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Objective: Integrative oncology (IO) is increasingly becoming part of palliative cancer care. This study examined the correlation between an IO treatment program and rates of survival among patients with advanced gynecological cancer., Methods: Patients were referred by their oncology healthcare professionals to an integrative physician (IP) for consultation and IO treatments. Those undergoing at least 4 treatments during the 6 weeks following the consultation were considered adherence to the integrative care program (AIC), versus non-adherent (non-AIC). Survival was monitored for a period of 3 years, comparing the AIC vs. non-AIC groups, as well as controls who did not attend the IP consultation., Results: A total of 189 patients were included: 71 in the AIC group, 44 non-AIC, and 74 controls. Overall 3-year survival was greater in the AIC group (vs. non-AIC, p = 0.012; vs. controls, p = 0.003), with no difference found between non-AIC and controls (p = 0.954). Multimodal IO programs (≥ 3 modalities) were correlated in the AIC group with greater overall 3-year survival (p = 0.027). Greater rates of survival were also found in the AIC group at 12 (p = 0.004) and 18 months (p = 0.001). When compared with the AIC group, a multivariate analysis found higher crude and adjusted hazard ratios for 3-year mortality in the non-AIC group (HR 95% CI 2.18 (1.2-3.9), p = 0.010) and controls (2.23 (1.35-3.7), p = 0.002)., Conclusion: Adherence to an IO treatment program was associated with higher survival rates among patients with advanced gynecological cancer. Larger prospective trials are needed to explore whether the IO setting enhances patients' resilience, coping, and adherence to oncology treatment.

Background: In this study, the impact of a multimodal integrative oncology pre‐ and intraoperative intervention on pain and anxiety among patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery was explored. Methods: Study participants were randomized to three groups: Group A received preoperative touch/relaxation techniques, followed by intraoperative acupuncture; Group B received preoperative touch/relaxation only; and a control group (Group C) received standard care. Pain and anxiety were scored before and after surgery using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCAW) and Quality of Recovery (QOR‐15) questionnaires, using Part B of the QOR to assess pain, anxiety, and other quality‐of‐life parameters. Results: A total of 99 patients participated in the study: 45 in Group A, 25 in Group B, and 29 in Group C. The three groups had similar baseline demographic and surgery‐related characteristics. Postoperative QOR‐Part B scores were significantly higher in the treatment groups (A and B) when compared with controls (p =.005), including for severe pain (p =.011) and anxiety (p =.007). Between‐group improvement for severe pain was observed in Group A compared with controls (p =.011). Within‐group improvement for QOR depression subscales was observed in only the intervention groups (p <0.0001). Compared with Group B, Group A had better improvement of MYCAW‐reported concerns (p =.025). Conclusions: A preoperative touch/relaxation intervention may significantly reduce postoperative anxiety, possibly depression, in patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery. The addition of intraoperative acupuncture significantly reduced severe pain when compared with controls. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and better understand the impact of intraoperative acupuncture on postoperative pain. Plain language summary: Integrative oncology programs are increasingly becoming part of supportive/palliative care, with many working within the Society for Integrative Oncology.This study examined the impact of a multimodal integrative oncology program on pain and anxiety among 99 patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery. Participants were randomized to three groups: preoperative touch/relaxation treatments, followed by intraoperative acupuncture; preoperative touch/relaxation without acupuncture; and a control group receiving standard care only.The preoperative touch/relaxation intervention significantly reduced perioperative anxiety, with the addition of intraoperative acupuncture significantly reducing severe pain as well, when compared with controls. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. Preoperative touch/relaxation reduces postoperative anxiety in patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery, whereas intraoperative acupuncture reduces severe pain more significantly than controls. The addition of intraoperative acupuncture to preoperative touch/relaxation improves perioperative patient concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture during gynecological oncology surgery: a randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of integrative therapies on perioperative pain and anxiety. Reply to "Assessing the impacts of integrative therapies on pain and anxiety after gynecological oncology surgery" Dear Editor The letter by Xue et al. raises several limitations to our published study, focusing on three methodological approaches used to assess the impact of the study intervention.[1] The first relates to the use of a visual analog score (VAS) measure to evaluate postoperative levels of pain, which did not examine I the patient's state i with regard to whether they were at rest or in movement. [Extracted from the article]