ABSTRACT
The use of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) before, during, and after cancer treatment has become increasingly common, with approximately 40 per cent of individuals with cancer using CIM. The four leading women's cancers breast, colorectal, lung and gynaecological all involve lifestyle and behavioural risk factors that CIM can assist. With continued research on integrative therapies, there will hopefully be sufficient evidence in the future for guidelines to be expanded to other cancer types to enhance and encourage the use of evidence-based CIM in women's cancer management plans. There are several factors that have been identified as risk factors in women's cancers such as the family history, presence of high-susceptibility genes, excessive body weight and chronic stress. The medical health system now recognizes that survivorship is an important phase of the cancer journey with an acknowledgement that the cancer experience does not end with the close of treatment.
