Hi, I'm Michelle 

My path to oncology nutrition and nutrigenomics began with my own cancer diagnosis.

At 29, I was diagnosed with a large malignant brain tumor, and overnight, my life changed. Suddenly I was supposed to understand cancer well enough to make life-altering decisions, and do so as quickly as possible, while the loving people in my life offered panicked advice.

At that time, I was a grant writer serving nonprofits. But following my brain surgery, I suffered vision impairments, seizures, balance issues, and cognitive delays. Unable to work; I didn't know what was next for me.

As I began treatment, I asked what I could do as a patient to improve my circumstances, and response to chemo and radiation. 

To my disappointment, I was told there wasn't much I could do. That I just needed to "eat red meat and protein powder" so I didn't lose weight. 

I went straight home to do my own research. I knew nutrition had to be more important than they were admitting. What started as a defiant quest to improve my circumstances, led to a return to school to study nutrition, specializing in oncology and epigenetics.

It was a long road, but by improving the function of my body's systems and using targeted nutrition therapies, I have recovered fully, and I am currently free of disease. 

(I cannot leave out the importance of other modalities which brought me back to myself: physical therapy, vision and speech therapies, counseling, and somatic work.)

And one very special "unofficial" therapy dog: Harvey.