Sustainable Wellness

Most of us know what’s good for us and what would improve the quality of our health and lives. The challenge is creating a sustainable health plan that works for us. A multitude of programs, diets, exercises, etc., can be found for almost every condition, problem, or difficulty, and many of these are helpful. Yet, how frequently do we try a new set of exercises or another diet only to quit with a sense of failure? Constant access to new information can be stressful, even overwhelming. Forcing yourself into a one-size-fits-all framework of rules and expectations usually leads to disappointment. In the process, we allow the tools to become more important than we are. Ironically, the most powerful techniques are neutral in nature. It’s how and when we apply them that have the greatest power to affect us.

In Sustainable Wellness, we introduce a series of safe and reliable techniques that can help you make the adjustments needed to rebalance yourself as you move through the stages of life. These particular techniques come out of Dr. Matt’s extensive training and experience as an integrative radiation oncologist and Heather’s experience as a yoga and meditation teacher. This book reflects our decade of work with people facing challenges of all kinds, including life-threatening ones. Whether you’re looking for better health, stress reduction, or a greater sense of inner peace, we encourage you to explore and embrace the tools that resonate with you. Many of these techniques are supported by scientific study, and some have been practiced for millennia. They will kindle results as various as the individuals using them. It’s been our great privilege to share “aha” moments and humbling to witness lives transformed. After interacting with hundreds of participants, we’ve learned it’s the familiar tools consistently applied that facilitate the greatest benefit and become our strongest allies. And we’ve seen that consistency is possible. Sustainable Wellness will show you how. We’ll share our inspirations, like the retired teacher who stuck sticky notes on walls with reminders to stop and stretch before sitting down to the crossword puzzle. We’ll also give examples, like the man who came to see stopping at traffic lights as an opportunity to focus on breathing in the present moment.

 Integrative Oncology: Principles and Practice

Integrative Oncology explores a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to cancer care that addresses all individuals involved in the process, and can include the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies alongside conventional modalities such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. The number of integrative care programs is increasing worldwide and this book forms a foundation text for all who want to learn more about this growing field. This guide provides a thoughtful and generous perspective on integrative care, an outstanding overview of the exciting clinical opportunities these techniques can offer, and a guide to the new territories that all oncologists and CAM practitioners need to explore and understand. 

Title

Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment.

Background

The majority of breast cancer patients use complementary and/or integrative therapies during and beyond cancer treatment to manage symptoms, prevent toxicities, and improve quality of life. Practice guidelines are needed to inform clinicians and patients about safe and effective therapies.

Title

Radiation Therapy for Glioblastoma: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Guideline

Background

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) produced an evidence-based guideline on radiation therapy for glioblastoma. Because of its relevance to the ASCO membership, ASCO reviewed the guideline and applied a set of procedures and policies used to critically examine guidelines developed by other organizations.

Title

Lifestyle Interventions Enhance Quality of Life and Reduce Recurrence Risk Among Cancer Survivors

Background

 This review provides scientific substantiation regarding key lifestyle intervention strategies that both help cancer centers meet, and in fact, exceed the Commission on Cancer SCP mandate, and help cancer survivors heal from treatment, reduce their risk of cancer recurrence, and enhance overall wellness. 

Title

Lifestyle Interventions Enhance Quality of Life and Reduce Recurrence Risk Among Cancer Survivors

Background

This review provides scientific substantiation regarding key lifestyle intervention strategies that both help cancer centers meet, and in fact, exceed the mandate, and help cancer survivors heal from treatment, reduce their risk of cancer recurrence, and enhance overall wellness. 

Title

The I-ONE trial: Integrative oncology education for patient navigators—A randomized pilot trial of web-based distance learning with or without small group retreat

Background

One of the major barriers to implementation of an integrative oncology (IO) approach is appropriately trained providers. This trial investigated the effectiveness of a mixed method educational program versus web based learning only for oncology patient navigators relative to knowledge and application of IO modalities.

