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Using complementary approaches with real evidence, such as acupuncture for nausea and pain, yoga and mindfulness for anxiety and fatigue, alongside standard treatment, while steering patients away from unproven 'alternative' therapies that can shorten life.
Integrative oncology combines conventional treatment with mind-body practices, acupuncture, massage, music therapy, exercise and nutrition guidance. SIO-ASCO guidelines (2018 breast; 2022 pain; 2023 anxiety and depression; 2024 fatigue) endorse acupuncture (aromatase-inhibitor arthralgia, S1200 trial; CINV; pain), yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi/qigong, music therapy, hypnosis and massage for specific symptoms, and advise against most supplements during treatment because of interactions and lack of benefit (antioxidants may worsen outcomes, DELCaP). Use of alternative medicine instead of conventional treatment doubles mortality (Johnson, JNCI 2018). Major centres (MSK, MD Anderson, Dana-Farber) run integrative programmes and MSK's 'About Herbs' database documents interactions.
Apply the same evidentiary standards to complementary therapies as to drugs, offering those with randomised support for symptom control while communicating openly about the ~40% of patients who use supplements or alternative therapies.
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Complementary approaches used alongside treatment are one thing; substituting an alternative therapy for surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy in a curable cancer is associated with a large increase in the risk of dying. The finding is the evidence base for offering complementary therapies inside cancer centres and for asking every patient, without judgement, what else they are using.
Query for this technology: (TITLE:"Evidence-based integrative oncology" OR ABSTRACT:"Evidence-based integrative oncology") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Evidence-based integrative oncology, not a curated reading list.
Shares Music therapy and music medicine, Massage therapy in cancer care, Cancer pain management, Supportive care and survivorship roadmap: making treatment bearable → proving it extends life → caring for tens of millions afterwards and the tag supportive.
Shares Glutamine for mucositis and neuropathy, Supportive care and survivorship roadmap: making treatment bearable → proving it extends life → caring for tens of millions afterwards, Diet, exercise and lifestyle roadmap: causes established → interventions that disappointed → exercise proven as treatment, Exercise & lifestyle oncology and the tag supportive.
Shares Cancer pain management, Supportive care and survivorship roadmap: making treatment bearable → proving it extends life → caring for tens of millions afterwards and the tag supportive.
Shares Hyperbaric oxygen for late radiation injury, Cancer pain management and the tag supportive.
Shares Supportive care and survivorship roadmap: making treatment bearable → proving it extends life → caring for tens of millions afterwards, Diet, exercise and lifestyle roadmap: causes established → interventions that disappointed → exercise proven as treatment, Exercise & lifestyle oncology and the tag supportive.
Shares Antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, Psycho-oncology and distress screening and the tag supportive.
Shares Cancer pain management and the tag supportive.
Shares Antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and the tag supportive.