Dietary and herbal supplements are commonly used and widely discussed by people affected by cancer, offering potential benefits alongside real uncertainty. From high-dose vitamin C and mushroom extracts to antioxidants and "immune-boosting" formulations, patients and their families are asking sophisticated questions about what might help, what might harm, and what the evidence actually supports—often faster than the research can keep pace.
A/Prof Judith Lacey will move beyond a simple hype-versus-hope binary to address a practical question: how do we best navigate this space and ensure safety when evidence remains limited, while empowering patients to be active participants in their own care—without compromising the benefit and efficacy of standard cancer treatment? This includes teasing apart an alternative approach to cancer care—where unproven therapies are used in place of standard treatment—from a genuinely integrative approach, where evidence-informed complementary interventions are used alongside and in support of standard care.
Drawing on her work leading Supportive Care and Integrative Oncology at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, as immediate past chair of COSA's Integrative Oncology Group, and current chair of the MASCC Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine Study Group, Judith will share examples from global leading comprehensive cancer services on the safe integration of herbs and supplements into mainstream cancer care, and practical strategies for improving safety and directing patients toward reliable, trustworthy resources.
The session will address the disclosure gap between what patients take and what they tell their oncology team, safety and interaction risks specific to active treatment versus survivorship phases, and how to have open, non-judgemental conversations that keep patients engaged in their care rather than seeking information elsewhere—reframing supplement use as an opportunity for shared decision-making rather than a threat to standard care.