I’m excited to share the story of an IRH graduate who has successfully overcome breast cancer and now has a booming practice working with cancer clients and infertility couples. Please meet Katrina Foe, an IRH instructor and Level 4 graduate.
If you told me 7 years ago where I would be professionally today, I would have laughed at you. You see, in 2015, I discovered that I had breast cancer.
Before that, the only health issues we’d had were some tooth decay with our oldest daughter. We experienced profound healing with the GAPS diet, using food as medicine. The whole process really opened my eyes to the rampant issues with our current food and environment. We even moved to a rural area in Idaho where we could raise our own meat cows, meat chickens, and egg layers in an effort to have more control over the quality of our personal food supply. When I discovered the cancer, I knew I wanted to approach it holistically.
I found a functionally-minded chiropractor, Dr. Veronique Desaulniers (Dr. V), who’d successfully navigated her own breast cancer journey. We began with a number of tests – stool, hormones, bloodwork, genetics and more. I had actually never done any testing (not even basic blood work!) and it was all a bit overwhelming. At the time, I believed you could heal entirely with food and had been actively working on my health from that paradigm exclusively.
I was shocked when my vitamin D level came back at 20 ng/ml (optimal is between 50-90 ng/ml) because I had been taking fermented cod liver oil daily for years. I upped the ante and consumed 3 syringes of fermented cod liver oil every day for three months and my levels didn’t budge a single point. My genetic test showed that I have genetic issues absorbing vitamin D, which I never would have known had I not tested. After trying 5 different high-quality vitamin D formulas, I finally found one that worked. When I retested, my vitamin D was 125 ng/ml. Although it was slightly elevated, I was ecstatic!
We also discovered a number of additional health concerns: I was hypothyroid and had low iodine levels, I had dysbiosis, iron anemia, estrogen dominance, poor methylation, and a host of other issues. Dr V and I addressed every imbalance to allow my body to optimize the healing it required.
Another test that we did was the “Greece”, which is the RGCC Onconomics Extracts test. It’s an amazing test that I wish more people knew about. One’s blood samples are shipped to Greece and the lab extracts and cultures circulating tumor cells, then tests them against various natural substances and chemotherapies (which I knew I didn’t want to use) known to be effective against cancer. I simply don’t understand why we don’t utilize this technology here in the U.S.
Fighting cancer is scary, especially when taking the natural route. There is almost always a mind game one plays: “Did I do enough?” and “Did I get it all?” These questions can haunt you. Having done the Greece test, I really felt that I could rest assured, knowing I was fighting the cancer with agents that had specifically tested effective for me. In terms of “getting it all”, the Greece lab works at a cellular level utilizing a methodology that isn’t guesswork – it’s science.
In my research prior to doing the test, I had been drawn to apricot seeds (B17/laetrile) as an anti-cancer agent and was eating copious amounts of them. However, on my Greece test, I discovered they were ineffective against my specific cancer and it was actually wormwood that would be the most effective substance. This was wonderful because it meant I could stop eating those awful tasting apricot seeds! Armed with this knowledge, I then proceeded with my protocol, layering in high-dose pancreatic/proteolytic enzymes to allow the wormwood and other supports that tested well to get to the cancer effectively and to assist with the breakdown and clean-up of the tumor.
I also did daily coffee enemas to stimulate the parasympathetic system, support glutathione production, keep the elimination pathways open, and enhance detoxification. Additionally, I incorporated daily infrared saunas and other detox practices. In less than a year, the golf-ball-sized tumor in my breast was completely gone!
My whole story is a bit more complicated so if you’d like to hear the whole thing, click here.
At that point, I wanted to better understand how the body works so I could continue my healing journey and uncover why I’d gotten cancer in the first place. I chose to go through the NTA program, where I realized that I enjoyed working with my “practice clients” and helping them improve their health. I had been doing my own follow up-testing on myself but I didn’t really know what I was doing. So, when I heard about IRH, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do! I jumped in immediately after graduating from NTA and, fast forward to today, have gone through all four levels of education and I’m now an instructor for IRH.
What started as a desire to learn about my own healing and prevention turned into a passion to help others. I have 7 children and have always been interested in healthy pregnancies/birth/lactation. I am also a Pilates teacher trainer and I teach internationally at Pilates conferences on different aspects of pregnancy, Diastasis Recti, and pelvic floor health so it was a natural fit for me to find my niche with infertility. I have just launched my online course, ReversingInfertility.com, and will soon be expanding to hire other IRH Level 4 graduates to work with me. I love having all the tools IRH teaches to be able to identify blocking factors so that wonderful couples can conceive and birth the babies they are so desperate for!
Because of my personal history, I am constantly being referred cancer clients that are interested in a holistic approach. It is a huge privilege to be able to share this work and help them reverse their cancers as well. I would never be able to do any of this without the powerful IRH approach that provides insight into what each client’s body needs and how to best support them. To be clear, I don’t “treat” cancer. Instead, I support the body in its entirety so that it can address the cancer appropriately and effectively. Our bodies are designed to fight cancers, which all of us have. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, the question is: why isn’t the body able to do its job? Interestingly, this is quite similar to figuring out what is blocking fertility and the IRH tools are exactly what I use for both. Digging into the detective work of what the body needs is what I love the most!
