rainy weather, which affects our health. Being aware […]
“Not now!” You say, as you remove a sweater, feeling the instantaneous rush of heat, dry everything, brain fog and fatigue, and know that another day is derailed for you. Menopause has been trending in the news and social media recently, as a new generation finds themselves on the hormonal roller coaster and wants better […]
Acceptance can be difficult when you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. You may feel angry, scared, or even hopeless. It is hard to find connection and understanding, because although women may have a breast cancer diagnosis in common, no two women process their diagnosis in the same way. Allowing yourself to feel your feelings […]
Surviving breast cancer can leave your body feeling war-ravaged. Not only do you have to learn a new way to mentally live in the world but you must also find a way to live physically. And part of your physical health is taking care of your sexual organs – which we don’t talk about enough. […]
Planning and implementing a long hike can be similar to what a patient goes through when they have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It can be a daunting task. Recently I challenged myself to travel across Scotland via the West Highland Way. There is so much to consider including, but not limited to, gear, nourishment, […]
If you are a woman with breast cancer, the notion of body betrayal can be all too real. The self you once knew and felt comfortable with now looks and acts different. It’s difficult – the sense that your own body is under attack and feeling unwell. All of this ties into body image and […]
Winter is the most uncomfortable time of the year. Color drains from the world. Frost bites the life out of the garden we so carefully cultivated. Humans seek shelter and isolation from the bitterness of the cold. We have no choice but to sit and watch winter as it blankets us. Winter is a forced […]
For some who receive a cancer diagnosis, it can feel like the beginning of a lonely, uphill battle. Not only are cancer patients fighting for their lives, but also their autonomy, authenticity and dignity as they choose how to proceed with treatment. Choosing can look like sticking with the “norms” of conventional medicine, or it […]
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