Functional oncology is at the forefront of this shift, blending conventional treatments with complementary approaches to enhance overall health. If you’re seeking a more integrated and personalized path to cancer treatment, functional oncology may offer compelling solutions. By addressing nutritional, emotional, and lifestyle factors alongside traditional therapies, this approach aims to empower patients in their healing journeys.
Virtual Functional Oncology Services at Hyperion Functional Medicine
At Hyperion Functional Medicine, we believe in taking a holistic, integrative approach to oncology care. While our virtual practice is based in Angola, Indiana, we proudly serve clients nationwide. Our Functional Oncology services are designed to empower cancer patients by providing supportive treatments that complement traditional cancer therapies.
Our goal is to optimize your health during cancer treatment, minimize side effects, and improve your overall quality of life. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or in recovery, we are here to help you navigate the complexities of cancer with personalized care and support, wherever you are in the U.S.
What is Functional Oncology?
Functional Oncology is an integrative approach that combines evidence-based, holistic therapies with conventional cancer treatments. Unlike traditional cancer care, which primarily focuses on tumor management, Functional Oncology takes the whole person into account, considering not only the cancer itself but also the patient’s emotional, nutritional, immune, and overall physical well-being.
At Hyperion Functional Medicine, our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan that works synergistically with your current oncology care. We collaborate with your oncologist to ensure that all aspects of your health are addressed in a way that enhances the effects of your cancer treatments while minimizing the side effects and promoting healing.
How Functional Oncology Can Support Your Cancer Journey
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are effective at extending lives, but can take a toll on your body. The side effects can sometimes leave patients feeling drained, weak, or vulnerable to infections. Functional Oncology aims to support your body’s natural healing mechanisms during and after treatment. It helps manage symptoms, reduces the risk of cancer recurrence, and promotes overall health and well-being.
Key Benefits of Functional Oncology
Enhancing Immune Function
Strengthening the immune system through nutritional interventions, supplements, and lifestyle changes.
Nutritional
Support
Developing personalized dietary plans to help patients maintain strength and optimize treatment effectiveness.
Reducing Treatment Side Effects
Managing chemotherapy and radiation symptoms with holistic therapies like acupuncture and detoxification.
Managing Fatigue and Pain
Addressing physical and emotional exhaustion through lifestyle adjustments and complementary therapies.
Supporting Mental and Emotional Health
Offering stress management techniques, meditation, and counseling to support a positive mindset.
Detoxification and Liver Support
Helping the body eliminate toxins from chemotherapy and other treatments.
Addressing Hormonal Imbalances
Providing strategies to regulate hormone levels affected by cancer treatments.
Post-Treatment Recovery
Aiding in long-term healing and minimizing cancer recurrence risk.
Our Process
Comprehensive Assessment
We evaluate your medical history, current treatment plan, and lifestyle to develop a holistic approach.
Collaboration with Your Oncologist
We ensure our integrative therapies complement your existing cancer treatment plan.
Personalized Treatment Plans
We tailor interventions to your health goals, from symptom management to immune support.
Ongoing Support and Monitoring
We adjust your treatment plan as needed to provide the best possible care throughout your journey.
We Combined Functional Medicine and Oncology
How They work Together
I lost my beautiful 30-year-old daughter, Hannah, to a rare Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in 2020. In her memory, and for others' lives I can touch to implement change, I will offer functional tools to support their efforts to restore health, optimize cancer treatment and prevent recurrence.
LemonSpark Podcast
My Story: Sometimes it takes a lemon to spark a dream.........A Mother's Mission After Daughter's Cancer Battle: Get to the Root Cause: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1320676/13863713
Too often, people think of “wellness” in temporary terms. They are led to take short- and long-term steps, multiple treatment protocols with chemicals, surgeries, radiation and pharmaceuticals, to heal cancer, improve survival outcomes and symptoms without dealing with the unhealthy routines and lifestyle choices that may have created the cellular imbalances leading to cancer in the first place.
After years of seeing this happen with patients, AND with myself, I offer a functional medicine practice that not only helps you improve your overall wellness, but also gives you the tools through multiple coaching platforms to successfully continue your lifelong journey through health and disease and optimize cancer survival.
THE TREE OF LIFE: "Hyperion"
The "Hyperion" tree logo was taken from a "tree of life" painting I created for my daughter while she underwent cancer treatment at Yale.