Earlier this year, Dr. V referred a client of hers to me who had recovered from cancer and was now wanting to get pregnant. This client, who is in her late thirties, was afraid that her hormones could become out of balance again during pregnancy and her cancer might come back. Since time was of the essence for her, we began with stool testing, bloodwork, and hormone testing at the same time and addressed all of her imbalances. I reconnected with Dr. V recently and was able to share that this former breast cancer client was in the second trimester of her pregnancy and doing great.
Thank you, Anne and Margaret, for giving me the tools to help others the way that I was helped!
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FAQ
The following frequently asked questions expand on the key clinical concepts discussed in Katrina Foe’s journey and highlight the functional assessment strategies described throughout the article.
Who may benefit from a comprehensive functional assessment after a cancer diagnosis?
A comprehensive functional assessment may help identify individual physiological imbalances that could be contributing to overall health. In Katrina’s case, functional testing uncovered multiple areas requiring support beyond the cancer diagnosis itself. The article emphasizes using personalized testing to better understand the body’s unique needs rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why is identifying underlying “blocking factors” important in a functional health approach?
The article describes identifying blocking factors as a way to understand why the body may not be functioning optimally. Rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis, Katrina’s approach centered on investigating the physiological imbalances that could interfere with normal healing processes. This same investigative framework was later applied in both cancer support and fertility practice.
What types of functional testing were used during Katrina’s health journey?
Katrina’s evaluation included multiple forms of testing to assess different aspects of physiology. According to the article, these included:
- Stool testing
- Hormone testing
- Bloodwork
- Genetic testing
- RGCC Onconomics Extracts (“Greece”) testing
Each test contributed different information that helped personalize her support strategy.
Why can laboratory testing reveal issues that symptoms or diet alone may not identify?
Laboratory testing can uncover physiological imbalances that may not be obvious through symptoms or nutrition history alone. Although Katrina had prioritized a nutrient-dense diet for years, testing revealed low vitamin D, hypothyroidism, iron anemia, dysbiosis, low iodine, estrogen dominance, and poor methylation. These findings guided a more individualized plan.
Why was vitamin D testing important in Katrina’s case?
Vitamin D testing identified a deficiency despite long-term supplementation. Further genetic testing suggested she had difficulty absorbing vitamin D, leading her to try several formulations before finding one that improved her laboratory values. The article illustrates how testing can guide more personalized nutritional interventions.
What health imbalances were identified through Katrina’s functional evaluation?
The article reports that multiple physiological imbalances were identified during testing. These included:
- Low vitamin D
- Hypothyroidism
- Low iodine
- Dysbiosis
- Iron anemia
- Estrogen dominance
- Poor methylation
Addressing these findings became part of her broader health support strategy.
What is the RGCC Onconomics Extracts (“Greece”) test described in the article?
According to the article, the RGCC Onconomics Extracts test cultures circulating tumor cells from a blood sample and evaluates their response to various natural substances and chemotherapies. Katrina describes using the results to help personalize the natural agents included in her protocol.
How did personalized testing influence Katrina’s protocol choices?
Personalized testing changed several of Katrina’s clinical decisions. For example, although she had been using apricot seeds based on her own research, her testing suggested they were not effective for her specific situation, while wormwood tested more favorably. The article presents this as an example of using individualized data rather than assumptions.
What supportive therapies were included in Katrina’s holistic protocol?
The article describes several supportive therapies that Katrina incorporated into her overall protocol.
These included:
- Personalized nutritional support
- High-dose pancreatic/proteolytic enzymes
- Coffee enemas
- Infrared sauna
- Detoxification practices
These therapies were used alongside efforts to address the physiological imbalances identified through testing.
How does Katrina describe the relationship between cancer support and fertility support?
Katrina explains that both cancer support and fertility support involve identifying and addressing the body’s underlying imbalances. Rather than focusing solely on the diagnosis, she describes using the same investigative process to determine what may be preventing normal physiological function in each individual.
Does Katrina describe herself as treating cancer?
No. Katrina specifically states that she does not treat cancer. Instead, she explains that her work focuses on supporting the body’s overall physiology by identifying and addressing underlying imbalances so the body can function as effectively as possible.
How did Katrina’s personal health journey influence her professional practice?
Katrina’s experience inspired her to pursue advanced education in functional nutrition and restorative health. After completing all four IRH levels, she became an instructor and built a practice supporting individuals with cancer histories and couples experiencing infertility, using the systems-based investigative approach described throughout the article.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Fischer Silva’s journey in the field of functional nutrition over the last 23 years began in a functional medicine practice, where she learned the power of objective testing. From there she opened her own business, A New Leaf Nutrition, where she built a wait-list distance practice. Anne has taught nutrition courses in Washington, Hawaii, and California, and hosted a radio show, “Health-Wise”, for 3 years. She helped develop the original curriculum for the Nutritional Therapy Association, was a lead instructor with NTA for 8 years, and she continues to lecture nationally on a variety of health topics. Anne founded the Institute of Restorative Health in 2013 with the sole purpose of training other nutrition professionals how to address complex issues with their clients and achieve the same stellar results she gets in her practice.
The core principles Anne built the Institute of Restorative Health upon are the importance of nutrient-dense foods and balancing biochemistry. From there, she looks for the deeper underlying issues by utilizing a variety of testing techniques and customized healing methods to restore optimal function and health.
Anne received her certification in functional nutrition from Advanced Integrated Medical Institute in Washington, DC in 2000 and she is a Master Restorative Health Practitioner and Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.
*In 2022, Anne decided to pursue new and different aspects of holistic wellness and left the Institute of Restorative Health in the hands of her dear friend and business partner, Margaret Floyd Barry.
