Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions patients ask most often. If yours is not answered here, please use the contact form and we will respond within two business days.

About the Practice

How does a naturopathic doctor differ from a medical doctor?

Naturopathic doctors complete medical training in the biomedical and clinical sciences alongside training in evidence-based natural therapies, including clinical nutrition, herbs, supplements, and functional medicine diagnostics. NDs typically spend more time with patients and focus on identifying the underlying causes of illness. Treatment emphasizes the least invasive therapy effective, prevention of disease, restoration of health, and reversal of chronic illness. Most NDs practice in outpatient settings.

Dr. Suhaila completed a naturopathic oncology residency and went on to serve on the medical staff of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, now part of City of Hope, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her work included hospital rounds and tumor board participation alongside conventional medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists.

The practice operates by the core tenets of naturopathic medicine: First, Do No Harm. The Healing Power of Nature. Identify and Treat the Causes. Doctor as Teacher. Treat the Whole Person. Prevention.

What is a board-certified naturopathic oncologist (FABNO)?

A naturopathic oncologist is a naturopathic physician who has completed specialty training, examinations, and board certification in oncology. The credential requires a two-year naturopathic oncology residency, 2,400 clinical hours with oncology patients, formal case study reviews, and passage of the board certification exam.

Dr. Suhaila is a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO), one of approximately 100 board-certified naturopathic oncologists in North America. Her training includes the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health, the Institute of Functional Medicine, and Dr. Nasha Winters' Metabolic Approach Mastermind. She is Level 3 trained in Internal Family Systems therapy, and her clinical work draws on Compassionate Inquiry, developed by Dr. Gabor Maté.

She continues her clinical education through ongoing case consultation with leading experts in integrative oncology.

Are all of your visits virtual?

Yes. Naturally Well Within is a fully virtual, online naturopathic oncology practice and has operated by telemedicine since 2013. All consultations are conducted through secure, encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video, and patients are seen from home anywhere in the world. Virtual care gives patients access to specialty integrative oncology without the burden of travel during treatment, which is often the largest factor in daily quality of life. There are no in-person office visits.

Can I work with an integrative oncologist online from anywhere?

Yes. Because the practice is fully virtual, Dr. Suhaila works with patients worldwide by secure video, including patients who have no naturopathic oncologist near them. This online, telemedicine model means a patient in a rural area, a different country, or a region without integrative cancer care has the same access as one nearby. Many patients come for a second opinion on an integrative and metabolic strategy to run alongside the treatment plan from their local oncology team. All that is needed is a private space, an internet connection, and your medical records uploaded to the secure portal before the first visit.

Does Integrative Oncology Improve Outcomes

What does the research say about integrative naturopathic care for cancer patients?

The evidence base supporting integrative naturopathic care has grown significantly in the past decade. Several recent studies demonstrate measurable benefits when integrative oncology is added to conventional cancer treatment.

Survival outcomes. A 2025 retrospective study published in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health compared 131 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer who received integrative naturopathic care alongside conventional treatment to 262 matched controls from the National Cancer Institute SEER database. Patients who began integrative care within 90 days of diagnosis showed a 55% reduction in mortality risk compared to matched controls. Across the first 36 months following treatment initiation, integrative patients had significantly lower mortality. The Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study (CUSIOS), a multi-center prospective study of patients with advanced breast, colorectal, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers, published five-year survival outcomes in 2025 in the Canadian Naturopathic Doctor Journal, also evaluating outcomes against SEER-matched controls.

Quality of life and symptom burden. A randomized controlled trial published in Cancer Medicine found that women with breast and gynecologic cancers receiving an integrative supportive care intervention during chemotherapy reported significant improvements in quality of life compared to standard supportive care alone. Multiple systematic reviews have demonstrated that integrative therapies, including acupuncture, mind-body interventions, herbal medicine, and nutritional support, reduce cancer-related fatigue, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, peripheral neuropathy, anxiety, and sleep disturbance.

The size of the symptom burden. Up to 70 percent of cancer patients experience cancer-related fatigue. Up to 80 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy experience nausea and vomiting without prophylaxis. Oral inflammation affects roughly 75 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation. These symptoms not only diminish quality of life but can lead to treatment delays, dose reductions, and incomplete therapy, which directly affect outcomes. Integrative oncology specifically addresses this gap.

The early intervention finding. Across multiple studies, the consistent finding is that integrative care delivers more benefit when initiated close to diagnosis rather than after conventional treatment is failing. Patients who engage integrative care early tend to do better than those who add it later.

What does this mean for me as a patient?

