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Meet the Doctors of the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center
Although cancer is still the second leading cause of death in the U.S., recent statistics show headway being made in the battle against the disease. Less than half of the approximately 1.4 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year die from it (about 560,000), and the rate at which Americans get cancer decreased in 2008 for the first time since the early 1990s.
Bastyr University believes those numbers could improve even further through the continued integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies into conventional cancer treatment programs. That is why the University recently opened the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center (BIORC), a research center that provides comprehensive support and care to those with cancer. Through BIORC, the University can both measure the effectiveness of CAM treatments and help men and women with cancer live longer, healthier and happier lives.
For a deeper look into how BIORC functions, what patients can expect when they visit and the types of therapies offered, here are brief interviews with three of the center's lead practitioners.
 Focus Area: Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to support conventional treatments for all types of cancer.
Experience: Dr. Given is currently the program director of Bastyr's Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) degree program, which provides specialty training in oncology and pain management. He also supervises an oncology shift at Skagit Valley Hospital and is a clinical faculty member at Bastyr's teaching clinic, Bastyr Center for Natural Health.
How does acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) fit into this integrative approach to treating cancer?
Dr. Given: We provide supportive care. We don't treat cancer directly. My position is collaborative care is always best for the patient, so we encourage our patients to talk with their doctors about what we're doing here. We coordinate with the patient's oncologist to provide care for symptoms — including pain, nausea, fatigue and neuropathy — caused by biomedical treatments for cancer. We also work with other practitioners within BIORC to come up with a treatment plan. There's a lot of cross referral and collaboration with each other.
What can a patient expect when they come in for a visit with you?
Dr. Given: We start with a medical history and assessment just like any other doctor. We then review the chart notes, talk about treatment goals with the patient and come up with a treatment plan.
Who are the best candidates for AOM treatments?
Dr. Given: Anyone suffering from the negative side affects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Those are the most common complaints we treat. One benefit of AOM is it has few side effects and is excellent for supporting biomedical treatments.
Mind/Body/Energy Medicine Practitioner: Guan-Cheng Sun, PhD
Focus Area: Treating all types of cancer through qigong.
Experience: Dr. Sun is developer of Yi Ren Qigong and founder of the Institute of Qigong & Internal Alternative Medicine. He earned his PhD in molecular genetics from the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in Japan in 1993 and has designed specialized qigong exercises for self-healing and care since 1997.
For the uninitiated, how does qigong treat cancer?
Dr. Sun: Qigong is really about helping the body, on an energetic level, understand how to heal itself. There are three reasons for cancer from a qigong perspective: (1) cancer cells are getting too much energy, (2) the body's immune system has become weakened, and (3) most importantly, there are miscommunications going on within the body. Qigong helps fix those miscommunications and alleviate the energy build-ups.
How does a patient know if qigong is right for them?
Dr. Sun: Most of the people who come to me have either "tried everything" and still haven't improved, aren't fit to do chemotherapy or radiation treatment, or are in their "holiday" time between chemotherapy or radiation treatments. We really respect the opinions of the patients' allopathic doctors, and we certainly want those doctors to agree with our complementary approach. Our word here is "assistance," so we're trying to assist anyone exploring other ways to get healthy.
What can a patient expect when meeting with you?
Dr. Sun: When we meet we will first discuss the uniqueness of the qigong approach and explain how it integrates with their conventional treatments. Then, if it makes sense for the patient, I will recommend they take an introductory qigong class to learn how it works in practice. We will then meet again to design specific qigong exercises tailored to their needs. The idea is to give them the training and exercises they need to practice by themselves.
Naturopathic Medicine Physician: Eric Yarnell, ND
 Focus Areas: Prostate, bladder and kidney cancer.
Experience: Dr. Yarnell has 14 years' experience as a practicing naturopathic doctor. For the last five years, his practice has focused primarily on men's health with a special emphasis on prostate cancer. He is also the author of the textbook Naturopathic Urology and Men's Health.
What type of treatments do you offer?
Dr. Yarnell: Because prostate cancer is a very low-grade cancer that most men recover from, and because the risk factors for prostate cancer are essentially the same as other common health problems like diabetes and heart disease, I primarily advise a diet, exercise and lifestyle program that will not only help treat the cancer, but improve patients' general health. Patients can expect an individualized treatment plan that fits their specific case.
What is different about meeting with an ND?
Dr. Yarnell: You can expect a lot of questions, a longer meeting time — typically an hour to an hour and a half — and wide-ranging and detailed discussions about your health history. Other than that, not much is different. The setting is really the same as being in a regular doctor's office.
What are the benefits of seeing a naturopathic physician, and how will he/she work with my conventional doctor?
Dr. Yarnell: Naturopathic medicine can offer treatments that don't come with negative side effects or a huge cost. We also seek to empower our patients to have a say in their health care and the types of treatments that will work best for them. At the same time, we have a very complementary relationship with conventional practitioners. I have a deep understanding of conventional medicine treatments, sometimes even advising on such treatments, and often work with allopathic doctors (MDs) to come up with the best treatment plans for my patients.
Find out more about the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center or call (425) 602-3311 to make an appointment.
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