Cancer Care

He and his staff are efficient, caring, kind and do all they can to get you on the path back to recovery and well-being.

The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine is top notch. Dr. Ronald Stram, the nurses, nutritionists and office staff at the Stram Center are some of the most competent and caring people I have ever met. Dr. Stram and his staff have a true passion and caring for helping their patients and genuinely get to know you. The Stram Center is different from any other medical facility or doctor's office in that their treatment plans combine both traditional medicine and integrative/homeopathic remedies. The Center has a "spa-like" quality to it, so you don't feel as if you are in a traditional doctor's office. Dr. Stram works with you to customize an optimal protocol to get you back to health. I found that many physicians are simply not versed in identifying, diagnosing and treating conditions such as Lyme Disease, Thyroid issues, etc., and often simply treat symptoms rather than the cause. Dr. Stram has a depth of experience and education in Lyme Disease and other "hard to diagnose" maladies. He and his staff are efficient, caring, kind and do all they can to get you on the path back to recovery and well-being.

My story begins with a breast cancer diagnosis in September of 2006, followed by surgery and then 4 months of chemotherapy. 

About 2 months after chemotherapy, I noticed some uneven inflammation and swelling in the inner forearm area. Lymphadema was ruled out and 10 days of high dose “Motrin” was prescribed by my surgeon.

Eventually, these conditions subsided and all seemed well for about a year. Then, after a long day of shopping in Manhattan this past summer, I noticed that my hands and arms had once again become slightly swollen. This time the swelling seemed more severe in my hands, especially the fingers… the swelling again subsided, but I had a third recurrence about a month later and I knew this had to be addressed.

I had an appointment already in place with my oncologist and planned on discussing a course of treatment with her. I was very concerned that I might be dealing with a precursor to lymphadema.

When I arrived for my appointment, I noticed a sign for Dr. Stram’s office in the NYOH building, where I see my oncologist… this seemed like a “good omen” since I planned to discuss the possibility of using acupuncture to treat the recurring swelling.

When I asked my doctor about Dr. Stram’s practice, she was very enthusiastic about my wish to pursue alternative healing as a part of my continuing recovery.

I knew I was in the right place from the first moment I met Dr. Stram.

He took time to listen to all my concerns and asked many questions about my health, lifestyle and my cancer therapies. We agreed upon a course of action to complement my regular oncology visits. That very first day I was even able to begin a course of acupuncture treatments with Rebecca… I can actually feel the energy flowing through my body after one of her treatments.

I know for a certainty, that the combination of acupuncture, nutritional guidelines, vitamins and supplements have greatly improved my condition as well as my overall health… I also feel more in control, knowing that I can continue to improve without relying on toxic chemicals.

I am so very pleased with the results I have had after just 6 short weeks… and I continue to improve.

I feel more confident in my recovery, now that I have Dr. Stram and his terrific staff on my team to help keep me on the path to wellness.

The direction, genuine concern and skilled support I received from Dr. Stram and his staff at the Center helped me through the very difficult time I was having during the initial months of my cancer diagnosis and treatment.  And when traditional drugs failed, the weekly acupuncture sessions with Rebecca Rice helped reduce the severe nausea I was experiencing during my chemotherapy. They also helped me feel better in general, making it easier to cope.

Upon finding out, over three years ago, that I have cancer, something I was not ready to hear, I went to an oncologist to see what I could do for this disease. 

I was informed that the type of cancer I have is not curable at this time but, that it could be put into remission for a short period of time. I then asked how much time, they said eighteen months to three years.

At this point I opted to go on to chemotherapy since there wasn’t any other option; the physicians said that without chemotherapy I would only live six months. After months of chemotherapy I was in remission but, at what cost? My body felt used up like I had nothing left to give. So I asked the doctor if I had any other options. He told me that I could get a second opinion, which I did; I then went to the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. They read the reports from my previous doctor and without any other testing said the same thing, I would have up to three years and to make the best of it. Feeling let down I went home to think about things. After getting over the shock and the remembrance of watching my mother waste away and die from this disease, I decided to go back to my doctor to see if there was any other type of treatment I could get. After a couple of weeks of badgering him, he finally recommended a consultation with Dr. Ronald Stram.

I made an appointment with Dr. Stram where we discussed my options; I began regular intravenous Vitamin C treatments with him. From that point on, I started feeling better than I had in a year. They then discussed with me a treatment that is used in Europe called Iscador and asked if I was interested in trying it. After educating myself about Iscador, I decided I would. After taking this for a few weeks I felt a hundred percent better and started to feel some fight back in my body.

I would recommend this treatment to anyone with this disease; also, to use this treatment along with chemotherapy in order to help eradicate the disease.

I cannot thank Dr. Stram  enough for this treatment. I will also let everyone know in the future how things are going.

PS. I do hope in the future insurance companies will realize that Integrative medicine offers help and hope to those who have run out of options.