Globally, the combined prevalence of use of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative medicine (TCIM) by people with cancer is 51%, and a high proportion of patients use TCIM without consulting their conventional healthcare providers. Reasons for use include to minimise symptoms from cancer and its treatments, cultural beliefs, enhancement of well-being, self-management, and to utilise a holistic approach.
Integrative oncology is a patient-centered, evidence-informed field of cancer care that utilizes mind and body practices, natural products, and/or lifestyle modifications from different traditions alongside conventional cancer treatments. Evidence for effectiveness of TCIM for alleviating symptoms of cancer and its treatments is growing. However, integrative oncology centres, which integrate TCIM with conventional cancer care, largely exist in high-income countries (HICs) such as the USA. In low to middle income countries (LMICs) access to high quality and affordable cancer care can be extremely limited, and TCIM is frequently sought as the only form of healthcare, usually with a minimal degree of integration with conventional cancer care.
There are a number of challenges with the provision of integrative oncology worldwide, including affordability/funding of services, availability of a skilled workforce, and varying levels of investment in research on TCIM. Priorities for advancement of integrative oncology globally, established at a recent NCI-NIH conference, include education of TCIM providers, building the research base and research capacity, and implementing culturally appropriate evidence-based interventions in survivorship and palliative care so patients with cancer from all cultures can live with respect, dignity and vitality. Opportunities exist to utilise the TCIM workforce in health promotion at all stages of the cancer continuum and to systematically advance research and policy on culturally appropriate provision of integrative oncology worldwide to ensure optimal health and well-being of all people with cancer.