Scientific Research Supports the Utilization of Mental Techniques such as Meditation and Music to Alleviate Anxiety Linked to Cancer
Integrative Oncology: A Holistic Approach to Cancer Care
In a shift towards comprehensive cancer management, integrative oncology is gaining traction as a holistic approach that combines conventional Western treatments with complementary therapies. This approach, which emphasizes whole-person care, aims to improve overall well-being, relieve symptoms, and manage side effects of cancer and its treatments.
According to the latest national guidelines, mind-body techniques, including mindfulness meditation, are recommended for cancer patients to ease anxiety and depression during and after treatment. These techniques, such as yoga, hypnosis, acupuncture, and music therapy, have shown strong enough evidence to be recommended to patients [1][2][3].
Mind-body therapies engage mental and emotional faculties to improve well-being, while body-based therapies involve physical touch or movement. These therapies are generally safe and used alongside cancer treatments to ease symptoms and improve well-being, but should be coordinated with medical care to avoid risks [1][4].
Leading cancer centers, like the City of Hope, prioritize integrative oncology programs that prioritize therapies with proven clinical benefits and safety, rigorously researching promising interventions to ensure they are scientifically validated before recommending them widely [2].
The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) convened an expert panel that produced these guidelines, which were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. A clinical trial evaluating music therapy for breast cancer patients receiving radiation treatment is currently open [4].
At the Wilmot Cancer Institute, integrative oncology services are available, cost-free, for all patients in a 27-county upstate New York region. The Pluta Integrative Oncology and Wellness Center offers professional nutrition advice, massage, and other services. Alissa Huston, an associate professor of Medicine and Hematology/Oncology at the Wilmot Cancer Institute and co-medical director of the Pluta Integrative Oncology and Wellness Center, was part of a national team that reviewed scientific data and made recommendations based on clinical study outcomes [4].
Patients are advised to discuss all vitamins and supplements they are taking with their physicians, as supplements were not recommended due to inconclusive scientific data and potential unsafe interactions with cancer medications. Links to classes with a Zoom link and more information about meditation are available online [4].
It's important to note that integrative oncology is specific to cancer and emphasizes lifestyle changes and mind-body practices. The guidelines aim to help patients with decision-making and educate them about what is effective and safe. More than 40 percent of individuals with cancer report anxiety or depression associated with the diagnosis and may suffer a reduced quality of life [4].
However, it's crucial to remember that integrative medicine combines well-researched complementary therapies with conventional medicine, not as a replacement for standard treatments, but as supportive care within cancer treatment plans. The goal is improved quality of life, symptom control, and enhancing patients' ability to complete cancer therapy [3][4].
References:
[1] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2021). Integrative Health: What It Is and Why It Matters. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/integrative-health
[2] National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2021). Integrative Oncology. Retrieved from https://www.nccn.org/patients/resources/integrative_oncology/
[3] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam
[4] Huston, A. (2021). Integrative Oncology: A New Paradigm in Cancer Care. Retrieved from https://www.wilmot.urmc.rochester.edu/news/integrative-oncology-new-paradigm-cancer-care
- The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) advocate for mind-body techniques like mindfulness meditation, yoga, hypnosis, and music therapy to manage mental-health issues in cancer patients.
- Integrative oncology programs, such as those at leading cancer centers like City of Hope, prioritize clinical studies to validate the safety and efficacy of various therapies and supplements in relation to medical-conditions like cancer.
- As part of comprehensive cancer care, integrative oncology emphasizes nutrition as a critical component, offering professional advice on health-and-wellness, with nutritional services being a part of integrative oncology centers like the Pluta Integrative Oncology and Wellness Center.
- Patients undergoing cancer therapies and treatments are encouraged to discuss their use of supplements with their physicians, as their interactions with cancer medications can pose potential risks.
