March is an important month for cancer awareness, spotlighting colorectal, multiple myeloma, and kidney cancers. These efforts encourage early detection, preventive measures, and continued research. Certain behaviors and environmental exposures can elevate the risk for these three cancers, underscoring the value of health education, early screening, and a healthy lifestyle in reducing risk and preventing disease.

Colorectal Cancer: Early-onset colorectal cancer has been rising by about 2% annually since 1994, with risk factors including an unhealthy diet, an imbalanced microbiome, obesity, and sedentary habits¹. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) highlights current research on using the gut microbiome to predict early-onset colorectal cancer, employing fasting-mimicking diets to combat tumors, and introducing dietary supplements to fortify the gut barrier and reduce disease progression². The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45¹. Routine screening may lower lifetime incidence rates and increase total years of life saved, with even greater benefit for Black and African American populations¹.

Multiple Myeloma: Multiple studies (Shah et al., 2024; Paredes et al., 2024; Liu et al., 2024) presented at the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition  point to a connection between hematologic malignancies and dietary components^3-5.

Kidney Cancer: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), which constitutes 90% of adult kidney cancers, is primarily linked to smoking, excess weight, and high blood pressure, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS)⁶. Research by Tahbez et al. (2018) further confirms that maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking can effectively reduce the risk of kidney cancer⁷.

Seed and Soil: A recent large-scale UK Biobank study (Argentieri et al., 2025) featured in Nature Medicine shows that environmental and lifestyle factors have a stronger influence than genetics on both aging and mortality, underscoring the importance of modifiable behaviors—such as smoking cessation and increased physical activity—for disease prevention⁸.

References: 

1. JNCI Monographs, 2023, 2023(62), 196-203)
2. American Association of Cancer Research. Website: https://www.aacr.org/blog/2024/03/04/trusting-the-gut-microbiome-in-diagnosing-and-treating-colorectal-cancer/Retrieved March 5, 2025.
3. Shah UA, Cogrossi LL, Derkach A, et al: A high-fiber dietary intervention (NUTRIVENTION) in precursor plasma cell disorders improves biomarkers of disease and may delay progression to myeloma. 2024 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. Abstract 671. Presented December 8, 2024.
4. Paredes J, Fei T, Dai A, et al: Increased fiber intake results in better overall survival and lower GI-aGVHD in allo-HCT recipients and pre-clinical GVHD models. 2024 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. Abstract 259. Presented December 7, 2024.
5. Liu S, Guruprasad P, Han K, et al: Ketogenic diet boosts CAR T-cell function via b-hydroxybutyrate. 2024 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. Abstract 4. Presented December 8, 2024.
6. American Cancer Society. Website: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/kidney-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
7. Tahbaz R, Schmid M, Merseburger AS. Prevention of kidney cancer incidence and recurrence: lifestyle, medication and nutrition. Curr Opin Urol. 2018 Jan;28(1):62-79. doi: 10.1097/MOU.0000000000000454. PMID: 29059103.
8. Argentieri, M.A., Amin, N., Nevado-Holgado, A.J. et al.Integrating the environmental and genetic architectures of aging and mortality. Nat Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03483-9

December 3, 2024

As President of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), I am happy to announce the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) funding award to Principal Investigator Dr. Jun. J. Mao, Chief of the Integrative Medicine Service and Laurance S. Rockefeller Chair in Integrative Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), for the IMAGINE Project.

Link to PCORI website: https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2024/implementing-massage-and-acupuncture-oncology-care-imagine

Implementing Massage & Acupuncture Into Oncology Care (IMAGINE) will implement evidence-based oncology acupuncture and massage protocols in 35 academic and community cancer centers/programs across the United States. These protocols were previously established as safe and effective in the PCORI-funded IMPACT trial which compared acupuncture and massage for pain in people with advanced cancer. SIO actively participated in the submission process and will facilitate the education, implementation, and evaluation process. With the SIO-American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical guidelines recommending acupuncture and massage for pain management for people with cancer, this project will enable these non-pharmacological interventions to become an integral part of a comprehensive cancer pain management strategy.

