On June 21-22, part of our team had the pleasure of participating in the first SIO Europe meeting under the slogan Integrative Oncology Across the Patient Journey: Europe and Middle East Perspectives, which took place at the University of Oxford.
The conference, organized by the Society for Integrative Oncology, was devoted to integrative oncology – an approach that combines oncological treatment with complementary, scientifically documented methods that support the health and quality of life of patients.
The focus of the discussions was on the place of psycho-oncology, nutrition and physical activity in the process of cancer treatment, as well as the role of mind-body techniques in improving the mental well-being of patients. Discussions also focused on how to integrate supportive methods with modern forms of treatment, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapy. The clear boundary between complementary therapies based on scientific evidence and unproven methods that may be ineffective or even dangerous was emphasized. The importance of cooperation between specialists from various fields and the creation of a systemic model of care that responds to the real needs of patients at every stage of the disease was also emphasized.
Participation in the conference is an important step for us in deepening knowledge and international cooperation in the area of safe and effective support for oncology patients. We thank the organizers for the high level of content and space for open dialogue.
