Breast Health: Prevention, Empowerment, and Wellness

Breast health is a vital aspect of overall well-being for women of all ages. Did you know that breast cancer is the second-most diagnosed cancer in Canada and is the second leading cause of death among Canadian women over 50?[i] This October, as we honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to empower you to take proactive steps towards your breast health – because it’s never too early to start.

At Saskatoon Naturopathic Medicine, we believe in supporting you with an individualized approach looking at the body’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities that may make you susceptible to disease. Through optimizing nutrition, addressing environmental factors, or supporting your body’s natural defenses, we are committed to providing comprehensive care that treats the whole person.

Know the Risk Factors

Several factors can influence your risk of developing breast cancer. Some are within your control, while others – like family history or genetics – are not. Here are some key considerations:

• Nutrition : A balanced diet plays an essential role in reducing risks. Not only can a healthy diet directly improve our health, but it can also positively interact with many other factors involved in health like inflammation, body weight, hormone levels, and our gut microbiome. It is estimated that 30%-50% of cancers can be prevented through dietary changes.[ii] [iii] [iv]

• Exercise and healthy lifestyle: Lack of exercise contributes to obesity, which in itself is a risk factor for breast cancer. In breast cancer patients, physical activity - both before and after the cancer diagnosis - has been associated with a lower risk of disease recurrence and reduced overall cancer-specific mortality compared to their sedentary counterparts. [v]

• Family history and genetics: Understanding your genetic predispositions can guide proactive prevention.

• Environmental toxins: Exposure to harmful chemicals (including alcohol and tobacco) can contribute to increased risk.

• Dense breast tissue: Dense breasts not only elevate cancer risk but also make it difficult for cancerous lesions to be seen on a mammogram.

Being informed about these factors helps you take charge of your health, empowering you to make choices that align with your long-term wellness goals. Naturopathic doctors can break down these risk factors further to help you understand your vulnerabilities and strategize an individualized prevention plan.

Symptoms to Watch For

Breast cancer can manifest in various ways, some of which may be subtle. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s important to reach out to your healthcare provider for further evaluation:

• Changes in breast size, shape, or appearance

• New lumps, nodules, or cysts

• Nipple discharge when not breastfeeding

• Redness, pitting, or dimpling of the skin

• Peeling or flaking of the nipple

• Inverted nipples

Understanding Dense Breasts

Breast density[vi] is not about how your breasts look or feel – it is about tissue. Dense breasts have more glandular and fibrous tissue, making it harder for mammograms to detect cancer. However, having dense breasts is quite common, particularly in younger women. As women get older, their breasts typically become fattier and less dense (but this isn’t always the case). It is important to know your breast density so you can understand the risks and complications and make informed screening decisions.[vii]

You can learn more at www.densebreastscanada.ca.       

Screening: Early Detection Saves Lives

Early detection is crucial, and regular screening is an important part of taking care of your breast health. As of January 2025, you will be able to self-refer for a mammogram in Saskatchewan beginning at the age of 40 (currently, the minimum screening age is 50).[viii]

Read that again – you do not need a doctor’s referral to make an appointment for a screening mammogram!

Just call 1-855-584-8228 to book your screening through the Screening Program for Breast Cancer. With screening centres throughout Saskatchewan (including a mobile unit that serves rural and northern Saskatchewan) accessing this potentially life-saving service is available to you.

How We Can Help

We are dedicated to helping you navigate these complex factors, providing tailored recommendations that fit your unique situation. Whether you are seeking prevention or already managing a diagnosis, our collaborative model works alongside conventional approaches to give you the best outcomes. From optimizing your nutrition and lifestyle to helping you understand your risks, we’re here to empower you at every step of your health journey, You deserve to feel confident, supported, and in control of your health.

[i] https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/breast/statistics

[ii] Mentella MC, Scaldaferri F, Ricci C, Gasbarrini A, Miggiano GAD. Cancer and Mediterranean Diet: A Review. Nutrients. 2019; 11(9):2059. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11092059

[iii] Monllor-Tormos A, García-Vigara A, Morgan O, García-Pérez MÁ, Mendoza N, Tarín JJ, Cano A. Mediterranean diet for cancer prevention and survivorship. Maturitas. 2023 Dec;178:107841. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107841. Epub 2023 Aug 24. PMID: 37660598.

