The Institute of Cancer and Crisis (ICC) shared a post on LinkedIn:
“When war and cancer collide – insights from integrative oncology care
This thought-provoking study – published in Psycho-Oncology (2025) – examines how the ongoing war in Israel affects individuals living with cancer, revealing the profound intersection of physical illness and collective trauma.
Key insights:
• Patients referred to an Integrative Oncology (IO) program experienced immediate calm and emotional relief through manual-relaxation therapies – particularly in the non-acupuncture group.
• Adding acupuncture provided superior pain reduction, addressing the physical dimension more effectively.
• The war context, though rarely spoken, surfaced implicitly in patient narratives – highlighting IO care as a temporary refuge from both cancer and conflict.
• Benefits peaked immediately post-session and waned after 24 hours – emphasizing the need for sustained and accessible support models.
Implications for cancer care in crisis zones:
• Integrative oncology can serve a dual role: relieving oncologic symptoms while supporting psychological resilience amid war.
• Care strategies must be personalized – balancing emotional and physical needs.
• War-affected patients carry layered suffering; care frameworks must proactively address this hidden burden.
• Promising short-term outcomes call for long-term, sustainable interventions in humanitarian and oncology settings.”
Title: War and Cancer: Exploring Patient Narratives in a Randomized Integrative Oncology Study
Authors: Eran Ben-Arye, Orit Gressel, Yael Keshet, Vika Zaritsky, Sameer Kassem, Yakir Segev, Noah Samuels
Read the full article on PubMed.
More posts featuring The Institute of Cancer and Crisis (ICC) on OncoDaily.
You Can Also Read: The first Global Summit on War and Cancer: Summary report
