Integrated cancer care

From The Critics

Reviewer: Martha J. Greenberg, PhD, RN(Pace University)
Description: This little book is an overview of complementary healing methods used by oncology practitioners and patients in the United Kingdom with an emphasis on marrying traditional/orthodox with integrative medicine.
Purpose: Because of the healthcare funding structure in the U.K., physicians and patients often must choose between orthodox and integrative approaches to cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy vs. cancer support or information. This book attempts to facilitate greater understanding between two healthcare cultures in cancer care.
Audience: This book is intended for a wide range of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and administrators, as well as patients wanting to learn alternatives for cancer care. The book is written at a level understandable to a sophisticated lay person and one chapter particularly is geared towards a patient audience. The author is an oncology specialist with over 30 years experience who in the 1990s developed an integrated psycho-oncology practice after attending the College of Healing in the U.K. Other contributors include both professionals and lay persons.
Features: The book first presents an overview of clinical principles of holistic healing, discussions of their scientific basis, and monetary issues in provision of care within the U.K. healthcare delivery structure. The next part, written by experienced practitioners, describes selected therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, nutrition, music, meditation, and poetry and art therapy. The book presents an earnest blend of personal testimony and experience, academic review, and skepticism. An especially poignant pictorial chapter on art and poetry depicts color plates of patients' work describing their challenges with cancer and illness. A shortcoming for a U.S. audience is the relative absence of research and literature from the U.S.
Assessment: Although there are no comparable books, much of the information presented here can be found by looking through multiple resources. This book may be unique for the U.K. audience.

3 Stars from Doody