As the leading international, multidisciplinary organization in the field of integrative oncology, SIO looks forward to contributing to the IMAGINE project, which aligns with its mission to advance evidence-based, comprehensive integrative healthcare to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

Santosh Rao, MD, ABOIM 

President, Society for Integrative Oncology

Robert and Melissa Shearer Master Clinician in Integrative Oncology 

Medical Director of Integrative Oncology 

University Hospitals Connor Whole Health 

The Society for Integrative Oncology shared the master plan for advancing the field of Integrative Oncology through education initiatives in a recent JCIM invited commentary, just published this month (October 2024). The most exciting development is the expected publication of Comprehensive Integrative Oncology (>1000 pages) to be co-edited by former SIO presidents Suzie Zick and Ting Bao and written by primarily SIO faculty and members. Expected publication date is 2025.

Advancing Integrative Oncology The Society For Integrative Oncology Education Committee’s Journey And Vision

From September 15 to October 15, SIO joins the rest of NCI NIH and HHS in commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month.

For our members, we wish to highlight specific NCI sponsored events:

Events include the Hispanic Heritage Month NIH Neuroscience Symposium on Monday, September 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET (hybrid) and Language Access: A Decade of Progress for Hispanic and Latino Health Equity (virtual) on Tuesday, October 15, at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.

We echo the final words of the NCI letter

“Change always starts within—within each of us as individuals and within our own organizations. When we treat one another with the respect and dignity that every person inherently deserves, and strive to understand each other’s cultural differences, we become stronger in our mission to serve all people impacted by cancer.”

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIHNCI/bulletins/3b79c20

Please don’t miss the Society for Integrative Oncology GALA at The Westin Costa Mesa on 10/26 from 6-10pm!

? Join us for themed gala: “A Night in Hollywood”

?️ Dine on a Gourmet Dinner and dance under the California stars with Live DJ

? Laugh with Comedy & Performance by Acclaimed Stand-up Comedian Jason Thompson

? Participate in SIO’s first-ever Silent Auction and bid on once-in-a-lifetime trips to Greece, Iceland, Napa, and many more!

*Cocktail Attire

?️ Tickets are limited—no sales at the door! We strongly recommend purchasing tickets before 9/27 as that will cap the size of the venue and staff and the amount of tickets we will have left to sell after that date will be limited to about 10-20 tickets. Given past conferences, likely no tickets will be available by the start of the conference. All proceeds will be to support SIO’s mission.

To purchase tickets if you already are registered, click on this link: https://cme.cityofhope.org/content/gala-dinner-ticket-21st-international-conference-society-integrative-oncology

https://cme.cityofhope.org/content/gala-dinner-ticket-21st-international-conference-society-integrative-oncology

This will be a night to remember and so much to celebrate after a year of major progress and improvement! Don’t miss out on the fun!

#SIOGala #SupportSIO #TripsOfALifetime #ComedyAndDancing #CharityEvent

SIO 2024 Fellow Awards Announcement

In appreciation and gratitude for the major contributions they have each made to the Society for Integrative Oncology since its inception in 2003 and to the field of evidence-informed integrative oncology, we honor these fellows. 

This award, which will be presented in person at the 21st International SIO Conference in Costa Mesa, CA, October 25-27, 2024, also includes a lifetime SIO membership. 

Lynda Balneaves, RN, PhD – 14th SIO President

Professor and Associate Dean, Research

College of Nursing

Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

University of Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Ting Bao, MD, MS – 15th SIO President

Co-Director, Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Moshe Frenkel, MD – SIO Board Member

Integrative oncology Consultant

Family Practice Physician, Kibbutz Ramat

Hashofet/Kibbutz Gan Shmuel

Zichron Yaacov, Israel

Associate Professor, Family Medicine Department

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, USA

Jun J. Mao, MD, MSCE – 13th SIO President

Chief, Integrative Medicine Service

Laurance S. Rockefeller Chair in Integrative Medicine

Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, USA

SIO Webinar: A View from the Research Lens – Ayurveda in Cancer

Date: September 12, 2024

Time: 12 pm ET 

Registration link: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Y1N2Q2hQStCyEnU68EwxvQ  

The SIO’s Ayurveda Special Interest Group is excited to present its second Cancer and Ayurveda series webinar. In this session, “A View from the Research Lens: Ayurveda in Cancer,” presenters will explore the global need for high-quality research in Ayurveda for cancer care. The webinar will also present current research findings, discuss the potential benefits of Ayurvedic approaches for cancer survivorship, and delve into the molecular mechanisms of herbs. By bringing together experts in the field, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of how traditional medicine can complement conventional cancer treatments, promoting a more comprehensive and integrative approach to cancer care for optimal patient outcomes.