The research supports what Dr. Suhaila has observed clinically over nearly two decades: when integrative oncology is added to conventional cancer treatment by a clinician who understands both, patients tend to feel better, tolerate treatment better, and in some cases live longer. The benefit is greatest when integrative care begins early, which is one of the reasons the Foundation Intake is structured to deliver a complete strategy quickly.

Citations are listed at the bottom of this page.

Care Works

Are you accepting new patients?

The practice is kept small by design and accepts a limited number of new patients. New patients are welcomed beginning with the Foundation Intake. When the practice reaches capacity, qualified inquiries are placed on a waitlist.

How do I begin?

All new patients begin with the Foundation Intake, a structured two-visit engagement that includes a comprehensive review of medical records, an initial consultation, independent case research, and a written treatment plan delivered in a follow-up visit.

The Foundation Intake fee is $2,500. Follow-up visits after the Foundation Intake are billed at $600 per hour. To inquire about working with Dr. Suhaila, please use the contact form on this site. We will respond within two business days with practice information and next steps.

How can I prepare for my first visit?

Before your initial consultation, please upload all relevant medical records to the patient portal at least 48 business hours in advance. This includes lab results, pathology reports, imaging reports, prior treatment summaries, and any relevant medical history.

The initial consultation is a comprehensive one-on-one visit. Dr. Suhaila will take a complete history and develop a clear understanding of your present situation. The follow-up visit, scheduled one to two weeks later, is when she delivers your written treatment plan and reviews any additional testing recommended.

What is your cancellation policy?

The Foundation Intake fee is $2,500, paid in full at scheduling. A $500 preparation fee is non-refundable. The remaining $2,000 is refundable with at least 48 business hours notice. Within 48 hours, the visit fee is non-refundable. Credit card processing fees are non-refundable regardless of cancellation timing.

For ongoing visits billed at $600 per hour, individual cancellations made with at least 48 business hours notice may be rescheduled without penalty. Visits cancelled within 48 business hours and no-show visits are not refunded. Full terms are detailed in the patient agreement.

Clinical Scope

What cancer-related concerns can you help with?

Dr. Suhaila supports patients across the full arc of cancer care, including:

Reduction of side effects from chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and surgery
Surgical recovery and wound healing
Inflammation, immune support, and microbiome health
Neuropathy, hormone changes, bowel and digestive issues, taste changes
Weight maintenance and nutritional optimization
Liver enzyme changes during treatment
Sleep, anxiety, and emotional support
Caring for the caregiver

She also supports patients in survivorship, recurrence work, and prevention.

How does naturopathic oncology help with chemotherapy side effects?

A naturopathic oncologist works alongside the chemotherapy regimen to reduce side effects such as nausea, fatigue, neuropathy, digestive changes, and taste changes. The tools include targeted nutritional support, botanical medicine, and supplementation, each timed around infusion cycles so nothing interferes with the drugs doing their work. Up to 70 percent of patients experience cancer-related fatigue and up to 80 percent experience nausea without preventive support, and unmanaged side effects can lead to dose reductions and treatment delays that affect outcomes. Dr. Suhaila's prior pharmaceutical research on cancer drugs informs the timing and selection of every recommendation.

How does integrative oncology support patients during radiation therapy?

Radiation support focuses on protecting healthy tissue, managing skin and mucosal irritation, sustaining energy, and maintaining nutrition when eating becomes difficult. Oral inflammation affects roughly 75 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation, and nutrition often suffers as a result. Recommendations are selected and timed so they do not reduce the effectiveness of radiation itself, which is why certain high-dose antioxidants are deliberately avoided during the treatment window. Once the course is complete, the focus shifts to tissue repair and recovery of the treated area.

How does naturopathic care support surgical recovery and wound healing?

Preparation begins before surgery whenever possible, optimizing protein status, blood sugar control, and the micronutrients involved in tissue repair. After surgery, support focuses on wound healing, reducing inflammation, restoring digestive function after anesthesia, and rebuilding strength. Certain supplements increase bleeding risk and must be stopped on a specific schedule before the procedure, which is one of the reasons supplement use around surgery belongs in a clinical plan rather than left to independent research.

What does integrative oncology address that conventional cancer treatment does not?

Conventional oncology targets the tumor, and it is important. There is more. Integrative oncology addresses the physiologic environment in which the disease arose and is being treated: blood sugar and insulin signaling, inflammation, immune surveillance, the microbiome, nutrient status, sleep, and the nervous system. Conventional oncology teams rarely have the time or the structure to work at this layer, and it is precisely the layer that shapes how well a patient tolerates treatment and recovers from it.

What should I understand about my pathology report?

