Pediatric oncology specialist Dagmara Beine recommends the best integrative therapies to treat increasingly common cancers in kids—based on personal experience
My daughter Zuza was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in February 2015, when she was three years old.
My husband Ryan and I were told that with immediate chemotherapy, the survival rate for ALL was very good: 80 to 90 percent of patients with ALL attain complete remission.
Several days into Zuza’s treatment, however, we learned that her diagnosis was incorrect. In fact, she had acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a less common but more dangerous form with a five-year survival rate 20–30 percent lower than that of ALL.
We’ve observed, studied and consulted with world experts in the treatment of childhood cancer as well as experts in the most effective comprehensive integrative therapies. What’s remarkable, and even unprecedented, in the experience of our conventional oncologists is that Zuza has persisted on this AML journey for over eight years.
Not one of our conventional oncology doctors has ever taken care of a patient with AML for that amount of time, and they attribute this to the integrative support we’ve provided for Zuza.
Over the years, we’ve observed what has prolonged or shortened her treatment, what has reduced her side effects, what has allowed her to return home to her own bed and family more quickly, what has spared her unnecessary and often toxic treatments for side effects, and what she has told us has made her feel better or worse.
Now an integrative practitioner myself, with a clinic called Zuza’s Way (zuzasway.com) dedicated to the integrative medical support of children with cancer and their families, I want to share what I’ve learned about integrative cancer therapies.
Here are some of the therapies that I have personal and professional experience with and that, in my estimation, are among the safest and most effective for children with cancer.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all protocol, not even for those with the same type of cancer, the key is to use your best judgment, consult with your child’s oncology team and always work with an experienced practitioner. Additionally, continually assessing your child is key to understanding whether a chosen therapy is effective and worthwhile for them.
The following therapies can be supportive when they are used in a terrain-centric, individualized way (see ‘Assessing the terrain,’ below, for what I mean by this). Many integrative practitioners can help you develop a plan that layers the most important lifestyle modifications, supplements and integrative therapies with more conventional therapies.
Introduce one new therapy at a time so you can note the effect, and focus on the key therapies for your child’s specific disease rather than throwing the kitchen sink at it. More is not always better.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe therapy has been used for cancer care since the 1920s. It has an immunomodulatory effect on the immune system—neither overstimulating nor suppressing it but helping it work more efficiently.
Mistletoe has been shown to induce cancer cell death (apoptosis) both directly by being toxic to them and indirectly by supporting the immune cells.1 It influences white blood cells, including NK cells, T helper cells and T killer cells, all parts of our innate and adaptive immune system that engage in cancer surveillance.2
Mistletoe can also limit cancer’s ability to spread, and it can help stabilize and repair DNA.3 It has particularly promising applications for pediatric osteosarcoma (bone cancer).
A study began in 2007 comparing the chemotherapy drug etoposide to mistletoe for patients in surgical remission after a second relapse. Follow-up in 2019 showed a disease-free survival rate of 55.6 percent in the mistletoe group and zero in the chemotherapy group.4 In addition, mistletoe works in synergy with etoposide against osteosarcoma.
The drawback of mistletoe is that, to be effective, it needs to be administered either subcutaneously or intravenously, usually one to three times a week. But many children do fine with this therapy once they get over the fear of the injection, and many open-minded oncologists are willing to explore mistletoe’s therapeutic effects.
Mistletoe has a warming effect on the body, and the injection produces a small (smaller than a silver dollar) red rash that should go away within 12–24 hours.
Protocol for children. There are different types of mistletoe, multiple ways to administer it and no particular protocol based on weight or the type of cancer, so it’s vital to work with a mistletoe-therapy-trained practitioner.
Avoid it if your child is being treated for a brain tumor or lung metastases with swelling. When mistletoe starts working, it can cause slight swelling, and any swelling in the brain or the lung can be dangerous.
High-dose IV vitamin C
A popular therapy with a well-established safety profile, high-dose IV vitamin C (IVC) is increasingly accepted by conventional oncology.5 It’s sometimes available in conventional oncology hospitals and clinics.
IVC is a powerful treatment to add to many standard chemotherapies, helping to mitigate the toxic effects of chemo. It promotes oxidation in cancer cells and is toxic to them, so it can arrest tumor growth and spread, stabilizing advanced tumors. It’s also an epigenetic regulator and immunomodulator, meaning it can turn the expression of a genetic mutation “on” or “off.”
High-dose IVC can fight viruses and improve quality of life by improving appetite and platelet counts as well as helping with fatigue and pain.
