About My Practice
The Art and Science of Hormonal Wellness
At its core Naturopathic Medicine is the art of investigating the root cause of any dysfunction and finding a way to correct it rather than mask it, and that is the approach I take to hormonal health. Hormonal shifts are natural and necessary in a woman’s body, but they should not be painful nor irritating. Peri-menopause and menopause are often confusing times for women. Hormonal depleation can feel uncomfortable and is often life-altering. Education on the subject from traditional medical providers is often limited or non-existent. Many women have been told that hormones are to blame for cancers (an old and discredited theory) and fear discourages them from learning about their options. As estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and other hormones decline, women can experience a vast array of symptoms, from hot flashes and weight gain to feeling emotionally off, physically exhausted, bloated, and overall just “not like myself anymore”. Aside from symptomatic distress, declining hormones cause an increased incidence of a wide array of chronic illnesses that can easily be mitigated with the right treatments. While menopause part of aging that all women will experience, the symptomatic distress that is often felt, and the decline health does not have to accompany this transition. For those who are serious about making sure their body stays as strong and healthy as possible in the second half of life, welcome home! An exploration of options and a uniquely crafted plan for your vibrant and healthy future awaits!
My Breast Cancer Journey
I was 47 when I felt a lump in right breast. I hoped it was just hormonal, kept telling myself it was probably just some fibrotic breast tissue. Since it did seem to change with my cycle, I let it go for a few months, then decided it was time to have it checked out. Even as a physician I had let my own physical exams go far past the their due date and I found that my OB/GYN had retired. Great. I decided to take matters in to my own hands and underwent a diagnostic bilateral breast ultrasound done by a company that is independently operated and doesn’t require a referral (cool idea huh!). That imaging confirmed what I dreaded - that there were suspicious lumps in my right breast. Now I needed to go through the whole process of proper diagnosis. I scheduled a visit with a new primary care doctor to get a referral to an oncologist/breast surgeon and underwent the litany of mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI & biopsies. A few weeks later I listened over the phone to the pathologist deliver the news none of want to hear - I had breast cancer. I sat in the oncologist’s office and listened to her describe my options, they were strikingly similar to the options my mother had been given 25 years before - lumpectomy followed by radiation or total mastectomy, either option to be followed by chemotherapy if my tumor was found to be responsive. I was lucky she said, I had two small tumors that were slow growing (grade 1) and small (stage 1) with no apparent lymph node involvement. She said she was offering me a “cure” and that I should schedule surgery and radiation as well as a chemo consult as quickly as I could and not pursue any “alternative” treatments. I felt like a lost child sitting in that office, despite the fact that she was incredibly kind, despite the fact that I had been a physician for a very long time, despite knowing I had autonomy over my medical decisions, I felt pressured, I felt like I didn’t have any choice, I felt that I was on the verge of dying. I cried…but only for a moment. Then, I dove headfirst into research. I have extensive medical training and had interned with a cancer specialist many years prior, but I wanted to know more. I came across some incredible research on cryoablation for breast tumors . I was intrigued. I researched more. I consulted with one of the brilliant authors of the original research on cryoablation for breast cancer, work done 15 years earlier and still ongoing. I consulted with multiple cancer specialists. I called physicians and cancer centers that offered this treatment. I weighed all my options and after much deliberation, finally decided on what I wanted to do. I opted not to have surgery, radiation nor chemotherapy. Instead I opted for cryoablation of my breast tumors. In fact, I went to a cancer center that offered many additional therapies that helped me recover faster. Together with my care team we made a plan for my future, a design to remain cancer free. Just five months after my diagnosis my blood work and imaging confirmed I had “no evidence of disease”. There is so much more to my story, and I am happy to share any time. It’s a story of fear and vulnerability but most of all a story of not accepting the old adage that there is only one way to eliminate cancer. The therapies and options I chose will not be right for everyone, but the one universal thing I did learn is that there are options for everyone. You have choices and you have the power to influence your ultimate outcomes. I became passionate about helping women navigate their own breast cancer journeys, whether opting for traditional, alternative or a combination of treatments. I’m here to change they way women respond to a diagnosis of breast cancer so that every woman can feel confident in her decisions on how to treat and eliminate breast cancer.
Dr. Stacey McLarry
I am a licensed naturopathic medical doctor in San Diego specializing in hormonal health and breast cancer navigation and prevention. As a woman and breast cancer survivor myself, I am passionate about helping women thorough some of life’s most misunderstood challenges - menopause and breast cancer. Being a woman comes with some of the most rewarding events in life as well as some of the most challenging. Balancing our ever changing hormonal dynamic can be a lot to handle alone. I am here to help women have the most dynamic, vibrant transition into menopause and the next phase of life possible. I am here to advocate for women with a diagnosis of breast cancer who are not sure which route to wellness is right for them and to help them remain cancer free after remission. Most of all, I am here to help each woman find their own unique path to optimal health.
I earned my medical degree from Bastyr University in San Diego. Prior to earning my doctorate in naturopathic medicine, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of California in Santa Barbara. It was during this time that I fell in love with the Pacific Ocean and have since remained living near the ocean with my husband, children and our pets. I strongly believe that nature is one of earth’s most powerful healers and I encourage my patients to spend time in their favorite natural habit whenever possible.