The pathology report carries the information a treatment plan is built from: tumor type, grade, margins, and markers such as ER, PR, HER2, and Ki-67 in breast cancer. Understanding these terms changes the quality of conversations with the oncology team and clarifies why specific treatments are being recommended. Dr. Suhaila reviews the complete pathology with every patient as part of the Foundation Intake.

Will your recommendations interfere with my conventional treatment?

No. Dr. Suhaila's prior work in pharmaceutical research on cancer drug trials gives her a working knowledge of pharmacokinetics and drug-supplement interactions that few naturopathic physicians have. Recommendations are made specifically with conventional treatment in mind, including timing of integrative interventions around chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted agent infusions. Her recommendations are designed to support, not interfere with, the efficacy of your conventional cancer treatment.

Will you consult with my conventional oncologist?

Yes. Dr. Suhaila receives referrals from conventional oncologists who appreciate the value of integrative support, and she is glad to coordinate with your treating oncology team. We encourage patients to share their treatment plan with their conventional oncologist. If your oncologist would like to connect with Dr. Suhaila directly, that is welcomed.

What if I have chosen a path different from what my oncology team recommends?

Patients come to Dr. Suhaila at many points in their decision-making, including those who have chosen to pursue care outside of what their conventional oncology team has recommended. She works with each patient as they are.

What you will always have is her honest medical opinion. If she believes a conventional treatment is in your best interest and you are considering declining it, she will tell you so, clearly and with her full clinical reasoning. She will not soften her perspective to make you comfortable. That is not how she practices, and it is not what patients need from her.

She will also respect that the final decision about your conventional cancer treatment is yours, made in conversation with your oncology team. Her role is not to make that decision for you or to override your oncologist. Her role is to give you a complete clinical picture, including the integrative and metabolic dimensions of your situation, so that you can make the most informed decision possible.

She will not pressure you, and she will not abandon you. She will tell you the truth as she sees it. The rest is yours to weigh.

What therapies do you use?

Therapeutic diets, including ketogenic and metabolic terrain protocols
Targeted nutritional supplementation
Botanical and herbal medicine
Metabolic and immune therapies, including mistletoe
Homeopathic medications
Prescription medications when appropriate
Internal Family Systems therapy and Compassionate Inquiry, where indicated

Because the practice is telemedicine-based, IV therapies and other in-person interventions are coordinated with trusted local colleagues. Dr. Suhaila will recommend the most appropriate treatments and monitor your response throughout.

Where do I purchase recommended supplements?

Recommended supplements are available through Fullscript, a professional dispensary that delivers directly to your home and offers patients a discounted rate. Fullscript is recommended for convenience and quality assurance, but it is not required. You may purchase supplements from any reputable source you choose.

What matters is the quality of what you take. See the next question for the difference between professional-grade and consumer-grade supplements.

What is the difference between professional-grade and over-the-counter supplements?

Professional-grade supplements, dispensed through Fullscript and similar physician-only platforms, are manufactured to pharmaceutical-level standards, independently tested by third-party laboratories for potency and purity, and formulated using bioavailable forms of the active ingredients that the body can actually absorb.

Many over-the-counter supplements sold through general consumer retailers do not meet these standards. Independent testing has repeatedly found products that contain less than the labeled dose, contain ingredients not declared on the label, use cheaper and less absorbable forms of the active ingredients, or are contaminated with heavy metals, mold, or pesticides.

For oncology patients, this difference is not academic. The immune system is often compromised, the liver is processing chemotherapy and other agents, and treatment outcomes can be sensitive to interference. Sub-potent supplements fail to deliver the intended therapeutic effect. Contaminated supplements can introduce harmful substances at a vulnerable time. The recommendations Dr. Suhaila makes are calibrated to specific therapeutic doses and quality standards. Inferior versions of the same supplements undermine the work.

Diet, Hormones, and Recurrence

Is a ketogenic diet safe during cancer treatment?

For many patients, yes, when it is properly designed and supervised. A well-built ketogenic protocol lowers glucose and insulin, two signals many tumor types depend on, and some patients tolerate treatment better on it. It is not appropriate for everyone. Unintended weight loss, certain medications, kidney function, and specific tumor types all change the answer. Whether and how to use a ketogenic approach is determined through metabolic terrain assessment, lab work, and the current treatment context, not as a blanket prescription.

What foods support the body during cancer treatment?

Protein needs rise during treatment, often to 1.2 to 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight daily, because the body is repairing tissue while under stress. Beyond protein, the priorities are stabilizing blood sugar, feeding the microbiome with fiber and fermented foods, supplying omega-3 fats to manage inflammation, and including cruciferous vegetables and polyphenol-rich foods that support detoxification pathways. The right emphasis shifts with the treatment phase, side effects, and lab results, which is why nutrition is adjusted throughout care rather than set once.

