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Ad Hoc Research Think Tank Research Committee

Erin Sweet, ND, MPH, FABNO

Associate Clinical Scientist, Bastyr University

Bio

Dr. Sweet is an associate research scientist at BURI and one of approximately 100 naturopathic oncologists in the US and Canada. As a physician-scientist, her research focuses on the clinical effectiveness of Integrative Oncology (IO) as an adjunct to conventional cancer treatment, specifically examining its effects on health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes in people living with cancer.

Her work is guided by the hypothesis that integrated medical care provided by specialists in naturopathic oncology, combined with evidence-based treatment protocols, will improve overall clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Through her research projects, she aims to evaluate and validate integrative approaches that can enhance the standard of care for cancer patients, bridging the gap between conventional oncology and evidence-based naturopathic interventions. She is committed to using research as a tool to advance greater understanding and acceptance of integrative medicine within the broader medical community.

Education

  • Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA.
  • Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University, Seattle, WA.

Publications

  • Seely D, Legacy M, Conte E, Rizzolo E, Sweet E, Chiang PF, Dale L, Psihogios A, Ennis J, Parmar G, Marsden E, Reid M, Rubin D, Reilly P, Traub M, Naydis E, Ramsay T, Standish LJ. A Comprehensive Description of Naturopathic Care for Advanced Cancers: Outcomes from the Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study. CANDJ [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 19 [cited 2025 Jun. 26];32(2):21-40. Available from: https://candjournal.ca/index.php/candj/article/view/207.
  • Standish LJ, Sweet E, Chiang PF, Legacy M, Conte E, Rizzolo E, Dale L, Psihogios A, Ennis J, Parmar G, Marsden E, Reid M, Rubin D, Reilly P, Traub M, Naydis E, Ramsay T, Seely D. Naturopathic Oncology for Advanced Cancers: Survival Outcomes from the Canadian/US Integrative Oncology Study. CANDJ [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 19 [cited 2025 Jun. 26];32(2):4-20. Available from: https://candjournal.ca/indexphp/candj/article/view/206
  • Andersen R, Afdem K, Gaul M, Hager S, Sweet ES, Standish LJ. Family History, Genetic, and Other Cause-Related Beliefs among Breast Cancer Survivors. OBM genetics. 2019 July; 3(3). doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1903087.
  • Andersen, M.R., Sweet, E.S., Hager, M., Gaul, M., Dowd, F., Standish, L.J. Effects of Vitamin D use on Health-Related Quality of Life of breast cancer patients in early survivorship. Integr Cancer Ther. 2019 Jan- Dec;18:1534735418822056. doi: 10.1177/1534735418822056. Epub 2019 Jan 7.
  • Standish, L.J., Dowd, F., Sweet, E.S., Dale, L., Andersen, M.R. Do women with breast cancer who choose adjunctive integrative oncology care receive different standard oncologic treatment? Integr Cancer Ther. 2018 Sep;17(3):874-884. doi: 10.1177/1534735418769007. Epub 2018 Apr 27
  • Andersen, M.R., Sweet, E.S., Standish, L.J. Use of integrative oncology, involvement in decision-making, and breast cancer survivor HRQOL in the first five years post-diagnosis. Integrative Cancer Therapies. Article first published online: April 2, 2018 doi.org/10.1177/1534735418762543
  • Sweet E., Dowd F., Zhou M., Standish L.J., Andersen M.R. The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Supplements of Potential Concern during Breast Cancer Chemotherapy. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2016, Article ID 4382687, 8 pages, 2016. doi:10.1155/2016/4382687.
  • Andersen, MR., Sweet, E., Zhou, M., & Standish, LJ, Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by breast cancer patients at time of surgery which increases the potential for excessive bleeding. Integr Cancer Ther. (2015) 14: 119-124.