Unfortunately, IV is the only effective way to administer it due to stomach upset. Most patients can tolerate only around 10 g taken orally, and children can tolerate less.
Before using it, check that your child doesn’t have a deficiency of G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, an enzyme that helps red blood cells work correctly). Also, don’t have labs drawn in the 24 hours following IVC, as it will falsely show lower lab values for kidney function, and monitor monthly metabolic panels for creatinine (kidney function).
Anyone with a history of kidney stones needs to be cautious with IVC use. Although rare, oxalate kidney stones can be aggravated by vitamin C. Hydration is key.
Vitamin B6 and magnesium may help reduce oxalate in the urine as well. Always consult with a trained practitioner.
Protocol for children. High-dose IVC should be given at least twice a week for eight to 12 weeks. It should never be stopped abruptly but should be slowly weaned over time. For example, you might administer it twice a week for three to six months, then once a week for another three to six months, then once every other week, and then once a month.
A minimum of 24 infusions are needed to determine whether it’s an effective therapy for a given patient.
While adult high-dose IVC has particular dosing, in a child the dose is based on body weight at 0.4 to 1.4 g/kg and is generally not administered on the same day as glutathione or other nutrients or antioxidants.6
Some patients may experience nausea, headache or fatigue for a day or two after an infusion.
High-dose IVC is considered very safe when administered by a qualified practitioner and in a sterile environment.
Poly MVA
Poly MVA is a supplement created by dentist and biochemist Merrill Garnett. It contains minerals, B-complex vitamins, palladium, amino acids and alpha-lipoic acid. The palladium allows the alpha-lipoic acid to reach cells in the body.
By supporting mitochondrial energy production, it can help with fatigue. Studies show it enhances the antitumor effect of radiation, protects against DNA damage in peripheral blood and protects against radiation-induced reduction of platelet count.7
Many people who suffer from neuropathy find it helpful.
Protocol for children. Poly MVA can be taken orally or administered via intravenous infusion, which takes approximately 30–45 minutes. IV infusions have been found safe and tolerable with minimal side effects, though I tend to prefer oral administration for children. Some patients experience a marked increase in energy.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields
A PEMF mat heats up and converts electricity into infrared rays. It penetrates the body up to 8 inches, stimulating the healing and regeneration of nerves and muscle tissue.
Studies support the use of a PEMF mat for reducing inflammation, managing acute and chronic pain, improving sleep, promoting circulation and fostering a sense of well-being.8 I often turn to these devices for localized pain or inflammation relief.
We used a BioMat with Zuza in the hospital and after conventional cancer therapy during her healing and while she was meditating.
To avoid burns, don’t use these devices on the head or on sensitive skin. Popular brands include BioMat and Bemer.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric (high air pressure) therapy is known for treating decompression sickness and has evolved over time for use with many other conditions, including cancer.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) works by increasing the amount of oxygen in the body, so more is absorbed by the lungs and enters the bloodstream. This stimulates many healing processes, including stem cell production and defense against infections.
However, HBOT can also stimulate the growth of new blood vessels, prompting the growth of cancer as well. If there is active disease, it’s essential that the patient is in therapeutic ketosis during HBOT.
This treatment is contraindicated in cases of pneumothorax (a collapsed lung), and care should be taken to avoid pain or trauma to the ear due to the pressure.
It has also been shown to treat late radiation tissue injury in patients. Studies support its use for brain tumors, specifically gliomas, when used before and after radiation treatment. Patients who used HBOT with radiation had a better prognosis than those who used radiation alone.
HBOT may improve the ability of radiotherapy to kill hypoxic cancer cells, so combining radiotherapy with hyperbaric oxygen can reduce mortality and cancer recurrence.9
If radiotherapy is part of your child’s treatment plan, I suggest exploring HBOT with the oncology team. It can also be a good post-chemotherapy recovery tool.
Protocol for children. The protocol is often one dive per week with a pressure of at least 1.3 ATA, but follow the recommendations of your integrative oncology practitioner.
Ozone
Ozone gas is a form of oxygen therapy. Ozone has one extra atom (O3)—you can think of it like oxygen on steroids. It’s been shown to make chemotherapy and radiation more effective and reduce side effects.10
Besides significantly reducing fatigue—up to 70 percent11—studies show it reduces intestinal tissue injury caused by methotrexate, a common pediatric chemotherapy drug.12 Ozone is a wonderful adjunct to chemotherapy and radiation.
