7 Préface Since Dr. Samuel Hahnemann first defined the principles of homeopathy at the end of the eighteenth century—establishing it as a structured medical method and teaching physicians how to practice it—homeopathic physicians, as well as medical doctors who combine homeopathy with conventional medicine, have treated cancer patients using homeopathic medicines. Their aim has been to alleviate symptoms, improve quality of life, and support patients in coping with both the disease itself and the side effects of conventional treatments. Over the decades, homeopathy has remained one of the leading Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) approaches used to support oncological patients. Integrative oncology is defined as a patient-centered, evidence-informed approach to cancer care that combines conventional treatments with complementary therapies shown to be beneficial through research and clinical evidence. Its goal is to optimize health outcomes and quality of life across the entire cancer care continuum while empowering patients to take an active role in their care. Since the early 2020s, an increasing number of studies have explored the potential role of homeopathic treatments as effective integrative interventions for reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. A group of homeopathic physicians who are members of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) established a Special Interest Group dedicated to advancing research in homeopathy in order to promote recognition of homeopathy as an integrative therapeutic approach that may contribute to symptom relief and improved quality of life for oncology patients. Since its establishment, members of this group have presented posters, conducted workshops, and authored the chapter Homeopathy in Integrative Oncology included in the SIO publication Comprehensive Integrative Oncology. The book Homeopathic Supportive Treatments for Cancer represents a meaningful contribution to the growing effort to make integrative homeopathic care accessible to both oncology patients and practitioners. The authors present,
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