Book Reviews

An important feature of the text is the enormous amount of very practical, useful information in an alphabetically-arranged list of treatments and interventions to assist practitioners and cancer sufferers. It provides an efficient, quick reference guide to an impressive range of cancer therapies with an emphasis on evidence-based validation drawn from human and animal studies and case reports.
This is enhanced by a table at the back of the book that consists only of human cancer cell types and pro-apoptotic agents.
A practical overview of carcinogenic food and environmental sources of cancer provides helpful information and the remedies can also be used with conventional therapies to reduce side effects and improve outcomes.
Dr. Fredericks is to be congratulated on achieving such a detailed, evidence-based and clinically user-friendly work in a field of medical practice that impacts greatly on the lives of millions.

Andries M. Kleynhans OAM
BSc, DC, ND, Dip.Hom. Med, DTE, M. Ed, FICC, FACC.
Former Associate Dean, Faculty of Biomedical & Health Sciences & Nursing; and
Professor and Head, Department of Chiropractic, Osteopathy & Complementary Medicine, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

“This book offers powerful insight into the way nature can support and enhance our health both in general and specific to oncology support. A useful and easy to use reference guide and a must for anyone supporting people on an oncology journey. The level of evidence used is second to none and brings a confidence to both the clinical use of the information and the impact it can have on lives. I highly recommend this book and would suggest it becomes a key text within your reference book library, as it is a ‘go to’ for me in my clinical work. Congratulations Greg on this fantastic book, it is making a big difference in the world.”

Faith Best: Naturopath and Nutritionist 16 years, Senior Lecturer.
MHN, BHsc, ADNat, VP-CMA, MNSA
Vice President of Complementary Medicine Association.

Alternative and Integrative Oncology profiles hundreds of cancer therapy options ranging from herbs and nutrients, to cancer treatment vaccines, to treatments involving different forms of electromagnetic radiation and new surgical techniques.
Alternative and Integrative Oncology: The Reference Guide to Evidence-based Cancer Therapies is an impressive contribution to the literature, indeed a monumental work, a comprehensive reference book that would be invaluable to any health professional who treats people with cancer.

Katherine Smith, Editor, The New Zealand Journal of Natural Medicine.

Alternative and Integrative Oncology is an invaluable clinic tool for any practitioner or researcher, who is pursuing alternative cancer treatments.
This well-researched book covers an extensive range of nutritional and herbal medicines and examines their relationships with cancer. The various dietary guidelines discussed are enlightening. Author, Greg Fredericks’ years of experience as a practicing naturopath have enabled him to create a comprehensive resource for practitioners, which is easy to navigate.
Whether this book is used as a go-to reference guide in clinic, or the reader wishes to delve deeper into the history of cancer research pioneers, I highly recommend Alternative and Integrative Oncology.

Jarrod Carter – Naturopath
Geelong, Victoria

I was personally excited to obtain a copy of your book Greg “Alternative & Integrated Oncology” at the ‘Natural Health Symposium on Cancer’ held in Auckland in March this year.
After 25 years in clinical practice as a Medical Herbalist & Naturopath we have worked with a lot of health conditions and specifically have experience in helping a lot of cancer patients and supporting the way in which they choose to take the cancer journey.
Greg’s book is a treasure trove of information. Thank you for writing such a wonderful reference and I have spent hours going through it and absorbing information, thanks for being so thorough especially around the ‘plant medicine references’ which I’m so passionate about.
I have referred to your book often in clinic when looking at various options for treating ‘specific cancers’, as we know how complex the decisions can be for someone that has been diagnosed with cancer. The way it has been so researched and referenced it is just so jammed packed full with good clear information that is so helpful when making informed decisions working with patients.
An example… I was researching to see how effective Laetrile from Apricot kernel pips is for a cancer patient who has bowel cancer, as I have used this before with successes.
Greg reminds us that “Zinc is absolutely essential in the Laetrile protocol, patients with low zinc levels do not absorb laetrile into their cells” plus to include the other co-factors that are necessary when doing this protocol.
Such essential information is shared here in his book and I would more than highly recommend it to any practitioner who is working in depth with cancer patients…all the best Greg.