Protocol for children. O3 can be applied topically, rectally, nasally, aurally, vaginally and intravenously. IV O3 should be administered only by a trained professional.
I prefer rectal ozone for the pediatric cancer patient, as it’s less invasive than intravenous; this method also works well after conventional gut-healing treatment.
It’s important to conduct a lab test for G6PD deficiency, in which case IV ozone is contraindicated. IV and hyperbaric ozone should also be avoided in the case of a heparin allergy.
Infrared sauna
Sauna is an excellent therapy for detoxifying, reducing inflammation, managing pain and improving mood.
In many cancers, some type of environmental toxicity (such as glyphosate, see ‘Glyphosate and childhood cancer,’ below) contributed to the diagnosis. Glyphosate, other fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals and estrogen dominance can all be reduced with the use of sauna.
Even if your child didn’t have any toxicities that contributed to their diagnosis, they will have toxicities after they’re done with chemotherapy.
A 2009 study published in the Journal of Cancer Science and Therapy found that after 30 days of infrared sauna treatment at temperatures as low as 77°F (25°C), tumor-infected mice had reductions of cancerous masses up to 86 percent.13
A Japanese study published in Internal Medicine found that patients with chronic pain experienced pain-level reduction of up to 70 percent with just one session of infrared sauna.14
Protocol for children. The protocol will depend on the reason for use but will generally range from two to six days per week for 20–60 minutes each time.
The key with kids is to go slow. Start with a low temperature and five to 10 minutes the first week, then slowly increase the time and temperature until you get to a comfortable space where the child is sweating for at least 10 minutes. For most children, this will take at least 20 minutes with a temperature of at least 120°F (49°C).
Be aware that sauna treatment can make patients dizzy or lightheaded. Keep your child hydrated and—again—go slowly.
Exercise additional caution with children who are very young or who have shunts, ports or feeding tubes. Check with the manufacturer of the child’s device regarding the safety of heat exposure in an infrared sauna.
Red light therapy
Red light therapy supports circadian rhythm health and reduces inflammation, and it can be especially beneficial during inpatient stays.15 Use the red light in the morning and evening to help your child regulate their sleep patterns and circadian rhythm.
Red light therapy has been shown to reduce cancer-related side effects like insomnia, depression and cognitive impairments.16 It can also be used to heal skin after radiation.
In one study, light therapy accelerated healing of skin damage from radiation therapy by up to 50 percent.17
Protocol for children. Red light therapy is typically used once or twice a day for about 10 minutes. It should be avoided if your child is taking medications that cause photosensitivity.
Using a comprehensive integrative approach doesn’t guarantee a cure, but it does involve less suffering. It leaves no rock unturned, and I believe it decreases the chance of relapse and late effects.
When my patients have thrived, it has never been due to just one thing. It’s never just nutrition or just mistletoe or just a key supplement. It’s truly about individualized support.
In Zuza’s case, when every decision we made about supplements and therapies was individualized to her needs and conventional treatment, that was when she truly thrived.
Integrative cancer care: How to find a clinic or practitioner
Some therapies, such as mistletoe, are available only as injections. In other cases, even when oral alternatives are available, IV administration is often more effective.
One of the challenges associated with IV therapy is the process of getting a needle inserted. Our children have already gone through a lot, and subjecting them to the stress of another poke is no fun for anyone.
Some children have a central line (also known as a central venous catheter—a long, flexible, Y-shaped tube inserted through one of the central veins in the neck, chest or groin to allow access to the bloodstream). Others have a port or PICC line (a peripherally inserted central catheter, which is placed in the upper arm).
Often getting medications through these devices is easier on kids than getting a poke, but not all children have them. Even if they do, some IV therapy clinics may refuse to access the device due to concerns about infection. And I don’t recommend having just anyone access your child’s central line either, even if they are willing to.
It’s crucial to be cautious when considering IV therapy clinics for your child’s care. I recommend working with an integrative provider who has experience with pediatric patients.
And note that not all IV therapies are created equal. Just as you can find poor-quality vitamins at corner pharmacies, you can also come across IV vitamin C made from corn. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure you receive high-quality IV therapies from a reputable source.
But with well-trained IV staff and an integrative practice that specializes in cancer and pediatrics, the right IV therapy can make a significant difference for your child.
Leukemia, an umbrella term for cancers of the blood cells, is the most common cancer in children. There are different types of leukemia—the most common is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Less common and often more aggressive is acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Conventional treatment of ALL is difficult because it’s prolonged and includes not only chemotherapy but also steroids. AML treatment is shorter but very toxic and often requires a bone marrow transplant.
