P06.07
Purpose: In order to tackle side effects of anticancer treatment an “Integrative Oncology Outpatient Clinic” was started in the public hospital of Lucca where a CAM expert and an oncologist provide diet advices, qualified information and evidence-based indications about CAM and their potential interactions with anticancer drugs.
Methods: Near all patients are referred by their medical oncologists. All patients were calculated BMI and when needed a diet was prescribed. Also apply pre-defined simple protocols to reduce some of the side effects of cancer therapies, indication of therapeutic sessions of acupuncture/homeopathy to decrease side effects in chemotherapy/radiotherapy and during antihormonal treatments such as hot flashes in order to obtain an improvement of the quality of life.
Results: From October 2010 till April 2012 and from January to September 2013, 117 patients have been visited (16 male and 91 female); the average age is 56 (32–88) years; 82 patients with breast cancer, 6 gynecologic cancer, 12 gastro-intestinal cancer, 2 head and neck cancer, 4 prostate cancer, 1 brain cancer, 4 NSCLC, 4 hematologic and 3 other cancer; 26 % had already metastasis. 40% of patients asked for information about CAM in oncology. 10% of patients were using CAM for other purposes before cancer diagnosis: most were women with high level of education. 17 % of patients were using “alternative therapy” often instead of anticancer treatment. We observed an improvement in the quality of life with decreased hot flash frequency and severity, fatigue, anxiety and depression; weight loss with better lipid profile in patients with diet therapy and decrease of NASH.
Conclusion: A clinic of integrative oncology seems to give the possibility to reduce the adverse effects of anticancer therapy; to investigate interactions between CAM and antiblastics and to advise patients about the potential harmful effect of alternative treatment used instead of fully proven anticancer therapy
Contact: Elio Giovanni Rossi, omeopatia@usl2.toscana.it