[iv] Rock CL, Doyle C, Demark-Wahnefried W, Meyerhardt J, Courneya KS, Schwartz AL, Bandera EV, Hamilton KK, Grant B, McCullough M, Byers T, Gansler T. Nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012 Jul-Aug;62(4):243-74. doi: 10.3322/caac.21142. Epub 2012 Apr 26. Erratum in: CA Cancer J Clin. 2013 May;63(3):215. PMID: 22539238.

[v] Moore SC, Lee IM, Weiderpass E, Campbell PT, Sampson JN, Kitahara CM, Keadle SK, Arem H, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Hartge P, Adami HO, Blair CK, Borch KB, Boyd E, Check DP, Fournier A, Freedman ND, Gunter M, Johannson M, Khaw KT, Linet MS, Orsini N, Park Y, Riboli E, Robien K, Schairer C, Sesso H, Spriggs M, Van Dusen R, Wolk A, Matthews CE, Patel AV. Association of Leisure-Time Physical Activity With Risk of 26 Types of Cancer in 1.44 Million Adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2016 Jun 1;176(6):816-25. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.1548. PMID: 27183032; PMCID: PMC5812009.

[vi] https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/tests-and-procedures/mammography/breast-density

[vii] https://densebreastscanada.ca/faq/

[viii] https://densebreastscanada.ca/breast-cancer-screening-in-saskatchewan/

Is Melatonin Safe for Long-Term Use?

Does it prevent our body from making melatonin on its own? Are there withdrawal effects when you stop taking it? These are all great questions we are asked often. To answer them, let’s review what melatonin is, what it is used for, and what the research is saying.

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced in response to darkness by the pineal gland. It was once thought that its sole purpose was to regulate our internal circadian rhythm (our internal 24 hour clock) and aid in sleep[1]. However, we are now discovering it has roles far beyond this. We now know melatonin has anti-oxidant, anti-ageing, immunomodulating and anticancer properties as well[2]. Research suggests that melatonin may also play roles in our levels of human growth hormone[3] [4], eye health [5] [6], Gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn) treatment [7] [8] [9], anxiety prevention[10] [11], and the treatment (adjunctive) and prevention of cancers such as breast cancer[12] [13].

Here's what the research says:

To date, researchers appear to agree that supplementing melatonin (including doses up to 100mg/day) is well tolerated and is not typically associated with any serious adverse affects[14] [15]. The mild adverse effects that have been reported include drowsiness, headaches and dizziness and nausea[16]. Of these mild adverse effects, research suggests they either resolve spontaneously within a few days with no adjustment in melatonin, or immediately upon withdrawal of treatment[17]. Melatonin has not been found to be addictive in nature nor cause hangover symptoms[18], which is why it has been considered as a possible alternative to many sleep medications. In addition to this, research also suggests that the supplementation of melatonin does not interfere with the bodies internal production of melatonin once treatment has ceased[19] [20]. This makes sense when we consider that the half life (the time it takes for half of a drug to be cleared) of melatonin is only 1-2 hours depending on the formulation. This means that in 1-2 hours 50% of the melatonin will be removed from the body. Therefore, in 5 hours the amount of melatonin in the body is negligible and the body knows start producing a “new batch” of melatonin in the pineal gland as soon as you are exposed to light in the morning. Given that melatonin has a short half life, melatonin only targets sleep onset and not maintenance. Because of the short half life, we see so many prolonged release formulations of melatonin to slow down the absorption into the bloodstream to ensure the levels of melatonin are maintained in blood stream for a longer period to extend its sleep benefits. Prolonged release formulas allow you to maintain higher active levels of melatonin throughout the night if your goal with supplementing melatonin is to prevent nighttime waking.

But what about our more vulnerable populations such as children or elderly people?