Moderator: Shraddha Ravani, PhD

Presenter: Santhosshi Narayanan, MD 

Topic: The need for high-quality research in Ayurveda in cancer care globally

Dr. Santhosshi Narayanan is a Clinical Associate Professor of integrative medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA. She co-chairs the Global committee and Ayurveda special interest group and is a board member of the Society of Integrative Oncology. Dr. Narayanan co-founded and served as the associate director of the MD Anderson Onco-hospitalist fellowship program in 2015, emphasizing a comprehensive patient care approach. In 2018, she transitioned to the integrative medicine center, focusing on incorporating diet, exercise, and mind-body approaches into cancer treatment plans. A co-author of multiple peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, she has presented her work at various national and international conferences. Her career is dedicated to Integrative Oncology clinical practice and to further advance the science in this area through research and education.

Presenters: Manohar Gundeti, MD (Ayurveda)

Topic: Overview of the current status of research on Ayurveda and natural herbs in India and developmental opportunities

Dr. Manohar S. Gundeti is the Research Officer (Ayurveda) at Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, Govt of India since 2009. Dr. Gundeti is a postgraduate in Ayurveda from University of Mumbai and completed postgraduate diploma in Epidemiology. Dr. Gundeti has more than 25 years’ experience of clinical practice, teaching and research in Ayurveda. He has been principal investigator for many clinical projects and also authored many publications. Dr. Gundeti has keen interest and been engaged in cancer care and research and is the principal investigator for many clinical and preclinical research projects in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai. Dr. Gundeti is a member of various professional bodies including SIO. Dr. Gundeti serves as member of Editorial Review Board of Journal of Research in Ayurvedic sciences (CCRAS) and an Associate Editor for Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (J-AIM) and a co-guest editor of special issue of J-AIM on Integrative Approaches to Care and Research.

Presenter: Oluwadamilola Olaku, MD, MPH, MRCOG

Topic: Survey of US Ayurvedic medicine professionals regarding helping people with cancer

Dr. Olaku is a member of staff in the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM), National Cancer Institute (NCI). He is involved in writing protocols and developing survey questionnaires. He is a co-investigator on protocols developed at OCCAM. Dr. Olaku plays a significant role in organizing conferences and workshops at OCCAM. In addition, he develops collaborations within and outside the (NCI).

Dr. Olaku was a practicing Obstetrician and Gynecologist at several University Hospitals in the United Kingdom. He has co-authored several publications and participated in peer review of manuscripts. He is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, United Kingdom. He is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and a recipient of NCI Director’s award of Merit.

Presenter: Herbert Newton, MD, FAAN

Topic: Overview of molecular mechanisms of Ayurvedic herbs in cancer

Herbert Newton, MD, FAAN, is a Neuro-Oncologist and Medical Director of the Neuro-Oncology Program at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. Dr. Newton graduated from SUNY Buffalo with high honors in psychology, before pursuing a master’s degree in cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He then entered the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine, graduating in 1984. After an internship in internal medicine with the SUNY Buffalo Health System, he was trained in neurology at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, MI, followed by a fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City. After the completion of his fellowship at MSKCC, Dr. Newton joined the faculty in Neurology at The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC) and James Cancer Hospital, establishing a Division of Neuro-Oncology within the Department of Neurology. Dr. Newton achieved the rank of Full Professor of Neurology with tenure and was appointed the Esther Dardinger Endowed Chair in Neuro-Oncology in 2003. His interests include clinical Neuro-Oncology, chemotherapy, molecular biology, molecular therapeutics, and clinical trials.  After retiring from OSUMC in 2015, he then became the Director of the Neuro-Oncology Center for the Advent Health Cancer Institute and Advent Health Orlando campus, before returning to Ohio and UH in 2023. He has published more than 220 scientific articles and book chapters, and is the editor or co- editor of 12 books in the fields of neurology and neuro-oncology.

