Title:Lifestyle medicine

Improving quality of life for adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors

As director of the Adolescent & Young Adult Integrative Oncology Initiative, M. Miles Braun, MD, MPH, brings a research-based, holistic approach to improving health and quality of life for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.

Integrative oncology, which Braun describes as largely “lifestyle medicine,” uses evidence-informed mind-body modalities such as acupuncture, therapeutic massage, yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi to help patients and caregivers cope with the anxiety, fear, trauma, and physical discomfort associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment. The approach encourages healthy habits such as good nutrition, sleep, exercise, reduction of stress, and forming social connections.

“We’re not curing cancer, but we’re helping patients and survivors manage pain, sleep better, reduce anxiety, and manage nutrition,” says Braun, an adjunct professor in the Department of Oncology.

Braun is collaborating with Tracy Councill, Georgetown Lombardi art therapist and founder of Tracy’s Kids, to explore the effects of art therapy on cancer patients. The project was set to begin last year but put on hold due to COVID-19. Research has shown that art therapy offers benefits such as self-expression, confidence-building, processing emotions, and understanding one’s health.

Braun has published over 100 scientific articles in the areas of vaccine and drug safety, causes of cancer and tuberculosis, and HIV infection. At Georgetown, he is now focused on directly helping patients and building the integrative oncology program—a passion driven in part by practicing and benefitting from yoga for more than 25 years.

“This approach is very personalized,” says Braun, a former scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who has been a registered yoga instructor. “The cancer journey is such a challenging road, and we can help people have healthy bodies and minds as they go through it.”