Episode 7. What is Integrative Oncology?

This episode talks with Dr. Kavita Mishra, an integrative oncologist, who explains how you can integrate many other aspects of health and wellbeing to supplement medical care to improve quality of life and cancer risk

Integrative oncology topics include nutrition, physical activity, mind-body practices, yoga, sleep hygiene, acupuncture, bodywork therapy, guided imagery, meditation and more!

Specifically we discuss:

• What is integrative Oncology?

• How to find an integrative oncology center?

  • Osher Center for Integrative Oncology

  • Society for Integrative Oncology

• Main topics covered with resources:

  • Nutrition:

    • American Institute for Cancer Research

      • https://www.aicr.org/cancer-prevention/healthy-eating/

    • World Cancer Research Fund International

      • https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/

    • American Cancer Society

      • https://www.cancer.org/healthy/eat-healthy-get-active/acs-guidelines-nutrition-physical-activity-cancer-prevention/guidelines.html

    • UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health

      • https://osher.ucsf.edu/patient-care/integrative-medicine-resources/cancer-and-nutrition

     

    Exercise

    • Moving Thru Cancer – Exercise is Medicine

      • https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/eim-in-action/moving-through-cancer/

    • The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offer specialty training. Can search for an ACSM- or APTA-certified provider near you.

      • https://www.acsm.org/get-stay-certified/find-a-pro

      • https://aptaapps.apta.org/APTAPTDirectory/FindAPTDirectory.aspx

    • American Cancer Society

      • https://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorship-during-and-after-treatment/staying-active/physical-activity-and-the-cancer-patient.html

     

    Mind-Body Medicine:

    • Walking meditation Greater Good in Action: https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/walking_meditation

    • Anticancer Lifestyle Program: https://anticancerlifestyle.org/resources-topic/mindset/

    • UCSF MBSR course: https://osher.ucsf.edu/public-classes/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction-mbsr

    • MBCR: https://www.mindfulcancerrecovery.com

     

    Herbs/Supplements:

    • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance

    • NCI Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine: https://cam.cancer.gov/health_information/for_patients.htm; https://cam.cancer.gov/health_information/cam_therapies_a-z.htm

    • NIH, Office of Dietary Supplements: https://ods.od.nih.gov; https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/

     

Kavita Mishra, MD, MPH

Dr. Kavita K. Mishra is an internationally renowned radiation oncologist focused on the treatment of ocular melanoma at UCSF. She is a Professor and Director of the Ocular Tumor Radiation Therapy Program and Faculty at the Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Mishra went to Harvard College for her undergraduate followed by her medical degree and radiation oncology training at UCSF.  She completed a masters degree at the Harvard School of Public Health and a fellowship in integrative health at UCSF. 

Not only does Dr. Mishra treat cancer patients as a radiation oncologist, she also provides integrative oncology care with individual consults and group visits focused on mindfulness. She uses scientific evidence to support cancer care with integrative healing approaches. These approaches include mind-body practices, nutrition, physical activity, yoga, sleep hygiene, acupuncture, bodywork therapy, guided imagery, and meditation. Dr. Mishra’s goals are to enhance the quality of life and well-being of patients during and beyond the cancer journey.