Title: Stronger Together: Advancing Native American Cancer Health Equity

Description:

A new SIO Integrative Oncology Talk podcast has dropped! Join us as we dive into the vital work of the @Center for Native American Cancer Health Equity (C-NACHE) at @Northern Arizona University. C-NACHE is an American Cancer Society-funded program focused on improving cancer screening rates among Native Americans, increasing education about tribe-specific cancer trends, and addressing disproportionately high exposure to carcinogenic environmental contaminants. Discover why this Center was established and the unique strategies they employ to tackle cancer health inequities in Native American communities.

Hear firsthand from experts about the transformative impact of their efforts and learn how they are amplifying community voices to ensure equitable access to cancer care and support services.

Click here for the apple Podcast Link.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/integrative-oncology-talk/id1468586421?i=1000664625466

For links utilizing other services like Spotify, Youtube, Google or Soundcloud, click our SIO website home page for Integrative Oncology Talk

SIO Podcast

Don’t miss this powerful conversation on breaking barriers and fostering a future of health equity!

#SIO #CNACHE #NAU  #CancerHealthEquity #IndigenousHealth #StrongerTogether

Facebook: @Center for Native American Cancer Health Equity

LinkedIn: @Center for Native American Cancer Health Equity (C-NACHE)

SIO Webinar: Homeopathy in Cancer Care 

Date: August 29, 2024

Time: 1pm ET 

Register here.

Hosted by the newly formed Special Interest Group (SIG) on Research in Homeopathy in Cancer Care, this webinar aims to shed light on the role of homeopathy in cancer care, focusing on both its research status and practical applications in supportive treatment. 

Supportive and palliative care are pivotal components of cancer treatment, offering avenues to enhance quality of life and potentially extend survival rates. Homeopathy emerges as a prominent integrative modality embraced by patients worldwide, notably in Europe, India, and Latin America. Despite varying perspectives on its efficacy, homeopathy’s emphasis on empathic listening and its unique approach to symptom management garner significant attention.

In the United States, homeopathy’s popularity surged during the 1990s, with over 5 million people reported to have used it by 2015. While some attribute its effects to a placebo response, clinical studies suggest tangible benefits in cancer care, particularly in alleviating symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and hot flashes. Homeopathy is one of the leading integrative oncology modalities in Europe. Observations from France reveal that homeopathy supplements conventional treatments in about 30% of cancer patients, yielding notable improvements in symptomatology. Homeopathy was the most commonly used integrative therapy in cancer care in Belgium and in the top five in six other countries Turkey, Czech Republic, Sweden, Italy, Spain, and Greece. (Molassiotis 2005)

Speakers: 

Introduction: Moshe Frenkel, MD will discuss the current use of homeopathy in cancer care, along with research highlights.

Moshe Frenkel, MD

Dr. Moshe Frenkel is a clinical associate professor at the University of Texas and founder of the Integrative Medicine Clinic, at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas where he served as a full faculty until he returned to Israel in 2010. Up to 2014 Dr Frenkel was chairing the clinical practice committee of The Society of Integrative Oncology and was acting as the chair of The Israeli Society of Complementary Medicine (A section of The Israel Medical Association) until 2016.  

Currently, Dr Frenkel is the medical director of the Integrative Oncology Service in RAMBAM Medical Center Oncology Department, a comprehensive oncology center and the largest in Northern Israel, as well as leading a feasibility study in homeopathy in cancer care.

The Italian Experience: Elio Rossi, MD will provide a brief overview of his practice and discuss symptom management, particularly focusing on radio dermatitis and leading homeopathic remedies that he utilizes.

Elio Rossi, MD

Director of the homeopathy outpatient clinic at the Campo di Marte public hospital in Lucca Italy, was established in 1998 and to date more than 7,500 patients have been consecutively examined. Of these 1100 are cancer patients who required an ‘integrated’ homeopathic treatment to reduce the adverse effects of anti-cancer therapies and improve their quality of life.  Works as a homeopathic doctor and expert in integrative medicine, collaborating with a local oncologist. Collaborated as Co-Chair, in the organization of many national and international congresses on Integrative Oncology (2017, 2019), specific sessions within other congresses organized in Italy (ECIM 2012 Florence, WCIMH 2023 Rome) and regional workshops, which have been attended by hundreds of CIM experts and oncologists.

