Where Are the Integrative Oncologists?
Quite often I get the question, “Where are the integrative oncologists around here?” The answer is that it depends on where you live. Unfortunately, unless you live near a large medical school, you will probably have trouble finding one. Prominent medical schools at universities like University of California San Francisco, Harvard, Stanford, Duke, and University of Colorado have centers for integrative medicine. Of the top 20 medical school in the U.S., 14 have such centers. Most of these have cancer departments which offer or provide referrals for integrative therapies. A few non-educational related integrative cancer providers such as Cancer Centers of America are also available to the public. Beyond these, obtaining integrative therapies usually involves considerable travel for the patient.
If I wanted integrative care, I would have to drive over 5 hours each way for every treatment. That would require an overnight stay each time. A major aspect of my pursuit to expand integrative oncology is to convince oncologists across America to reinvent their whole approach to cancer therapy by learning and practicing complementary therapies. It would be a whole new concept for them. But, when the concept has been proven time and again to be effective in increasing survivability, reducing side effects, and cutting costs, why are traditional oncologists not being captured by its potential? The answer is that it is a significant change, a major workload, might reduce revenues, and is currently easy to ignore.
My book, this blog, and the efforts of many other integrative medicine proponents will continue aggressively to make the new strategy for the war on cancer difficult for any oncologist to ignore. Your help and support is needed.