RESUMEN
The interest in integrative oncology is growing worldwide. Patients with cancer are seeking traditional complementary and integrative medicine to mitigate the symptoms and enhance their well-being. Though there is supporting evidence for inter-disciplinary team care in oncology, the integrative oncology models in a resource-poor setting have not been explored. The current manuscript provides an overview of the integrative oncology model focusing on how complementary therapies such as psychosocial services, dietetics, yoga, and wellness programs could be integrated in clinical oncology care in a cost-effective way in a resource poor settings. Manuscript also discusses examples where such a model of care has currently been implemented for patients as well as caregivers.
RESUMEN
Onco-fertility, the confluence of cancer and fertility preservation, is vital in modern healthcare. As global cancer survival rates rise, more patients aim to overcome cancer and safeguard their reproductive potential. This review explores onco-fertility in India, emphasizing psychosocial factors. It acknowledges cancer's profound implications on fertility, stressing informed decision-making and comprehensive care for dual challenges. The review explores various preservation options for both genders, highlighting India's evolving landscape. India's onco-fertility landscape, driven by rising cancer diagnoses and disparities, needs tailored services. Understanding psychosocial factors is crucial for addressing emotional distress, cultural contexts, and communication barriers. This review delves into factors influencing decisions and well-being, informing practices to better serve Indian cancer patients. Examining psychological distress and decision-making in balancing treatment and fertility preservation, it explores cultural, religious, and ethical considerations. It underscores the need for comprehensive psychosocial support. Addressing psychosocial factors is vital for enhancing cancer survivors' quality of life. The review emphasizes bridging information gaps, providing emotional support, promoting informed decision-making, and fostering collaboration. It calls for further research and initiatives to advance onco-fertility support, considering India's diverse psychosocial landscape.
RESUMEN
Maintaining the continuity of the 'self' is crucial for finding meaning and ensuring psychological well-being. However, the traumatic encounter with cancer disrupts the normal flow of life stories, challenging coherence. Beyond its physical toll, cancer challenges one's sense of self, identity and overall psychological resilience. As personal narratives unfold, encompassing evolving life stories from one's reconstructed past to the present and envisioned future, inherently reflecting the dynamic conception of self, it becomes imperative to investigate how these narratives shape self-concept and resilience throughout the intricate emotional and psychological landscape of the cancer journey. This narrative review explores the intricate relationship among personal narratives, self-concept and psychological resilience in the context of cancer. The study draws on various theoretical constructs, encompassing self-concept, coping, narrative identity, and psychological resilience theories, to provide a comprehensive exploration of the psychological processes involved. Incorporating insights from both Western and Indian philosophical traditions, the review not only enriches the theoretical framework but also emphasizes the practical implications for healthcare practices. Integrating narrative resilience principles into medical education and advocating for culturally sensitive approaches are deemed essential for advancing patient-centred care. The study underscores both practical and theoretical contributions to psycho-oncology, emphasizing the need for personalized narrative interventions, empathetic healthcare strategies, longitudinal studies and innovative technologies that recognize and support the intricate interplay between personal narratives, self-concept and psychological resilience in the cancer survivorship journey.