Why Integrative Cancer Care
Integrative therapies alongside conventional cancer treatment aren't alternative medicine. Oncology bodies now publish guidelines on specific approaches for specific symptoms: some recommended outright, others only “may be offered” on weaker evidence. We say which is which.
Pain management
A joint guideline from the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), based on 227 studies, gives a moderate strength recommendation to acupuncture for aromatase inhibitor–related joint pain and for general cancer pain. Reflexology or acupressure may be offered, on weaker evidence. Massage is recommended for pain during palliative or hospice care, and hypnosis may be offered for procedural pain. Read the guideline.
Anxiety and depression
The 2023 SIO–ASCO guideline recommends mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety and depression during and after treatment. Yoga, relaxation, music therapy, acupuncture and hypnosis may be offered in some situations, on weaker evidence. Read the summary.
What this means for you
This is why we verify every practitioner's license before they can accept patients, and why we ask about your specific symptoms during onboarding — so we can point you toward the type of practitioner the evidence actually supports for what you're dealing with.
This page summarizes published clinical guidelines for general education. It is not medical advice, and it is not a claim about outcomes for any specific practitioner on this platform. Always talk to your oncology team before starting a new therapy.