  • Andersen, MR, Afdem, K, Sweet, ES, Hager, S, Gaul, M, Standish, LJ. The “cause” of my cancer, beliefs about cause among breast cancer patients and survivors who do and do not seek IO care. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2015; 47 (Suppl) pg. s211.
  • Andersen, M. R., Zhou, M., Sweet, E., Dowd, F., and Standish, L. Involvement in Illness related meaning- making and quality of life for breast cancer patients and survivors. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 2014; 46 (suppl) pg. s187.
  • Andersen, MR, Standish, LJ, Sweet, E. Search for meaning in breast cancer shortly after diagnosis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 2014; 47 (Suppl) pg. 147.
  • Andersen, MR, Osborne, B, Sweet, E, Dowd, F, & Standish, LJ, Integrative oncology consultation does not delay initiation of primary treatment for breast cancer. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2013; 45 (Suppl) pg. s178.
  • Sweet ES, Standish LJ, Goff BA, Andersen MR. Adverse events associated with complementary and alternative medicine use in ovarian cancer patients. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Nov; 12(6):508-16. doi: 10.1177/1534735413485815. Epub 2013 Apr 26. Review.
  • Standish, L.J., Sweet, E.S., Naydis, E., Andersen, M.R. The Effectiveness of Integrative Oncology Offered in Community Clinics: Can We Demonstrate That Breast Cancer ”Integrative Oncology” Is Effective? A Methodology to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Integrative Oncology Offered in Community Clinics. Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Mar; 12(2):126-35. doi: 10.1177/1534735412447582. Epub 2012 Jun 27.
  • Andersen MR, Sweet E, Lowe KA, Standish LJ, Drescher CW, Goff BA. 2012. Involvement in decision-making
    about treatment and ovarian cancer survivor quality of life. Gynecol Oncol. 124: 465-470.
  • Sweet, E.S. Hormone-modulating Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies: Implications for the Management of Ovarian Cancer. ProQuest/UMI Dissertations and Theses Database (PQDT).
  • Lowe, K., Sweet, E.S., Standish, L.J., Goff, B.A., Drescher, C.W., Andersen, M.R. The Effect of Regular Exercise and Yoga on Health-Related Quality of Life among Ovarian Cancer Survivors. JEBCAM; 2012 17(3): 155-60.
  • Torkelson, C., Sweet, E.S., Martzen, M.R., Sasagawa, M., Wenner, C., Gay, J., Putiri, A., Standish, L.J. Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Trametes versicolor in Women with Breast Cancer. ISRN Oncol. 2012:251632
  • Andersen, M.R., Sweet, E.S., Lowe, K., Standish, L.J., Drescher, C.W., Goff, B. Potentially Dangerous Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use by Ovarian Cancer Patients. J Gynecol Surg.
    April 2012: 116-120.
  • Andersen, MR., Sweet, E.S., Lowe, K.A., Standish, L.J., Drescher, CW. Involvement in decision-making about treatment and ovarian cancer survivor quality of life. Gynecol Oncol. 2012 Mar; 124(3):465-70.
  • Lowe, K.A., Andersen, M.R., Sweet, E.S., Standish, L.J., Drescher, C.W., Goff, B.A. The effects of regular exercise and yoga on health-related quality of life among ovarian cancer survivors. Gynecol Oncol. 2011 Nov; 123(2):432-37
  • Standish, L.J., Novack, J., Wenner, C.A., Sweet, E.S., Torkelson, C., Slaton, J. 2007. Breast cancer and the immune system. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008 Fall; 6(4):158-68.
  • Standish, L.J., Wenner, C.A., Sweet, E.S., Bridge, C., Nelson, A., Martzen, M.R., Novack, J., Torkelson, C. 2007. Trametes versicolor mushroom immune therapy in breast cancer. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008 summer; 6(3): 122-8.
  • Sweet, E.S. Immune Defects in Breast Cancer Patients after Radiotherapy. International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine, 2008
  • Standish, L., Torkelson, C., Hamill, F.A., Yim, D., Fitzpatrick, A., Olsen, M., Sweet, E., Wenner, CA, Martzen,
    M. 2007. Immune defects in breast cancer patients after radiotherapy. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2008 summer; 6(3):110-21