Cancer treatments are intended to improve medical outcomes yet often come with numerous side effects that negatively influence sleep, energy levels, pain, mood, and overall well-being. Across oncology settings, patients are increasingly turning to integrative modalities to manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and feel a greater sense of control during and after treatment (Romeiser et al., 2026).
Integrative Oncology is defined as:
“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 et al., 2017).
This includes things like meditation/mindfulness, yoga, tai chi/qigong, exercise, expressive arts (music, dance, visual arts, writing), herbs/supplements, diet/nutrition, massage, reiki/healing touch, acupuncture/acupressure, and medicinal cannabis (Witt et al., 2017; Romeiser et al., 2026).
Estimates suggest that anywhere between 40% and 80% of cancer patients and survivors use some form of complementary or integrative approach (Judson et al., 2017; Romeiser et al., 2026; Sanford et al., 2019), with Stanford et al. (2019) stating the most used integrative approach is herbal supplements and mind-body interventions being most utilized in other studies (Romeiser et al., 2026). While this growing interest reflects a meaningful shift toward whole-person care, it also introduces important challenges—particularly around communication, safety, and access to reliable information.
Notably, a substantial portion of patients do not disclose their use of integrative therapies to their oncology team. Research indicates that 30–40% of patients keep this information to themselves (Sanford et al., 2019). Many report that providers simply did not ask, while others believe disclosure is unnecessary or assume their provider lacks knowledge about these therapies. At the same time, patients are often navigating a complex and unregulated information landscape, especially when navigating herbal supplements, gathering recommendations from the internet, social media, and personal networks (Akeeb et al., 2023). This can result in varying levels of understanding about what is safe, effective, or potentially harmful.
Additionally, not all integrative modalities carry the same level of evidence or safety. Some approaches, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced nausea, or gentle movement practices like yoga, have demonstrated benefit and can be safely incorporated alongside conventional treatment. Others, including certain herbal supplements, may interfere with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy, posing real risks. This underscores the need for informed guidance and collaborative care.
These common communication gaps and differential risk profiles create a clear opportunity for oncology social workers. Positioned at the intersection of psychosocial and medical care, social workers are uniquely equipped to facilitate open dialogue about integrative modality use. Through rapport-building, holistic assessment, and extended patient contact, social workers often learn information that may not surface in brief medical visits. These interactions create natural openings to explore patients’ use of supplements, mind-body practices, complementary therapies, and lifestyle practices without judgment and with genuine curiosity.
Oncology social workers can play a pivotal role in this process by helping patients critically evaluate the information they encounter and by directing them toward reputable, evidence-based resources. A few resources we found helpful for unbiased information on integrative cancer care are CancerChoices or About Herbs.
Equally important is encouraging patients to communicate openly with their oncology providers about any integrative therapies they may be considering or are currently using. Framing these conversations as a standard part of care rather than something “extra” or outside the medical model can help normalize disclosure and reduce patient hesitation.
Beyond individual patient support, social workers can advocate for systemic changes including incorporating routine screening questions about integrative therapy use into psychosocial assessments, developing resource lists tailored to local and virtual services, or collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to integrate evidence-based modalities into supportive care offerings.
As integrative oncology continues to evolve, the role of the oncology social worker remains essential. By bridging communication gaps and supporting informed decision-making, social workers help ensure that patients can safely access the full spectrum of supportive care options available to them. In doing so, they not only enhance symptom management and quality of life but also reinforce a model of care that honors the complexity and humanity of each patient’s cancer experience.
If you are interested in continuing the conversation about integrative oncology and oncology social work, please join our special interest group. You are also welcome to reach out to us directly.
References
Akeeb, A. A., King, S. M., Olaku, O., & White, J. D. (2023). Communication between cancer patients and physicians about complementary and alternative medicine: A systematic review. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 29(2), 80–98. https://doi.org/10.1089/jicm.2022.0516.
Judson, P. L., Abdallah, R., Xiong, Y., Ebbert, J., & Lancaster, J. M. (2017). Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Individuals Presenting for Care at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Integrative cancer therapies, 16(1), 96–103. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735416660384.
Romeiser, J. L., Chen, Z., Nanavati, K., & Williams, A. A. (2026). Correlates and patterns of using complementary health approaches among individuals with recent and longer-term cancer diagnoses: a US national cross-sectional study. Journal of cancer survivorship: research and practice, 20(2), 496–505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-024-01665-5.
Sanford, N. N., Sher, D. J., Ahn, C., Aizer, A. A., & Mahal, B. A. (2019). Prevalence and Nondisclosure of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Patients With Cancer and Cancer Survivors in the United States. JAMA oncology, 5(5), 735–737. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.0349.
Witt, C. M., Balneaves, L. G., Cardoso, M. J., Cohen, L., Greenlee, H., Johnstone, P., Ömer Kücük, Ö., Mailman, J., Mao, J. J. (2017). A Comprehensive Definition for Integrative Oncology. J Natl Cancer InstMonogr, 2017(52).
