The most important terms and expressions of our subject area briefly explained.
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. Integrative oncology aims to optimize health, quality of life, and clinical outcomes across the cancer care continuum, and to empower people to prevent cancer and become active participants before, during, and beyond cancer treatment.
Witt, C. M., Balneaves, L. G., Cardoso, M. J., Cohen, L., Greenlee, H., Johnstone, P., Kücük, Ö., Mailman, J., & Mao, J. J. (2017). A comprehensive definition for integrative oncology. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs, (52), 10. Link.
Integrative health is a state of well-being in body, mind and spirit that reflects aspects of the individual, community, and population.
It is affected by: (1) individual biological factors and behaviors, social values, and public policy, (2) the physical, social, and economic environments, and (3) an integrative healthcare system that involves the active participation of the individual and the healthcare team in applying a broad spectrum of preventive and therapeutic approaches.
Integrative health encourages individuals, social groups, and communities to deveop ways of living that promote meaning, resilience and wellbeing across the life course.
Witt, C.M., Chiaramonte, D., Berman, S., Chesney, M.A., Kaplan, G.A., Stange, K.C., Woolf, S.H. & Berman, B.M. (2017). Defining health in a comprehensive context: A new definition of integrative health. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 53(1), 134-137. Link.