Title

Potentially Curable Pancreatic Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline

Background

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence-based recommendations to oncologists and others on potentially curative therapy for patients with localized pancreatic cancer. ASCO convened a panel of medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, palliative care, and advocacy experts and conducted a systematic review of literature from January 2002 to June 2015. Outcomes included overall survival, disease-free survival, progression-free survival, and adverse events.

Title

Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Use of Integrative Therapies as Supportive Care in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer

Background

The majority of breast cancer patients use complementary and/or integrative therapies during and beyond cancer treatment to manage symptoms, prevent toxicities, and improve quality of life. Practice guidelines are needed to inform clinicians and patients about safe and effective therapies.

Title

Chapter in Integrative Medicine -"Colorectal Cancer"

Background

Integrative Medicine provides the practical, evidence-based guidance you need to safely and effectively integrate complementary and alternative medical treatments into your practice. This medical reference book lays the framework for making the best use of these therapeutic modalities and understanding the mechanisms by which these interventions work, keeping you at the forefront of the trend toward integrative health care.

Title

Patient Navigation across the Cancer Care Continuum

Background

Technologic advances, medical specialization, novel payment structures, and an increased scientific knowledge base have resulted in a health care system requiring trained experts to deliver guidance as patients complete care plans: Enter the concept of patient navigation.

Title

Chapter in Integrative Oncology - "Radiation Therapy as a part of Integrative Oncology"

Background

People facing a new diagnosis of cancer are unsettled by their prognosis and treatment options, and they often seek to integrate complementary modalities into their conventional care plan, hoping to improve their chances of cure and decrease side effects. Integrative Oncology, the first volume in the Weil Integrative Medicine Library, provides a wealth of information for both practitioners and consumers on the emerging field of integrative oncology.

Title

Chapter in Integrative Medicine - “Integrative Oncology: An Overview”

Background

Drawing on solid scientific evidence as well as extensive first-hand experience, this manual provides the practical information you need to safely and effectively integrate complementary and alternative treatment modalities into your practice. It explains how alternative therapies can help you fight diseases that do not respond readily to traditional treatments.

Title

Full-Impact Medicine

Background

Published in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Volume 21, No. 9S (May 1 Supplement) 2003:61s

Title

A revisitation of Doc, how much time do I have?

Written by

Mumber, M., Schapira, L., Eisenberg P., MacDonald, N., Loprinzi, C.

Title

Definitive Guide to Cancer - Second Edition

Details

Matt served on the Editorial Advisory Board

Title

Pelvic insufficiency fractures associated with radiation atrophy: clinical recognition and diagnostic evaluation

Background

Pelvic bone injuries are infrequent complications of radiotherapy. However, insufficiency fractures in irradiated pelvic bones may be underdetected, particularly in postmenopausal women.

Title

Interest in Complementary Therapies in Rural Cancer Patients Referred for Radiation Therapy: Implications for Standard of Care

Details

Written by Paez-Zapata, Erica; Page, Andrew; Gabram-Mendola, Sheryl.; Mumber Matthew P. Poster presentation, Society for Integrative Oncology Annual meeting, November 2008

Title

The Case for Incorporating Integrative Medicine into Radiation Oncology Practice

Details

Publishing in Radiation Oncology News, Vol. 11, No. 4 Fall 2001; 11-13

Title

A Part of the Whole

Details

Published in Advance for Imaging and Oncology Administrators, Vol. 11, No. 11 Nov 2001;  119-120

Title

Integrative Oncology

Details

Chapter  published in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Secrets from Haney and Belfus, Inc. Philadelphia, 2002

Title

Quantitative Comparison of Clinical Target Volume Interpretation in Prostate Cancer Between Diagnostic Radiologist and Radiation Oncologist Utilizing CT Treatment Planning

Submitted by

Mumber, M., Pearlman, A., Bechtold, R., Marshall, M. and Raben, M.

Title

Case Report and Review of the Literature: Gastric Implantation Metastasis as a Complication of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Head and Neck Cancer

Submitted by

Mumber, M., Greven, K., McGuirt, F. to American Journal of Otolaryngology