We all are "trees of life' and we can discover our roots to disease and change our destiny by clearing our microenvironment where cancer thrives.
Become who you truly are: A Survivor. Optimize your tree of life, your connection between earth and heaven. The Tree of Life represents harmony and balance: rebirth. We go through periods of growth and renewal after our healing from periods of disease. Create a renewed tree of life through discovering your roots to disease: cancer.
I left my position at the Cleveland Clinic in March of 2022 to offer healing through a "Functional Oncology" treatment program. Roughly 5-10% of cancer is caused by damaged DNA. Looking from a functional medicine perspective, the remaining 90-95% of cancer cases are caused by unhealthy lifestyles, poor diet that, in turn, damage mitochondrial function.*
Cancer is a metabolic disorder resulting in damage to the mitochondria and cellular metabolism, in response to unhealthy lifestyles, environmental toxins, stress and trauma, inflammatory foods, an unhealthy gut contributing to immune system dysfunction and chronic inflammation.
In addition to your oncologist's and oncology team's plan for treatment, using the Functional Medicine model, I will give you the tools you will use to optimize healing.
*Anand P, Kunnumakkara AB, Sundaram C, Harikumar KB, Tharakan ST, Lai OS, Sung B, Aggarwal BB. Cancer is a preventable disease that requires major lifestyle changes. Pharm Res. 2008 Sep;25(9):2097-116. doi: 10.1007/s11095-008-9661-9. Epub 2008 Jul 15. Erratum in: Pharm Res. 2008 Sep;25(9):2200. Kunnumakara, Ajaikumar B [corrected to Kunnumakkara, Ajaikumar B]. PMID: 18626751; PMCID: PMC251556
Focus Areas in Functional Oncology
Because of cancer, the normally well-regulated activities of the body’s cells and organs are disrupted. Pharmaceuticals and other therapies have been developed to target each hallmark and its molecular signaling. Pharmaceuticals can yield dramatic results.
But cancer cells are very adaptable, and can adapt ways to resist the therapy prescribed.
In Addition to Standard of Care Cancer Treatment Plans Prescribed by Your Oncologist, We Develop Personalized Functional Medicine Treatment Plans and Focus on Cancer Pathways Influencing Your Cancer Microenvironment to Promote:
- Reduction and Control of Inflammation
- Reduction of Oxidative Stress
- Gene stability and DNA repair
- Modification of Gene Expression
- Normal Cell Cycling
- Apoptosis and Natural Cell Death.
- Normal Mitochondrial Function and Energy Production
- Normal Hormone Modulation and Metabolism
- Regulation of Glycemic Load
- Inhibition of Invasion and Metastasis
- Control of Angiogenesis, and Monitor Coagulation
- Resolution of Latent and Active Infections
- Enhancement of Detoxification
To learn more about these cancer details, go to CancerRoots.org
Who should be a part of the program?
If you are at high risk for cancer development or recurrence, are currently in treatment, or in a post-treatment phase/remission.
We need to work together to change the mindset that cancer is a death sentence. Thoughts are energy, and my intention is to change those thought patterns ingrained in us.
DO you want to know if you’re a good fit for Hyperion Functional Medicine? Please answer these questions.
Rate each on a scale of 5 (very willing) to 1 (not willing)
Are you ready to significantly modify your diet?
Are you willing to take 5 to up to 10 supplements a day?
Are you willing to modify your lifestyle which affects your work demands, sleep habits, diet, exercise?
Are you willing to practice a relaxation technique every day?
Are you comfortable using the Internet for virtual medical appointments on your computer and using an online medical record similar to MyChart and/or Epic?
How supportive you think the people in your life will be while you are implementing the above changes?
Your answers to these questions will be addressed during your inspiration Personalized Cancer Healing Pathway. We want you to be a great fit!
SCHEDULE YOUR Personalized Cancer Healing Pathway virtual appointment ON THE PINK SCHEDULING TAB AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.
CANCER: The Functional Medicine Perspective
“The cellular rhythm and dance of life is altered in response to different environmental signals, and that cancer represents an altered orchestration of that complex symphony. The cell is constantly in dynamic flux; cellular signaling creates messages that induce changes internally and externally and the cell is continually changing and morphing in response to the environment it is exposed to.”
-Jeffrey Bland, PhD, Founder of Functional Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions
No! While our virtual practice is based in Fremont, Indiana, we serve clients across the United States. We offer online consultations and personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs, no matter where you are.