Member Spotlight
Ian Bier, ND, LAc, PhD, FABNO
How did you get into Naturopathic Oncology?
When I moved back to the East coast and began my regular practice after leaving academia, I was dismayed to find cancer patients of all types being treated very much the same way not only in conventional oncology, but also in many alternative medical practices; doctors were focusing on diet, and boosting the immune system through supplements and treatments, regardless of what type of cancer the patient had. The patients were doing well, having a longer and better quality of life than predicted by their oncologists, but it wasn’t specific enough. I knew we were missing something.
A turning point for me was when a patient I was very close to, who responded very well to our standard naturopathic approach to her cancer care, passed away. She was one of my first cancer patients when I started to practice, and she survived for years beyond what her doctors originally predicted, but it was still very difficult for me emotionally and led to a lot of soul searching.
I realized my tools, although effective, were not as good as they could be and when we’re dealing with something like cancer, there’s no such thing as ‘good enough’. I needed to carefully and systematically examine all options, conventional and alternative, to help patients integrate both approaches for their cancer treatment. I knew that providing a balance of the two approaches would really help cancer patients succeed in their health goals.
What do you do during your downtime and/or what do you do for fun?
Read research literature? I also enjoy gardening and maintaining our property in rural-ish New Hampshire.
What is your “broken record statement” to your patients- i.e., what is that you tell your patients the most?
What I practice I now refer to as Informed Medicine. Everything is a risk-benefit balance and my role is to help people understand them and make the best decision for them, which is one that’s in alignment with their values.