In children, research suggests adverse effects of melatonin supplementation were few and mild[21]. Of these adverse effects, fatigue and somnolence were mentioned and were found to resolve with dose reduction. In addition, studies on pediatric populations looking at the long term effects of melatonin supplementation (two, three and four years on average) in doses of 2mg-10mg/day, found no notable long term effects on vitals signs or measures of child growth[22] [23]. In a two year long study assessing sleep, growth and puberty in children taking melatonin, a two week placebo period was implemented after treatment to assess withdrawal effects to which there were no apparent signs of withdrawals (mallow).

A 2022 review article discussing the safety of melatonin use in the elderly found that adverse effects were similar to those found in adult populations such as dizziness, nausea and headaches[24].However, there may be an increased risk of hypothermia if melatonin levels reach above normal physiologic levels as well as fractures in those who are at risk of falling due to the possibility of daytime sedation [25]. In regards to discontinuation, research suggests there is no evidence of withdrawal effects in populations 55 years and older[26].

It is important to note that the above research does not include individuals on medications or health concerns/diagnoses outside the parameters of each individual study. Therefore, it is important to discuss melatonin supplementation with your healthcare provider before taking.

In summary, it is SAFE to say melatonin is SAFE for those who are taking melatonin long term as recommended by their health care provider for one of the many clinical benefits we see with melatonin supplementation. 

[1] Ferracioli-Oda E, Qawasmi A, Bloch MH. Meta-analysis: melatonin for the treatment of primary sleep disorders. PLoS One. 2013 May 17;8(5):e63773. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063773. PMID: 23691095; PMCID: PMC3656905.

[2] Bhattacharya S, Patel KK, Dehari D, Agrawal AK, Singh S. Melatonin and its ubiquitous anticancer effects. Mol Cell Biochem. 2019 Dec;462(1-2):133-155. doi: 10.1007/s11010-019-03617-5. Epub 2019 Aug 26. PMID: 31451998.

[3] Forsling ML, Wheeler MJ, Williams AJ. The effect of melatonin administration on pituitary hormone secretion in man. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1999 Nov;51(5):637-42. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1999.00820.x. PMID: 10594526.

[4] Valcavi R, Zini M, Maestroni GJ, Conti A, Portioli I. Melatonin stimulates growth hormone secretion through pathways other than the growth hormone-releasing hormone. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1993 Aug;39(2):193-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1993.tb01773.x. PMID: 8370132.

[5] Lundmark PO, Pandi-Perumal SR, Srinivasan V, Cardinali DP. Role of melatonin in the eye and ocular dysfunctions. Vis Neurosci. 2006 Nov-Dec;23(6):853-62. doi: 10.1017/S0952523806230189. PMID: 17266777.

[6] Yi C, Pan X, Yan H, Guo M, Pierpaoli W. Effects of melatonin in age-related macular degeneration. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Dec;1057:384-92. doi: 10.1196/annals.1356.029. PMID: 16399908.

[7] Pereira Rde S. Regression of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms using dietary supplementation with melatonin, vitamins and aminoacids: comparison with omeprazole. J Pineal Res. 2006 Oct;41(3):195-200. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2006.00359.x. PMID: 16948779.

[8] Kandil TS, Mousa AA, El-Gendy AA, Abbas AM. The potential therapeutic effect of melatonin in Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease. BMC Gastroenterol. 2010 Jan 18;10:7. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-10-7. PMID: 20082715; PMCID: PMC2821302.

[9] Pereira Rde S. Regression of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms using dietary supplementation with melatonin, vitamins and aminoacids: comparison with omeprazole. J Pineal Res. 2006 Oct;41(3):195-200. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2006.00359.x. PMID: 16948779.

[10] Khare A, Thada B, Jain N, Singh D, Singh M, Sethi SK. Comparison of Effects of Oral Melatonin with Oral Alprazolam used as a Premedicant in Adult Patients Undergoing Various Surgical Procedures under General Anesthesia: A Prospective Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. Anesth Essays Res. 2018 Jul-Sep;12(3):657-662. doi: 10.4103/aer.AER_90_18. PMID: 30283171; PMCID: PMC6157235.

