Initiating Conversations on Integrative Oncology Amongst Cancer Professionals, Integrative Medicine Practitioners and Cancer Patients – The CANCERTALK Initiative

Abstract

Integrative Medicine (IM) is a philosophy and practice of medicine which addresses the whole person and not just symptoms of disease. It encompasses complementary and alternative therapies which work alongside mainstream medical treatments and may include aspects of nutrition, physical activity and mind-body therapies such as massage, aromatherapy and reflexology. Similarly, Integrative Oncology (IO) addresses the epigenetic changes which can cause cancer (with nutrition, exercise and lifestyle factors), above and beyond cancer genetics, through the use of complementary and alternative approaches on top of traditional cancer treatments. Between 40% and 60% of cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative therapies as part of Integrative Oncology, but only few will tell their oncologist or cancer nurse specialist. This is often because of the generalized lack of awareness from clinicians of the benefits of Integrative Oncology in improving cancer patient outcomes. In addition, there is currently no funding model in the UK National Health Service (NHS) that can support the routine use of complementary and alternative therapies in clinic. As a result, people with cancer tend to seek support from integrative oncology charities or private integrative practitioners. Our study is the first evaluation of a cancer podcast in UK which aims at initiating conversations between mainstream and integrative practitioners around the routine use of Integrative Oncology practices in the NHS. The purpose of the podcast initiation is to bridge the gap between mainstream and integrative medicine practitioners and pave the way to new models of Integrative Oncology care in the NHS. The results from the first six months of the program are very encouraging, in terms of clinician appetite to explore Integrative Oncology in their routine clinical practice. The next six months will see more mainstream clinicians becoming engaged in conversational talks, which will help lift the barriers to the adoption and diffusion of Integrative Oncology in UK.