Robert Newby
MHD, ND, Dip Irid, MNZAMH, MNMHNZ
NZ Registered Medical Herbalist, Naturopath, Clinical Iridologist & Remedial Body Therapist
Titirangi Herbal Dispensary Ltd

This is a very comprehensive reference guide and is the outcome of a five-year research project from Greg Fredericks, an independent naturopath not funded or influenced by corporate or special-interest groups.
Alternative and Integrative Oncology does not rate or recommend any particular treatment over another for any form of cancer. Its purpose is to briefly describe various treatments and the research that accompanies them, in order to improve outcomes. The treatment section has more than 300 descriptions listed alphabetically. Additional sections include a glossary; cancer types; cancer cell line reference index; human cancer cell types and proapoptotic agents; botanical plant sources and cytotoxic constituents; complementary homoeopathic remedies; notable people in cancer research; and quotes of interest. It was very heartening to see a section on the “cancer personality” and the mind-body connection, and a section on which food sources contain carcinogenic properties or substances. Everything is referenced, and the treatment section is the widest ranging I’ve ever seen. This is a book I’ll be using on a regular basis, and hoping to see its contents online in future, so it can be updated as new research comes to hand.

Duncan Roads, Editor, Nexus Magazine

The author’s response to the ANPA “Book Review – Alternative and Integrative Oncology: The reference guide to evidence-based cancer therapies.”

In a 2018 review of “Alternative and Integrative Oncology” by Greg Fredericks, the ANPA opens with a paragraph regarding the hierarchy of references.

This book provides a hierarchy of references based in order of the most recent studies available so the practitioner will be able to gain insight into current relevant information. The author has in most cases excluded animal research for the preference of human cancer studies with an emphasis on PubMed studies or equivalent peer review wherever possible.

Nagalase was a very controversial topic at the time of writing this book and the author has emphasized in the last paragraph that there had been problems in validating some of Yamamotos’ research. It is also clearly stated by the author, that “…it is not a valid alternative to histopathological analysis”. However, outside of Australia this topic continues to emerge as it is constantly revised by researchers in Germany, Japan and other countries where ongoing investigations of Nagalase and GcMAF have developed into new diagnostic/integrative approaches in immunotherapy (Saburi et al. 2017).

From an integrative perspective, the book clearly demonstrates combinations of herbal remedies and isolates that increase efficacy with orthodox treatments. Contraindications of combinations of treatments have been reported according to the latest information available and not presented hypothetically. Other combinations of treatments, multiple remedies and approaches are a relatively new field of research and is still unchartered territory awaiting elucidation. Through validated research, the author has attempted to expand the scope of integrative treatments and procedures beyond those currently used with orthodox treatments. The author still actively continues to investigate new studies and related topics as they become available for future updates.

As one learns how to use this book they can find reference tables in the back listing treatments for each type of specific cancer cell type. This allows the reader to hone in on a specific remedy within seconds. They can then go back to the table of contents and find what pages contain the information on the scientific research so they can evaluate it for themselves. An isolate table is also provided for those who want to know what specific constituent within each herbal remedy is effective against each specific type of cancer. The reader will find a detailed 1800 word index providing additional cross-referencing for those interested in gene pathways and other related information. There is also a glossary of terms which gives clear definitions of related oncological subjects and terminology.

From a worldly perspective, regardless of what association a Naturopathic practitioner is affiliated with, together, we are all being criticized for practising a non-scientific anecdotal based modality. This criticism has been a motivating factor in the creation of this reference book, along with providing a useful guide to benefit cancer patients.

In a world where there are ongoing attempts to discredit Naturopathic medicine on a global basis, this book provides the reader with evidence-based validation that medical and scientifically oriented critics will find insurmountable.

Reference:

Saburi et al. Promising role for Gc-MAF in Cancer Immunotherapy: from bench to bedside Caspian J. Intern Med 2017 Autumn; 8 (4): 220-238 (PubMed).