[11] Ghaeli P, Solduzian M, Vejdani S, Talasaz AH. Comparison of the Effects of Melatonin and Oxazepam on Anxiety Levels and Sleep Quality in Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Following Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ann Pharmacother. 2018 Oct;52(10):949-955. doi: 10.1177/1060028018776608. Epub 2018 May 11. PMID: 29749262.

[12] Li Y, Li S, Zhou Y, Meng X, Zhang JJ, Xu DP, Li HB. Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Oncotarget. 2017 Jun 13;8(24):39896-39921. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.16379. PMID: 28415828; PMCID: PMC5503661.

[13] Yang A, Peng F, Zhu L, Li X, Ou S, Huang Z, Wu S, Peng C, Liu P, Kong Y. Melatonin inhibits triple-negative breast cancer progression through the Lnc049808-FUNDC1 pathway. Cell Death Dis. 2021 Jul 16;12(8):712. doi: 10.1038/s41419-021-04006-x. PMID: 34272359; PMCID: PMC8285388.

[14] Menczel Schrire Z, Phillips CL, Chapman JL, Duffy SL, Wong G, D'Rozario AL, Comas M, Raisin I, Saini B, Gordon CJ, McKinnon AC, Naismith SL, Marshall NS, Grunstein RR, Hoyos CM. Safety of higher doses of melatonin in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pineal Res. 2022 Mar;72(2):e12782. doi: 10.1111/jpi.12782. Epub 2021 Dec 30. PMID: 34923676.

[15] Andersen LP, Gögenur I, Rosenberg J, Reiter RJ. The Safety of Melatonin in Humans. Clin Drug Investig. 2016 Mar;36(3):169-75. doi: 10.1007/s40261-015-0368-5. PMID: 26692007.

[16] Savage RA, Zafar N, Yohannan S, et al. Melatonin. [Updated 2021 Aug 15]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534823/

[17] Besag FMC, Vasey MJ, Lao KSJ, Wong ICK. Adverse Events Associated with Melatonin for the Treatment of Primary or Secondary Sleep Disorders: A Systematic Review. CNS Drugs. 2019 Dec;33(12):1167-1186. doi: 10.1007/s40263-019-00680-w. PMID: 31722088.

[18] Cardinali DP, Srinivasan V, Brzezinski A, Brown GM. Melatonin and its analogs in insomnia and depression. J Pineal Res. 2012 May;52(4):365-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2011.00962.x. Epub 2011 Sep 23. PMID: 21951153.

[19] Matsumoto M, Sack RL, Blood ML, Lewy AJ. The amplitude of endogenous melatonin production is not affected by melatonin treatment in humans. J Pineal Res. 1997 Jan;22(1):42-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1997.tb00301.x. PMID: 9062869.

[20] Hack LM, Lockley SW, Arendt J, Skene DJ. The effects of low-dose 0.5-mg melatonin on the free-running circadian rhythms of blind subjects. J Biol Rhythms. 2003 Oct;18(5):420-9. doi: 10.1177/0748730403256796. PMID: 14582858.

[21] Maras A, Schroder CM, Malow BA, Findling RL, Breddy J, Nir T, Shahmoon S, Zisapel N, Gringras P. Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Pediatric Prolonged-Release Melatonin for Insomnia in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2018 Dec;28(10):699-710. doi: 10.1089/cap.2018.0020. Epub 2018 Oct 11. PMID: 30132686; PMCID: PMC6306655.

[22] Malow BA, Findling RL, Schroder CM, Maras A, Breddy J, Nir T, Zisapel N, Gringras P. Sleep, Growth, and Puberty After 2 Years of Prolonged-Release Melatonin in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Feb;60(2):252-261.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.12.007. Epub 2020 Jan 23. PMID: 31982581; PMCID: PMC8084705.

[23] Kennaway, D.J. (2015), Melatonin use in paediatrics. J Paediatr Child Health, 51: 584-589. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.12840

[24] Zhdanova IV, Wurtman RJ, Regan MM, Taylor JA, Shi JP, Leclair OU. Melatonin treatment for age-related insomnia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Oct;86(10):4727-30. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.10.7901. PMID: 11600532.

