Integrative Medicine and Cancer: 5 Ways to Incorporate Integrative Oncology into Routine Clinical Practice

Auteurs-es

  • Safiya Karim
  • Claire Browne
  • Linda E. Carlson

Résumé

Key Messages

• Integrative oncology is patient-centred, evidence-informed field of comprehensive cancer care that utilizes mind-body practices, natural products and lifestyle modifications alongside conventional cancer treatment.

• The Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have produced four evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative therapies in oncology care.

• Practioners may consider non-pharmacologic evidence-based integrative therapies for a variety of cancer and treated related symptoms.

• Encouraging patients to eat a high-quality diet and to be active before, during, and after cancer treatment is beneficial.

• Establishing trust with patients who use dietary supplements is important in developing a therapeutic relationship.

Biographies de l'auteur-e

Safiya Karim

Safiya Karim is a Medical Oncologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the Arthur J.E Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the University of Calgary. Her clinical practice is in gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers. Her research interests include real-world evidence and outcomes, quality improvement, and global oncology. Nationally, she is the chair of the Choosing Wisely Oncology working group. She also serves as the director of the Medical Oncology Fellowship Program and Assistant Director of the Oncology Outcomes (02) program. She has published more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts in high quality journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, JAMA Oncology, and Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.

Claire Browne

Dr. Claire Browne is currently completing her fellowship at the University of Calgary in Integrative Oncology and Palliative Care. She earned her MD degree from Western University, where she also completed her residencies in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.

Linda E. Carlson

Dr. Linda Carlson holds the Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology and is a Full Professor in the Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. She directs the Alberta Complementary Therapy and Integrative Oncology (ACTION) Centre and has provided clinical care at Cancer Care Alberta since 1997. A globally recognized leader in mindfulness-based cancer recovery and integrative oncology, Dr. Carlson has published over 280 peer-reviewed works, co-authored influential books, and received numerous prestigious awards, including the 2023 Dr. Rogers Prize in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She also serves as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, is Past-President of the Society for Integrative Oncology and Treasurer for the International Society for Contemplative Research.

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Publié

2026-04-14

Comment citer

Integrative Medicine and Cancer: 5 Ways to Incorporate Integrative Oncology into Routine Clinical Practice. (2026). Canadian Oncology Today, 3(1), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.58931/cot.2026.3147

Numéro

Volume 3, Issue 1, Spring 2026

Rubrique

Articles

Licence

© Canadian Oncology Today 2026

Licence Creative Commons

Cette œuvre est sous licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale - Pas de Modification 4.0 International.

Comment citer

Integrative Medicine and Cancer: 5 Ways to Incorporate Integrative Oncology into Routine Clinical Practice. (2026). Canadian Oncology Today, 3(1), 28–33. https://doi.org/10.58931/cot.2026.3147