Most leukemias are the result of a toxic chemical exposure, either in the mother or after the child is born.1 In my experience as a practitioner, I find a lot of glyphosate toxicity in leukemia patients.
ALL is also associated with a compromised microbiome due to lack of exposure to diverse bacteria.2
Thankfully, ALL has a complete remission rate of 90 percent, but within five years, up to 10 percent of children relapse. Relapse often leads to radiation, CAR-T therapy or a bone marrow transplant.
AML often requires chemotherapy and reinforcement with a bone marrow transplant. The five-year survival rate of children diagnosed with AML is up to 65 percent, but many relapse or are diagnosed with secondary cancers even outside the five-year survival window.
Before embarking on any integrative cancer therapies, it’s vital that you assess your child’s terrain—the internal and external factors that may have contributed to the formation of cancer.
In their groundbreaking book The Metabolic Approach to Cancer (Chelsea Green, 2017), integrative oncologist Dr Nasha Winters and nutrition therapist Jess Higgins Kelley detail a questionnaire they developed to assess a client’s terrain. It’s based on 10 factors they believe affect our development of cancer and our ability to overcome it.
These 10 factors, which they’ve termed “The Terrain Ten,” include genetic and epigenetic factors, blood sugar balance, toxic burden management, repopulation and balance of the microbiome, immune system maximization, and mental and emotional well-being.
I’ve adapted this questionnaire for pediatric patients and use it at my practice to help families gather important baseline data that will inform their choice of integrative care strategies. You can see the full assessment questionnaire in my book.
Put simply, the terrain-centric approach to healing starts with your child’s story, beginning with your child’s grandparents, their lives, where they lived, their illnesses and their own personal journeys. It explores the same for you, your spouse, your child’s siblings, and any other key member of your family.
The story includes pregnancy and childbirth as well as the histories of illnesses and medications, geographic locations, and major life events.
This information can run the gamut from somewhat suggestive to a smoking gun regarding what may have contributed to your child’s cancer. For example, my daughter scored high in the toxic burden category, especially because we were living behind a cornfield at the time of her diagnosis.
This prompted us to test her glyphosate exposure (see below). The results were disturbing, but they also gave us a crucial understanding of how to support her through cancer treatment.
Layered on this terrain assessment are genetic and epigenetic testing and biopsy results. With all of these pieces, you and your medical team can create a therapeutic plan that is individualized and supportive of your child.
In my opinion, the most devastating chemical to enter our world is glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide (weed killer) Roundup, which appeared on the market in 1974. Since then, glyphosate usage has boomed in the US and around the world.
Glyphosate has been linked to many cancers, including lymphoma and leukemia. A 2018 study found it in 93 percent of urine samples.1
According to the National Cancer Institute, the rate of pediatric cancer has increased about 40 percent since 1975,2 one year after glyphosate was brought to market, and a mountain of evidence links childhood cancer and exposure to agricultural chemicals.
One review found that exposure to certain pesticides during pregnancy due to living near farms may increase the risk of childhood ALL and AML. It also noted that insecticides and herbicides are both associated with higher risk of childhood leukemia.3
A 2020 Danish study showed that mothers who live within 1,600 ft (500 m) of crops increase their risk of having children with leukemia.4 Other researchers found a threefold increase in risk of ALL among children in very close proximity (less than 250 ft or 75 m) to outdoor plant nurseries.5
In 2019, researchers at the University of Washington concluded that using glyphosate increases the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 41 percent.6
In the US, Roundup manufacturer Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) stopped selling Roundup with glyphosate for residential use in 2023, but commercial use continues unabated. That means glyphosate will continue to be applied in parks, schoolyards, even nature centers, and it’s still in our food, including as a desiccant at harvest time (meaning the rain won’t wash it off after application).
In the UK, glyphosate remains approved for use at home and on commercial farms until at least December 2025. However, numerous towns and cities around the UK have banned its use. In the European Union, lawmakers approved it for 10 more years of use in December 2023, subject to certain restrictions.
In my medical practice, I test my patients for glyphosate toxicity as well as for high levels of other herbicides and pesticides. I have never had a patient with zero glyphosate exposure.
In fact, there is no such thing as freedom from glyphosate exposure anymore. Glyphosate sneaks into our lives and our bodies every day. But one way to dramatically reduce exposure to glyphosate and other pesticides is by buying organic.
Adapted from A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Cancer by Dagmara Beine (Chelsea Green, 2024)
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