What is integrative oncology and can it help my patients?

Integrative oncology lends itself to the comprehensive practice of gynecologic oncology with multiple tools and interventions that can impact on QoL and survival. However, there remains a paucity of well-designed, well-powered randomized control trials on various CAM modalities for gynecologic cancer patients. The reasons for the lack of level 1 evidence include the nascent state of integrative medicine as a science, the limitations on CAM funding, the relative lack of integration of CAM practitioners into the oncology community, and absence of strict regulation of herbs and supplements by the US FDA. The use of CAM as adjunctive therapies will likely continue given the patient-driven trends to date, and given the evidence for at least safety and potentially efficacy, our patients deserve our willingness to use all possible approaches to improving their outcomes. Continued evolution of our ability to specifically measure and describe QoL will further our ability to hone in on domains most important to patients and their survival and allow practitioners to make patient-specific recommendations. Multimodal programs that include physical activity, stress management, and diet have the potential to address demonstrated deficits in PWB and FWB in ovarian cancer patients which suggests a model of collaborative gynecologic oncology care). Integrative oncology represents a holistic approach to patient care whose goal is maximization of patient quantity and quality of life. Patients can achieve this optimal outcome through the synergy of conventional care, integrative modalities, lifestyle modifications, and supportive care. Refer to Table 4 for a listing of integrated medicine Internet resources.