After reading this short description about Dr. Saxe, I got excited…
Preventive and Natural Medicine Counseling (Nutrition, Supplements, Herbs); Integrative Oncology (specializing in Breast & Prostate Cancers)
So, I clicked to learn more…
Dr. Gordon Saxe is the Director of Research, a preventive and integrative medicine physician, a founding member of the UCSD Center for Integrative Medicine, and co-developer of the UCSD Natural Healing & Cooking Program. He is also the recipient of a prestigious NIH Career Development Award from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Dr. Saxe is a national expert in cancer and complementary and alternative medicine, and most well-known for his pioneering work in the combined use of a plant-based diet and body-mind stress reduction to control the progression of advanced prostate cancer. His previous studies have included: epidemiology of diet and cancers of prostate, breast, and pancreas; diet and body-mind exercise to control spread/of advanced prostate cancer; and diet and gene expression in prostate cancer. His background in complementary and alternative medicine includes study of: nutritional healing: diet, vitamins/minerals, herbals, and other non-drug medicines; exercise modalities: yoga, t’ai chi, and other body-mind approaches; and eastern and western systems: Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, homeopathy, macrobiotics, and natural hygiene.
Intrigued, I continued to investigate and stumbled on some youtube videos.
I decided to make an appointment…
“I’m a big fan of yours,” I said when Dr. Saxe came in to greet me. “I’ve watched a few of your videos and I think the work you are doing is great!”
For the next two hours, Dr. Saxe took notes on a yellow pad as I explained to him my DCIS Journey – beginning with a suspicious mammogram in August 2009.
I began, “When I was diagnosed with DCIS in January, 2010, I was shocked by what I was told were my options: (1.) Mastectomy or (2.) Partial Mastectomy plus 7 weeks of daily radiation.
I was handed a pamphlet called “A Women’s Guide to Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment” and a file with 5 business cards stapled to it for making appointments over the next two weeks including: a breast surgeon, a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, an MRI and a cancer care coordinator. 
Then I was asked, ‘would you like a prescription for Xanax?’
What would have been much more helpful,” I told Dr. Saxe, “was a referral for an integrative Dr. such as you. I think all patients given a DCIS diagnosis should be given a referral to see an integrative doctor.”
I told him integrative counseling should at least be offered – especially when someone like me is asking, “Is there anything I can do as far as changing my diet?”
Even though I am a Certified Nutritionist, I learned a few new things and got motivated to sign up for the Natural Healing and Cooking Class Dr. Saxe founded. Here are some more excellent recommendation Dr. Saxe gave me:
(1) Whole food, plant-based diet based on:
* Whole grains
* Vegetables
* Beans & legumes
* Fruit, seeds, nuts
* Small amounts of healthy, organic food of animal origin
(2) Foods for breast health and cancer prevention: Fermented soy foods (especially South River or Ohsawa miso), seaweed, brassica (cabbage) vegetables, mushrooms, green and kukicha tea
(3) UCSD Natural Healing & Cooking Program for education and support in making dietary changes.
(4) RPM – rise, pee, meditate!
(5) Readings:
“Healing with Whole Foods” by Paul Pitchford
“The Book of Whole Meals” by Annemarie Colbin
I have invited Dr. Saxe to write an article for this blog.. . . perhaps an article on food-based “natural hormonal therapy.”
“DCIS is not an emergency,” Dr. Esserman said. “It’s something that creates an environment where cancer may arise over the next 10-20 years, yet patients are being told they need surgery in the next fortnight.”
DCIS 411 