From June 21 to 22, Oxford, UK will host the inaugural “SIO Europe” conference, the European chapter of the American Society of Integrative Oncology. This event highlights the increasing adoption of complementary medicine within cancer treatment. Across the United States, similar growth is underway, although in Italy, this movement is still developing unevenly, especially within public healthcare systems, where the availability of integrative approaches often falls short of the patients’ needs.
Over a Decade of Integration in Tuscany’s Healthcare System
More than fifteen years ago, Tuscany—an Italian region known as a leader in integrating complementary medicine into its public health services—began collaborating with the field of oncology. This joint effort involved bringing together experts in complementary therapies and oncologists to explore how integrative medicine might help reduce the side effects of cancer treatments and enhance patients’ quality of life. The collaboration initially focused on reviewing scientific literature regarding the use of integrative medicine to mitigate common adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Since then, the initiative has grown significantly. Today, there are 19 dedicated services across regional healthcare facilities providing therapies primarily such as acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbal medicine, and homeopathy. These treatments aim to alleviate symptoms and side effects associated with cancer therapies, including nausea, fatigue, pain, and other common issues faced by oncology patients.
Clinical Practice and Patient Outcomes in Tuscany
Annually, approximately 2,300 patients in Tuscany benefit from these services, with over 11,700 treatments performed. This ongoing clinical collaboration has fostered better communication and understanding among traditional oncologists and healthcare providers involved in integrated care. In response to the positive trends, the working group titled “Integration of Complementary Medicine in the Regional Oncology Network,” convenes periodically at the IRCCS (Institute for Research, Care, and Education in Cancer), known as ISPRO. Last autumn, this group decided to assess healthcare providers’ perceptions of the usefulness of these integrative activities through a dedicated survey.
Survey Findings: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives
The survey received responses from 176 healthcare professionals, with 54% being physicians—such as oncologists, surgical oncologists, and radiation specialists—and the remaining 46% comprising psychosocial staff, including psycho-oncologists, nurses, and healthcare assistants. The data is quite revealing: the majority of respondents view integrative oncology positively, recognizing its role as a supportive treatment and expressing willingness to recommend it to their patients.
Over 86% of respondents rated the impact of integrative oncology services as either useful, very useful, or moderately useful in improving patient care. Moreover, healthcare providers perceived patient satisfaction positively, with 89.3% indicating that patients’ responses to these treatments were favorable. Specifically, 82% of oncologists and 91% of other healthcare staff considered integrative medicine beneficial in supporting cancer patients.
Practitioner Use and Common Treatments Recommended
When it comes to actively recommending these services, over 90% of healthcare providers reported advising their patients to access integrative oncology clinics—ranging from occasional suggestions (29%) to frequent recommendations (9.1%). The most commonly prescribed therapies included acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and other practices such as TCM techniques, energy exercises, and homeopathy. The treatments are primarily aimed at managing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, anxiety, fatigue, pain, hot flashes, insomnia, depression, lymphedema, and peripheral neuropathies.
Long-standing Collaboration Fosters Trust and Knowledge
The positive reception and ongoing integration are partly due to long-term collaboration—over 82% of respondents have been working with or involved in contact with integrated oncology services for three or more years, with many exceeding ten years. This sustained partnership has led to a deeper understanding of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practices among Tuscan healthcare providers relative to peers elsewhere, as documented in international studies.
While about 65.2% of the professionals surveyed consider their knowledge of CAM to be moderate to good, there remains a strong interest in continuing education. Many providers expressed a desire to receive more information about the clinical application of integrative medicine and the scientific evidence supporting its use.
Conclusion: A Region Moving Forward with Integrative Oncology
This growing acceptance and integration of complementary therapies into mainstream cancer care reflect a steadily evolving healthcare landscape. Tuscan healthcare providers’ sustained experience, positive perceptions, and willingness to recommend these approaches underline their perceived value. As the field continues to develop, ongoing education and research will be vital to further embed evidence-based integrative practices into comprehensive oncology care in Italy and beyond.
