[2061] Supportive care, an integrative approach: psycho-nutritional therapy. Serin D, Wipf A, Goubely Y, Feige J, Lepeu G.. Institut Sainte Catherine, Avignon, France; Clinique Rhône-Durance, Avignon, France; Centre Hospitalier, Avignon, France Background: Between June 2004 and June 2005, Promotion Santé Sud, (2 medical oncologists, 1 cardiologist, 1 hematologist, 2 public health physicians), promoted and sponsored 9 psycho-nutritional support workshops, with the partnership of the Avignon School for the Arts of Cooking. Methods: Workshops were scheduled on a monthly basis, and lasted an entire day. Guest participants (n=72) were patients with cancer (60%), cardio-vascular diseases (30%), or AIDS (10%). Family members, friends, and students were invited as well. In the welcoming atmosphere of a non-medical space dedicated to friendly and playful dialogue, participants received theoretical and practical information about nutrition while preparing and sharing an organic meal. Afternoons were centered on emotional group sharing and support. Participants were asked to fill an evaluation form at the end of the day in order to better delineate their understanding and needs, and to improve the quality of future workshops. The goal was to inspire each individual into making beneficial nutritional habits' changes, in terms of health and quality of life. With the assistance of a dietician, a nutritional physician trained to active listening and emotional counseling conducted each workshop in a way that anyone could feel free to share his or her emotional concerns, and therefore participate actively to the therapeutic process (educational aspects, sense of responsibility, personal empowerment). Results: The result of these sessions was particularly encouraging as acknowledged by participants' initial enthusiasm. All of them were satisfied to have acquired a better knowledge of the process of nutrition, and about the physiology of digestion. All had fun and were grateful to change their vision of the usual physician-patient relationship. Most of them also felt motivated to introduce behavioral and nutritional changes in their life in order to better cope with their disease. To sustain their motivation on the long run, individual follow-up sessions were available through private consultations with the nutritional physician, and in the course of the year, over 50% of them scheduled regular appointments. One of the most striking results was that the original problematic of lowering cholesterol levels, loosing or gaining weight soon lost most of its significance when compared to discovering, developing and entertaining the sense of inner well-being through taking care of self, regardless of the circumstances. Acknowledging each person in its wholeness and as a unique individual, while taking into account and respecting any potential limitation, turned out to be most likely to generate beneficial changes, all the more so as maintaining the sense of pleasure was encouraged, and the freedom of choice unquestioned. Discussion: We trust it worthy for such an experiment to be implemented as an important tool of integrative medicine and personal development in the trying context of disease. SABCS 2006 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.