[25] Should Melatonin Be Used as a Sleeping Aid for Elderly People? Can J Hosp Pharm. 2019 Jul-Aug;72(4):327-329. Epub 2018 Aug 31. PMID: 31452545; PMCID: PMC6699865.

[26] Lemoine P, Nir T, Laudon M, Zisapel N. Prolonged-release melatonin improves sleep quality and morning alertness in insomnia patients aged 55 years and older and has no withdrawal effects. J Sleep Res. 2007 Dec;16(4):372-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2007.00613.x. PMID: 18036082.

Integrative Cancer Supports During Treatment for Ovarian Cancer

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) combined with conventional therapy for ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the 7th most common cancer in females [1]. Depending on the stage at diagnosis, treatment typically involves surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, which have a range of side effects including but not limited to fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, insomnia, anemia, and peripheral neuropathy.

A 2018 study published in BMC Cancer looked at the effects of indole-3-carbinol and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in addition to chemotherapy and surgery on overall survival [2].

I3C is a natural compound found primarily in cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, kale, and Swiss chard), and EGCG is a natural compound found in green tea. This study demonstrated that I3C and EGCG as 5-year maintenance therapy given before, during and after platinum-based neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery significantly prolonged both progression-free and overall survival in patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer, and also reduced incidence of ascites in recurrent ovarian cancer patients, compared to conventional therapy alone.

[1] https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/ovarian-cancer

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6148762/

Written by Dr. Dana Kolenich ND

Fasting-mimicking diet during treatment for Breast Cancer

Fasting-mimicking diet during treatment for Breast Cancer

Cancer cells are well equipped to accumulate nutrients, which are necessary for them to grow and divide rapidly, called proliferation. Short term fasting, which reduces nutrient intake for a period of time causes normal cells to switch from their proliferating or “growing” phase toward a maintenance phase. However, cancer cells are unable to switch off their proliferation phase - and therefore, they are deprived of nutrients, which can make them more sensitive to cancer therapies and increase cell death, all while sparing healthy cells. Fasting mimicking diets have been found to decrease insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which is a known growth factor for cancer cells.

Research in Nature Communications studied the effect of fasting-mimicking diet surrounding neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER-2 negative early stage breast cancer patients [1]. The study found that reducing caloric intake three days before and on the day of chemotherapy increased the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy with no additional side effects compared to those receiving chemotherapy and eating their regular diet. The study also found that fasting-mimicking diet decreased damage to healthy cells compared to those that did not change their diet.

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16138-3

Written by Dr. Dana Kolenich ND

The Role of Naturopathic Medicine in Integrative Cancer Care

Many people diagnosed with cancer seek out the use of naturopathic therapies. It is important to ensure patients implement naturopathic supports under the direction of a knowledgeable naturopathic doctors. Cancer is a multifaceted disease and each individual’s health journey with cancer is unique. From prevention to active surveillance to receiving conventional care, regardless of where a patient is on their cancer journey, naturopathic medicine can provide support through:

1. Addressing fundamental basics of health: Naturopathic doctors have extensive knowledge about lifestyle, diet, sleep, stress, environmental factors and other fundamental aspects of health. NDs can provide information on optimal dietary and lifestyle choices for pre- and post-surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, as well as during survivorship and for promoting prevention. In addition to diet, naturopathic medicine can support quality sleep,  reduce stress levels, support mental health, and optimize overall health. 

2. Conventional treatment support: Naturopathic medicine can support conventional treatments through implementing evidence-based therapies that can limit or reduce side effects and that work synergistically with conventional care. Naturopathic doctors are trained in interpreting lab reports and understanding safety and interactions between naturopathic and conventional medicines.

3. Education and advocacy: NDs provide education to patients and family members with the goal of empowering patients throughout their journey with cancer. We understand the importance of communications and referrals, and we work alongside a patient’s conventional care team to provide patient-centered comprehensive care. 

A diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming and take a significant toll on a person’s overall health. Naturopathic doctors  strive to learn about their patients and their experiences in order to provide them with purely individualized care, education and empower them and their loved ones to optimize their health throughout their cancer journey.