You might have heard the term integrative oncology and not understood what it actually means. Integrative oncology is where different medical professionals or specialists come together to offer patients a more holistic approach to health care. This could even include mind and body therapies such as yoga and mindfulness. Do you want to know more about holistic cancer care?

Join us in this episode as we talk to Dr Vanessa Brunelli, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong. Vanessa has a long background in oncology nursing and talks about the holistic care of cancer patients and how this is of immense benefit to the patients themselves.

She discusses the benefits of using tools such as visualisation to control anxieties that might be common for patients who need to undergo scans and other types of medical procedures. She also talks about the importance of timing when it comes to exploring complementary therapies such as yoga, pilates, tai chi and acupuncture so that patients aren’t negatively affected.

Another important aspect that Vanessa discusses is the benefits that these complementary therapies can have for the primary carers of cancer patients.

So, if you like the concept of a more holistic approach to your cancer care or you’re a carer who could benefit from some self-care, make sure that you listen in.

Additional Resources:

Congress For Patients website:

https://congressforpatients.com.au/

ASCO abstract:

How to Make Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine a Part of Everyday Oncology Practice

Integrative Health - complementary therapies that enhance wellness for people affected by breast cancer.

Society of Integrative Oncology

SIO Practice Guidelines