We are internationally recognized for developing an immunologic treatment for advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), or photopheresis, is one of the safest and most effective treatments available for this type of cancer. Our experienced team of physicians and nurses administers photopheresis daily on an outpatient basis. We treat more than 1,000 patients each year. The procedure was first developed by Yale's Richard Edelson, MD.He and his team are pioneers and leaders in this technique, and continually conduct research to further improve ECP to help treat cancer and other disorders. During ECP, the patient’s blood is treated with a photosensitizing agent and exposed to specific wavelengths of light to eliminate cancerous cells from the blood and activate the immune system’s T-cells. With immune cells primed to fight off cancer, blood is then returned to the body. ECP is also effective for treating a number of inflammatory diseases.

Integrative medicine focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and seeks to complement cancer therapy with appropriate therapeutic and lifestyle approaches to achieve optimal health and healing. Smilow Cancer Hospital’s Integrative Medicine Program provides evidence-based guidance about a wide range of complementary therapies commonly used by cancer patients and survivors. Our program aims to address the serious physical and emotional symptoms often experienced by patients before, during, and after cancer therapy. Our team has expertise in the practice and evaluation of complementary medicine, and can guide patients to make effective decisions on integrative therapies throughout their treatment program and beyond. We collaborate closely with each patient’s oncology care team to provide safe and effective care. Integrative medicine consultations Integrative medicine clinical consultations provide guidance for the safe use of dietary supplements/natural products, acupuncture, massage, meditation, and other complementary therapies. Massage Experienced and licensed therapists are trained in oncology massage, focusing on mitigating side effects from cancer and its treatment. Research has shown that massage therapy may reduce pain, promote relaxation, and boost mood in cancer patients. Reiki Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of facilitating the person’s own healing response. This is to promote relaxation and produce stress-reduction effects. Bedside yoga Yoga is a mind and body practice with origins in ancient Indian philosophy, combining breathing techniques, physical postures, meditation, and relaxation. Patients can receive individual bedside yoga therapy, adapted to individual needs and limitations. Group Sessions Gentle yoga Group classes incorporate breathing techniques, physical postures, meditation, and relaxation, adapted to patient needs and limitations. T’ai Chi/Qigong T’ai Chi/Qigong is a centuries-old martial art and energy practice that uses gentle movement through postures to help promote mental focus, breathing, and relaxation. Students are taught the fundamentals of breath work, movement, and postures that develop into the T’ai-Chi form. The benefits are improved strength, mobility, alignment, pain control, and overall physical and mental rejuvenation. Meditation Meditation is a mind and body practice that has a long history of increasing calmness and physical relaxation, improving psychological balance, and enhancing overall health and well-being. Patients can receive instruction from a trained practitioner or from guided meditation CDs that are available in our Patient and Family Resource Center. Chair-Based Exercise This mind/body modality is based on the spinal alignment and efficient joint and muscle movement to promote strength and flexibility. It allows for seated and standing movements in and out of a chair, and th

The Immunotherapy Adverse Events in Rheumatology Program treats patients who have adverse events—undesirable outcomes not related to underlying disease—due to immunotherapy or who have autoimmune conditions that may cause flare-ups, or a severe onset of symptoms, when receiving immunotherapy. Immunotherapy treatments—such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, and cancer vaccines—use the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Approximately 20% to 25% of cancer patients will have rheumatological adverse events after receiving immunotherapy. Adverse events can include joint or muscle pain, joint swelling, muscle stiffness, vasculitis, dry eyes and mouth, and myositis, which can severely impact quality of life and be organ- or life-threatening. Our team seeks to ensure that patients’ immunotherapy treatment is not interrupted due to adverse events or autoimmune issues. The clinic treats patients in a timely manner, allowing them to start or resume immunotherapy as soon as possible to successfully treat their cancer. At the same time, adverse events are effectively treated to preserve the function of inflamed organs. We collaborate with oncologists to ensure that the treatment of these adverse events does not lessen the efficacy of the immunotherapy treatment. Strong communication and personalized patient management with referring physicians is one of the hallmarks of the program. The Yale Immunotherapy Adverse Events in Rheumatology Program has an outstanding research program that aims to understand the mechanisms of autoimmune disorders secondary to immune-based cancer therapy. We analyze human biospecimens obtained from eligible subjects from our center to identify molecular, transcriptomic, and cellular characteristics using cutting-edge genomic and immunologic technologies. The findings from humans are validated or further explored using various animal models in the laboratory of Sang Taek Kim, MD, PhD, director of the program. As the use of immunotherapy grows to address more types of cancer—and adverse events increase accordingly—Dr. Kim and his team will use data from the clinic and the laboratory to gain insights that lead to a deeper understanding of the predictive markers for adverse events, as well as the development of optimal treatment strategies.