Ask Dr. Block: The Block Center Difference

When you see a new cancer patient at the Block Center, what is different about your process than a typical hospital?

As a new cancer patient at the Block Center, your visit will begin with detailed evaluation of your medical records, clinical and integrative assessments and questionnaires on your lifestyle and medical history. Just as any medical center would do, of course, we will conduct a thorough medical screening and physical examination, possibly including additional tests, followed by an extensive consultation with one of our physicians.

You will also receive our comprehensive integrative lifestyle assessment tests. The results will be used by your physician and also our integrative practitioners for counseling. You’ll meet with one of our dietitians for a complete nutritional assessment and the first phase of your personalized dietary strategy. After you have completed blood tests to assess your terrain, you will be scheduled for a follow-up phone call with your dietitian, who will explain your results and possibly recommend herbs and supplements that might be useful for you.

All patients are also referred to our stress care and physical care teams, to help develop strategies to cope with the ups and downs of cancer, and to help you develop an exercise and physical activity program suited to your specific needs. Our physical care instructors can coach you on a variety of eastern and progressive types of fitness routines including yoga, chi gong, tai chi and pilates as well as the correct use of exercise equipment using our treadmills, exercise bikes and other fitness equipment, located adjacent to our cancer chemotherapy unit. If you are in the clinic at lunchtime, you could also attend a cooking class and lunch in our teaching kitchen, and learn how to implement a plant-based, whole foods diet. These classes are regularly attended by our chemotherapy patients, who also can take advantage of individual yoga sessions, massage, reflexology and other therapies while they’re doing their treatments.
In early 2013, we will also begin a new 2-day cancer lifestyle training program for patients. Participants in this program will receive small-group classes in nutrition, exercise, stress care, supplements and the Life Over Cancer system. They will also have a group session to learn our Block Be Fit exercise program – tai chi and yoga moves strategically blended to meet the needs of cancer patients with a wide diversity of physical limitations and strengths. There will also be two lunchtime cooking classes, and each patient will meet individually with an oncologist, an integrative physician, and our nutrition, stress care and physical care teams. In short, at the Block Center, cancer treatment is a lot more than surgery, radiation and chemotherapy: We treat all aspects of a patient’s health and well-being with a comprehensive integrative treatment program individualized to their unique needs.

For more information on The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Treatment, call (847) 230-9107 or visit BlockMD.com.