Patient-Provider Communication

A huge communication gap exists between people with cancer and their oncologists about integrative cancer care. Components of integrative cancer care are widely used by people with cancer, but rarely discussed with oncologists.¹

Whose is responsible for raising the topic of integrative cancer care during patient-provider consultations?

Research studies and recommendations from the Society for Integrative Oncology state it is the physician's responsibility to inquire about the use of cancer complementary and alternative therapies as a routine part of initial evaluations of cancer patients^1-3. The physician's inquiry supports patient-centered cancer care.

The reality is that people with cancer often need to bring up the topic about integrative cancer care with their conventional cancer providers. Prepare the information to share. Providing or even mentioning evidence-based information about your integrative cancer and holistic treatments supports your relationship with your conventional cancer providers, their education, and helping to advance integrative cancer care.

What are some resources and tips to help people with cancer and their loved ones communicate with providers?

Questions for Evaluating Cancer Treatments and Providers contains some suggested questions to support communication with providers about cancer treatments and other topics related to an intergrative cancer care model.

People with cancer must remember that an integrative cancer care plan is best orchestrated by a provider with expertise in integrative cancer care.

Most providers, conventional or otherwise, will not have complete knowledge about all possible integrative cancer care interventions. Studies indicate that education in the principles of integrative oncology and evidence-based complementary therapies is lacking⁴. Communication about integrative cancer care with providers lacking knowledge about such interventions becomes problematic when providers draw conclusions regarding therapies about which they have no knowledge. Ask for evidence related to cautions expressed by providers.

A willingness to share your full story has other potential benefits. Communicating with conventional cancer care provider about integrative cancer care will inform physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals about your needs, the helpfulness of varied approaches through an integrative model, and potentially assist in creating a bridge between both worlds.

Why is it important to communicate the scope of your integrative cancer care plan with your conventional cancer care providers?

The Pine Street Foundation's article "How to Tell Your Physician You're Using Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Why It's Important for Them to be Informed" highlights the importance of an open dialogue between doctors and cancer patients about the combined usage of conventional and alternative cancer treatments. But also know that physicians and other health care professionals with expertise in integrative cancer care are likely more informed about drug-supplement/herb and other potential interactions.

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References

1. Deng GE, Frenkel M, Cohen L, Cassileth BR, Abrams DI, Capodice JL, Courneya KS, Dryden T, Hanser S, Kumar N, Labriola D, Wardell DW, Sagar S; Society for Integrative Oncology. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: complementary therapies and botanicals. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2009 Summer;7(3):85-120. PubMed PMID: 19706235.
2. Verhoef MJ, Boon HS, Page SA. Talking to cancer patients about complementary therapies: is it the physician's responsibility? Curr Oncol. 2008 Aug;15 Suppl 2:s88-93. PubMed PMID: 18769581; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2528563.
3. Shelley BM, Sussman AL, Williams RL, Segal AR, Crabtree BF; Rios Net Clinicians. 'They don't ask me so I don't tell them': patient-clinician communication about traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine. Ann Fam Med. 2009 Mar-Apr;7(2):139-47. PubMed PMID: 19273869; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2653970.
4. Sagar SM, Lawenda BD. The role of integrative oncology in a tertiary prevention survivorship program. Prev Med. 2009 Aug-Sep;49(2-3):93-8. Epub 2009 Jun 10. PubMed PMID: 19523482.