Synthesis and Educational Overview of the ASCO-Society of Integrative Oncology Guidelines: On the Path to...

Cancer care is rapidly changing. Advances in treatments therapeutics, such as gene and immunotherapies, have revolutionized patient outcomes and given new hope to survivors and cosurvivors. Despite these advances, disease- and treatment-related symptoms remain prevalent; impact quality of life, treatment tolerance, and clinical outcomes; and may persist for years after the diagnosis. Integrative oncology (IO) has been defined as a patient-centered, evidence-informed field of cancer care that uses mind and body practices, natural products, and/or lifestyle modifications from different traditions alongside conventional cancer treatments. IO aims to optimize health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes across the cancer care continuum and to empower people to prevent cancer and become active participants before, during, and beyond cancer treatment. Guidelines by The Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO) with subsequent endorsement by ASCO Expert Panel have been developed for cancer pain management, depression and anxiety, and fatigue. This set of evidence-based IO guidelines provide a new set of supportive care tools for cancer care. As most National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers now offer IO care, the interest in nonpharmacologic care has increased for both patients and health professionals. This manuscript will review the evidence-based ASCO-SIO guidelines, discuss strategies for their successful implementation within standard-of-care treatment models, and review nonjudgmental communication approaches to foster collaborative integrative care.