Our Approach to Integrative Medicine

Empowering Our Patients

Integrative Medicine is an often overused term in today’s alternative market of supplement sales and health gurus.  Phoenix Sonograms Clinic, under the advisement of Dr. Elliathorpe, is one of the few true integrative clinics and one of the only such centers to focus upon Prostate Cancer.

True integrative medicine brings together leading research and information from both allopathic and natural (alternative) medical systems.  With respect to all health care professionals, integrative medicine at the level of Cancer management should be more than a surgeon recommending saw palmetto or a medical intuitive reading over your PSA levels.  It is imperative that your physician be adaptive fully to both ideologies.  Furthermore, integration does not necessarily infer the consistent ‘middle of the road’ approach for some apparent fairness or balance. It has developed in progressive states such as Arizona into a completely unique profession; one that has forged truly new treatment approaches because of the depth in scope within both fields.

The integrative approach at Phoenix Sonograms includes, but does not preclude, the following:

-  A 1-2 hour consultation one on one with a qualified physician.  This is time to speak your mind, ask all your questions, and receive rational and direct answers.

-  Review of all the following (dependant upon previous lab work completed):
            - tPSA (total) assessed with the new PSA interpretation guidelines
            - %fPSA
            - PSAv(elocity)
            - PSA density
            - IGF1-alpha
            - Lycopene (serum)
            - Family and racial history
            - Age
            - Risk behaviors
            - Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
            - C-Reactive Protein
            - Serum / urine pH
            - Gleason Readings (if applicable)
            - Previous sonogram readings
            - Current Ultrasound Findings

-  Treatment strategy review and assessment.  The following are discussed depending upon time and interest from the patient:

- Current prescription medications

- Planned/ considered surgery (questions, risks, etc.)

- Heavy metal and detoxification issues during mercury removal programs.  Many patients are already following amalgam removal protocols but are often missing chelation guidelines during or after the process

- Natural supplement and herbal medicine review.  Nutriceuticals are usually heavily taken by Cancer patients. Many patients are scared into numerous different pills and bottles without any physician follow-up or advice.  No specific brands are emphasized but instead guidelines are given to determine which nutritional medicines are truly needed, which can be taken from specific foods instead of pills, and which processing methods should be sought out or ignored.

- Integrative options for immune enhancement, anti-angiogenesis, nutrition, oxygenation, lymphagogue promotion, etc.

The "team approach" is encouraged; there is no room for physician egos when it concerns your life.  Dr. Elliathorpe's approach, like any physician’s, “is one voice in a chorus of opinions”.  No doctor has all the answers, yet Phoenix Sonograms attempts to have most of them for you. Set programs or procedures are NOT thrust upon our patients. You and your choices MUST be actively part of the healing journey for it to be effective. This includes your family as well.