Menen Centre for Optimum Health (Oakville)

Question:  Can I book an appointment at the CICC if I don’t have cancer?
Answer:  Yes!  The CICC welcomes the opportunity to work with you towards any health care concerns or goals that you may have.  Although the focus of care is on cancer prevention and/or treatment, I work with all sorts of health care concerns from colds, allergies and headaches to anxiety, depression, hormone balancing, heart disease and memory enhancement.

Question:  Can I get treatments from CICC if I am currently taking chemotherapy?
Answer:  Yes!  This is the area that CICC most focuses on.  I encourage and promote the SAFE use of Complementary therapies with current conventional therapies (whether chemotherapy, radiation, or biological therapies).  Each patient’s case is thoroughly assessed by a Naturopathic Doctor to ensure that your Complementary treatments are enhancing your current treatment and guidance is given to create a long-term plan of care that is individualized to your specific needs.

Question:  Do I have to follow all of the recommendations suggested by CICC for my care?
Answer:  No.  Although careful consideration is taken to create a plan of care that is most suitable for your needs, you are not obliged to follow all/any of the suggestions offered.  The recommendations that you choose to follow are based on your personal preferences, comfort and confidence in treatment options.

Question:  Are the services offered through CICC covered by OHIP? 
Answer:  No.  Most of the services are covered by private insurance companies; however, different plans will cover different amounts per family member.  It is best to contact your insurance company to know exactly what, and how much coverage is offered to you for Complementary/Naturopathic services.

Question:  Do you bill my insurance company directly?
Answer:  No.  You will need to pay for your visits at the CICC at each appointment and will be issued a receipt for the services that can be mailed by you to your insurance company for reimbursement. 
(VISA, Mastercard, cash, and Debit are all acceptable methods of payment at the CICC)

Question:  How many visits will I need to make at the CICC for my integrative care?
Answer:  You will need at least 2 visits at the CICC (the initial 90-minute assessment and one following 60-minute visit) to get you started with a plan of care that you can begin to use for your health goals.  For ideal benefits of integrative care, the number of visits each person will need will vary greatly between individuals as each plan of care is unique to an individual's particular symptoms, stage of cancer, ability to attend regular visits, etc.  On average, patients will benefit from approximately 5 treatments with a combination of recommendations from CICC (this may include massage, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, detoxification, homeopathic counselling, nutritional counselling, and/or energy work, etc.)

Question:  What if I feel as if my cancer is well-controlled by my other medical treatments and I want to get help for my insomnia?
Answer:  You are under no obligation to get cancer-related recommendations at the CICC.  I am happy to work with you to overcome any health-care concerns/symptoms that you may be experiencing – whether the symptoms are related, or completely unrelated to cancer.

Question:  Will you be telling my MD or Oncologist that I am working with Complementary Medicine?
Answer:  The Naturopathic Doctor you choose to work with at the Menen Centre & Canadian Integrative Cancer Centre will not contact your MD, Oncologist or any other Medical Specialists to discuss your care without your consent and approval to do so.  It is not my desire to create any difficulty for any patients who are reluctant to share this news with their medical providers.  My intention and hope however, is that I would be in touch with your other primary health care providers (with your approval) in order for your entire health care team to work together for your benefit.