Is soy safe after breast cancer?

The concern comes from soy's phytoestrogens, but studies following breast cancer survivors have found that moderate intake of whole soy foods is associated with lower recurrence and mortality, not higher. The form matters: tofu, tempeh, edamame, and miso, rather than processed soy protein isolates. Individual factors, including the hormone receptor status of the diagnosis and medications such as tamoxifen, still belong in a conversation with your clinician before changing the diet.

How can diet lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence?

Diet influences recurrence risk through several measurable channels: body composition, insulin and blood sugar, chronic inflammation, and how estrogen is metabolized and cleared. The practical levers are steady blood sugar, adequate fiber to support estrogen clearance through the gut, cruciferous vegetables that shift estrogen metabolism toward more favorable pathways, limited alcohol, and maintaining muscle mass. Environmental exposures also play a role alongside diet.

Is hormone replacement therapy safe after a cancer diagnosis?

It depends on the diagnosis. For hormone receptor positive cancers, systemic HRT is avoided, and that caution is well founded. For other situations, the answer is more individual than the headlines suggest and rests on the hormone receptor status of the diagnosis, genetics, how estrogen is metabolized in that particular body, and what symptoms are actually being treated. This is a decision to make with complete information rather than fear in either direction.

Insurance, Labs, and Billing

Do you accept insurance?

The practice does not bill insurance directly. We provide superbills upon request, which patients may submit to their insurance carrier for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement vary by carrier and plan and are not guaranteed.

Will insurance cover my visits?

Many PPO plans reimburse out-of-network naturopathic care, often well. We recommend calling your insurance carrier and asking specifically whether office visits with a licensed naturopathic doctor are covered as out-of-network. HSA and FSA accounts may also be used for visit fees and supplements.

Does insurance cover lab testing?

For patients located in California, Oregon, or Arizona who hold a PPO insurance plan, Dr. Suhaila can order labs directly. The patient's insurance is then billed by the laboratory according to the patient's coverage and benefits. Most PPO plans cover blood work; HMO plans typically require lab orders to go through the patient's primary care physician.

For patients located in other states, lab orders are placed through a low-cost direct-to-consumer service contracted through Quest Diagnostics. The patient pays the lab service directly, often at a fraction of retail pricing.

Specialty oncology testing, including next-generation sequencing, circulating tumor DNA testing, and advanced functional or metabolic panels, is ordered through specialty laboratories with their own pricing. Patients are responsible for these costs.

Does insurance cover supplements?

Supplements are typically not covered by insurance directly, but may be paid for through HSA or FSA accounts. A letter of medical necessity or prescription is available upon request when required by your account.

Communication and Emergencies

How quickly will I get a response to a message?

Clinical messages sent through the secure patient portal are responded to within two business days. More complex clinical questions that require careful review are addressed in scheduled visits. Administrative inquiries are handled by email.

Can I call the office?

The practice does not communicate by phone. All clinical communication occurs through the secure patient portal. Routine non-clinical correspondence is handled by email.

What if I have a medical emergency?

We are not an urgent care or emergency service. For urgent or emergency medical concerns, contact your treating oncologist, your primary care provider, or local emergency services.

Can a family member be seen as part of my care?

Each engagement is for one patient. Family members are welcome to attend the patient's visits as support. Separate clinical consultations for family members about their own health concerns are not offered as part of the engagement.

References

Izadi-Najafabadi S, McQuarrie L, Denotter S, Elderfield M, Parmar G. Integrative Naturopathic Treatment Model for Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. 2025;14:27536130251326572. doi:10.1177/27536130251326572
Standish LJ, Sweet E, Chiang PF, et al. Naturopathic Oncology for Advanced Cancers: Survival Outcomes from the Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study. Canadian Naturopathic Doctor Journal. 2025;32(2):4-20.
Klafke N, Mahler C, von Hagens C, et al. The effects of an integrated supportive care intervention on quality of life outcomes in outpatients with breast and gynecologic cancer undergoing chemotherapy: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Cancer Medicine. 2019;8(8):3666-3676. doi:10.1002/cam4.2196
Calcagni N, Gana K, Quintard B. A systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine in oncology. PLoS One. 2019;14(10):e0223564. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0223564
Lutgendorf SK, Sood AK. Biobehavioral factors and cancer progression: physiological pathways and mechanisms. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2011;73(9):724-730.

Naturally Well Within is a fully virtual, online integrative oncology practice serving patients worldwide by secure video. The practice is small by design. New patients begin with the Foundation Intake.

WORK WITH ME

Home