In May, the Gergina Foundation participated in a European policy webinar “A new look into cancer care: the added value of Integrative Oncology” which explored the benefits of integrative oncology for people touched by cancer, as well as the best practices of integration across Europe.
The webinar was organized by the Members of the European Parliament’s Interest Group on Integrative Medicine and Health, in partnership with the European Society for Integrative Medicine (ESIM) and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. It builds on previous roundtables and the 2022 Report by the European Parliament titled Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer.
Integrative care and sustainable health for citizens in the Union is likely to remain a key priority for new European Parliament stepping in June 2024, and a new interest group in this topic will continue for a third consecutive term. The European advocacy movement for complementary and alternative medicine, represented by EUROCAM, counts with 1500 patients and 260 organisations.
The main health challenges identified by this coalition are: microbial resistance, mental health, and noncommunicative disease, and chiefly cancer, which is expected to become the leading cause of death in Europe and the world. The political significance of cancer, therefore, cannot be overstated. And MEP Manuela Ripa of Germany highlighted the importance of integrative oncology and the much-needed holistic and patient-centered approach to cancer patients.
During presentations and discussions, a lot of emphasis was placed on the heavy burden on individuals and society posed by cancer- in mental, emotional, and financial terms. Various modalities of integrative care were discussed, but there was an emphasis on the need to shift attitudes and the perception of people; seeing people as biopsychosocial and spiritual beings (as persons not just patients) was stated as a chief need of enriching the medical system.
Ayurveda’s promising potentials for Integrative Oncology were highlighted, and a special ambassador of the European Society for Integrative Oncology is in residence at the new WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India.
Dr. Jalid Sehouli of Charité highlighted that while integrative oncology is already part of the continuum of oncology care, there is a need for more “structure– specifically, of dancers, and artists sitting into the oncology departments”.
Patient voices in the room also highlighted the benefits of creative and expressive therapies as part of cancer care. And added importance nuance and considerations:
“Affordability is one of the leading challenges for patients: non-evidence treatments are non-refundable and come at a high cost to patients, posing a serious challenge to accessibility – even acupuncture is still on that list”. Speaking about the challenge of affordability, a patient mentioned “The MonaLisa Touch treatments I needed to treat decreased libido because of cancer treatment cost 200 euro for each session. I needed 4, and it was not possible to access- but it cost me a relationship.”
The needs to building knowledge, information, and awareness were also highlighted as key. There is still scattered information about integrative oncology treatments in Europe – with no central access point. Many patients have completed significant education but this has not prepared them for this challenge. Another patient stated: “I studied for 9 years to get classical training: but it taught me nothing about nutrition, or taking care of my body”.
In the words of another, “Cancer is a gift and a curse – it supports my growth, contacts with many people I’ve come to meet on my new path; but it also brings isolation, misunderstanding, and lots of confusion.” In particular, classical doctors were said to lack the awareness in integrative oncology and what ‘can ease suffering and support expansion’. And there is still lack of understanding in workspace and society about the side effects of disease and treatment.
Patients called for exchange programs and awareness raising for complementary therapies, for both patients and doctors: “put together the disciplines, integrate curricula, open minds of doctors – think of creative incentives.”
Europe is one of the leaders of Integrative oncology (IO), with a concentration of centers in Germany, Italy, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands. While there are numerous centers emerging, the ecosystem is still nascent. Speakers were adamant that collaboration of IO centers is what is needed.
In summary, while the shift toward whole-person cancer care is underway, much remains to be done. In the words of the speakers: “There are excellent islands of holistic oncology in Europe, but too much water in between.”
We would add, that even in the islands where IO is well rooted, further development is needed vertically – in accessing new viewpoints and understandings of cancer and health, that could lead to the use of IO not just for palliative care and pain management, but as curative. That is, a more integral oncology that could lead to discovering the newer curative combinations of non-invasive treatments– fully honoring the patient, the broader life intelligence and stating from ‘what the soul wants.’