The French Experience: Jean Lionel Bagot, MD will share insights from his practice, focusing on homeopathic remedies for fatigue and potential remedies for skin afflictions.

Jean Lionel Bagot, MD

A specialist in integrative cancer supportive care treatments in private practice as well as coordinating doctor of the Outpatients Department for Integrative Care in Groupe Hospitalier Saint Vincent Strasbourg, France;

President of the International Homeopathic Society of Supportive Care in Oncology (SHISSO);

Scientific officer of the French Society for Integrative Oncology (SFOI);

Associated Member of the University College of Integrative and Complementary Medicine (CUMIC);

Lecturer in the Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty in Strasbourg University.

The UK Experience: Elizabeth Thompson, MD will have the opportunity to briefly describe her previous NHS practice and discuss symptom management, specifically addressing hot flushes and leading homeopathic remedies.

Elizabeth Thompson, MD

Homeopathic Physician in NHS, NCIM Founder, CEO & Integrative Medicine Doctor

National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM) www.ncim.org.uk

Chair, Integrative and Personalized Medicine Congress, London, June 2022. 

Past President ECIM 2021 and Board Member European Society Integrative Medicine 

Council Member British Society of Integrative Oncology 

Council Member College of Medicine

Thanks to a generous grant from the Scheidel Foundation we have launched CME-supported training modules for the 2023 SIO-ASCO guidelines on anxiety and depression, and going forward, you can find the training modules under the top header of this SIO website under “Knowledge Center” and the submenu item “Training Modules” or you can direct link to it here.

Official link:  https://integrativeonc.org/training-modules/anxiety-depression

Also please provide us with valuable feedback if you have completed the training modules on anxiety and depression. This will be requested automatically if you request CME credit, but for those who do not, we still want to hear back from you.

From July 1-15th, 2024 we will be opening the submission portal for “Late Breaking Abstracts” for the SIO 21st International Conference, taking place in Costa Mesa California, hosted by City of Hope.

The portal link for submitting late breaking abstracts is the same as the one for the prior submission window -> here and will be functional during the July 1-15th window only. Please note, if you are submitting a re-purposed workshop submission into an abstract submission after receiving an invitation to do so by the SIO 2024 Education Committee, please specify that in your submission. While late breaking abstracts are not eligible to be selected for oral presentation or “Best of SIO” they will be competitive to be selected as a poster and other potential awards.

Also, please note that the conference early bird registration is still open, and reserved hotel rooms at a significantly discounted rate are still available. If cost of travel/lodging is a concern, we strongly recommend booking the hotel rooms early as the blocked rooms are limited.

Click here for the SIO 2024 Conference page on our website, which has further details on submission guidelines and scientific review process.

Click here for the Official SIO 2024 Conference page which has the links for registration, information on how to register for a hotel discount, and the latest conference schedule. Tip: When registering for a blocked discounted room rate, do not include your search to anything beyond October 24-28th, or else the discounted room rate will be reported as no longer available.

When: Monday, June 24, 2024 – 3-4 pm ET

Join us for a live demonstration of how to best use the EfficaSafe database, a new SIO membership benefit, by EfficaSafe CEO Gil Pinchuk, an experienced naturopath, clinical herbalist, and educator. During this webinar, you will see a demonstration of the login process and how to search EfficaSafe to find the right info for each patient. While EfficaSafe was developed for clinicians and integrative healthcare professionals, it is also valuable to people affected by cancer, who can share search results with their healthcare teams. 

Who Can Attend? This free webinar is open to everyone (whether they are an SIO member or not). Registration required.

Register here

Speaker: Gil Pinchuk, Naturopath, Clinical Herbalist (Tel Aviv, Israel)

Gil Pinchuk is a naturopath and clinical herbalist who has been practicing and teaching natural medicine for over 20 years. He is CEO of EfficaSafe, a cutting-edge herb-drug-supplement interaction platform that aims to optimize integrative healthcare for improved clinical outcomes.

Moderator: Blake Langley, ND, LAc (Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Seattle, WA)

Blake Langley, ND, LAc is an NCCIH-funded Staff Scientist and clinical researcher in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. The research of Dr. Langley and his mentor Dr. Heather Greenlee focuses on acupuncture therapies, nutritional, lifestyle/physical activity, and behavioral approaches to symptom management and quality of life improvement during and after cancer treatment.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.