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For decades, the University of Rochester has served as a hub for studying ways to define and improve cancer side effects. In fact, one of Wilmot Cancer Institute鈥檚 three research programs, Cancer Prevention & Control, has made many discoveries in this area, including the discovery that anti-nausea medication can help cancer patients, studies on how exercise can reduce fatigue among cancer patients, and science showing chemo-brain is real and should be acknowledged and addressed in patients with cancer.

On the clinical side, Wilmot Cancer Institute patients from any WCI location have access to virtual and in-person services from the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center (IOWC) at no charge, thanks to support from the Pluta Cancer Center Foundation.

What should patients know about managing their side effects and how can the Pluta IOWC help? Dr. Alissa Huston, co-medical director of IOWC and a breast cancer specialist, provides information and advice.

What is the difference between complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine??

Complementary medicine means doing something alongside conventional medicine. Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are considered conventional medicine. Researchers have studied these conventional therapies for decades and they have proven to lead to better outcomes for patients by reducing recurrence risks and, for many therapies, improving survival, despite often having side effects.

Alternative medicine is usually defined as doing something in place of conventional care, and that's something that we don't recommend. Alternative medicine therapies often lack the rigorous evidence conventional therapies have.

The Pluta IOWC takes an integrative medicine approach. What is integrative medicine? It is a patient-centered, evidenced-based approach using mind/body practices (such as meditation and yoga) and lifestyle interventions (such as exercise and nutrition), alongside conventional, scientifically proven treatments for cancer (such as chemotherapy and radiation) to maximize outcomes and quality of life for patients.

Why is it important that integrative therapies are backed by research?

When we think about any intervention for oncology patients, the recommendations we make are based on decades of research. It鈥檚 true for treatments like chemotherapy and surgery, as well as for interventions like yoga, meditation, and acupuncture. We want to ensure that what we recommend is not only safe but also that it is effective to address the specific problem at hand. If research shows something is not beneficial for a particular problem, we will not recommend it to the patient for that concern.

Guidelines like those recently published by a joint collaboration between the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Society for Integrative Oncology on fatigue in cancer patients or for cancer-related anxiety and depression look at all the data from a big-picture level and provide a summary that helps us know what modalities to recommend to individuals based on the side effects they are facing.

Integrative consultations can help patients understand what modalities are available and what could be most helpful. In these appointments, we sit down and go through your history, your cancer treatment journey, and specific side effects you are experiencing. Then we talk through our four core areas at the IOWC: exercise, nutrition, touch, and mind-body. We bridge these to create a personalized plan to help you through your cancer journey.

How should patients talk to their oncologist about side effects and integrative therapies?

Patients going through cancer treatment are usually going to develop side effects but thankfully, we have many great medicines and tools to help. If you鈥檙e experiencing a side effect that hasn鈥檛 been addressed, talk with your team and ask if there are other things beyond medicines you could try.

For example, research has shown exercise can improve some side effects, so many cancer patients wonder, can I exercise while going through chemo? It is a good idea to ask your oncologist about physical activity and what is safe for you, but in most cases, some kind of physical activity will be beneficial, even if that is just a short walk, a gentle yoga for cancer patients class, or another activity that you enjoy.

If you are a Wilmot patient interested in exercise or other practices to help you cope with side effects, you could ask for a referral to the IOWC. For specific services like acupuncture or oncology massage, an additional referral is required.

For patients outside Wilmot, ask your oncology team what resources may be available to help cancer patients.

When you are ready to try a complementary therapy like yoga or acupuncture, how important is it to find experts with cancer-specific training?

Many people in the community offer services like yoga or acupuncture, but, for those with cancer, it is important to find someone who specializes in cancer. They are not only experts in the modality you want to try, but they also understand the treatments that you're receiving, what you're going through, how those treatments can impact you, and what to be mindful of because of your treatments.

All the staff at the Pluta IOWC have extra training and experience working with cancer patients.

Are integrative therapies covered by insurance?

Many integrative therapies are not covered by insurance. However, Wilmot Cancer Institute patients seen at any location can take advantage of an integrative consultation and other services the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center offers at no charge to them, thanks to support from the Pluta Cancer Center Foundation. Patients can access many programs virtually and even on-demand for some of the classes that have been recorded and added to the .

In closing, can you summarize a few tips you would offer a cancer patient to help with symptom management?

Communicate: Bring up any side effects to your team. It鈥檚 important as there are many resources (including those in the IOWC) to help, and it does not mean you won鈥檛 be able to continue treatment.

Ask Questions: Ask your oncology team if exercise or other integrative modalities may be appropriate for you to combat side effects.

Try Wellness: Request a referral for an integrative consultation with the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center to come up with a personalized plan.

Prepare: If time allows, consider pre-habilitation, which helps build up your strength and stamina before you start chemo or have surgery.

Be open-minded: Try something new! These practices can benefit all genders, fitness levels, and backgrounds.

Use anywhere: Your location doesn鈥檛 limit you. The Pluta IOWC offers classes online and a video library is available for virtual access to the center鈥檚 resources.