About Dr Bruce Whelan | Navigating the Cancer Maze Australia

Dr Bruce Whelan MBBS Univ of Qld 1967

Dr Bruce Whelan and Grace Gawler

Having graduated in 1967 from the University of Queensland, I have been involved in the diagnosis and management of many patients with cancer.

In the last 10 years I have become involved and specialised in the management of addictions, mental health and severe and chronic pain management as well as general medicine.

More recently I have also become involved in the management of patients with cancer in association with Grace Gawler, a naturopath through a chance meeting with Grace Gawler in a coffee shop one Saturday morning a few years ago.

I discovered her approach and skills in the management of cancer patients to be very innovative, professional, and based on scientific evidence based principles. I then started managing these patients in close collaboration with her and have found this to be a very rewarding experience.

I have always approached the practice of medicine with an open mind when it came to complementary therapies, believing the best of the ?west? combined with the best of the ?east? was the way to go.

Although I abhor ?alternative? practitioners who in my opinion are no better than the ?snake oil? salesman of past centuries, with their cure all diets and fads for cancer, I found that Grace had a very similar system of beliefs and approach to mine.

Challenges & Aspirations

Finding medical specialists especially oncologists who were prepared to work with us has been at times difficult, but I consider that the work we are doing is very worthwhile. As well as helping with writing appropriate referrals to specialists, oncologists, radiotherapists and interventional radiologists, I involve myself with psychological counselling {as Grace does} and pain management.

I would like to see a new paradigm develop where GPs develop specialist type skills in managing cancer patients in collaboration with scientifically minded, highly trained complementary therapists who practice evidence based therapies. These GPs would also need to develop skills in psychological counselling and pain management in cancer patients

Listen live to Dr Bruce Whelan on Navigating the Cancer Maze on VoiceAmerica

Navigating the Cancer Maze is a weekly internet radio show sponsored by The Grace Gawler Institute and hosted by Grace Gawler

1. Spinning Gold from Straw: How trauma transformed a Doctor?s Life and Practice
CLICK HERE FOR INTERVIEW

2. How to Navigate the Cancer Maze with the Help of your General Practitioner: Cancer Practice and Emotional Support
CLICK HERE FOR INTERVIEW