| Summary: At the Sarcoma Innovations Forum on 25/10/2025, ECS Wellness presented an integrative approach to sarcoma care centered on the endocannabinoid system. Integrating medical cannabis with lifestyle changes and mind-body practices to complement conventional therapy, ECS Wellness treats pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, and emotional distress. This evidence-based patient care model empowers patients and caregivers and advances sarcoma research so that the resulting care may be innovative yet compassionate. |
Understanding that the Sarcoma Innovations Forum is more than one of many scientific meetings, it constitutes a community of clinicians, researchers, advocates, patients, and families who form one common mission: to foster a better future for sarcoma care.
Given the rarity of this neoplasm, traditional oncology methods fall short of being too far. It calls for creativity in every step of the journey- from early diagnosis, advanced treatment, options for palliation, to supportive care that acknowledges the human-centered nature of the disease.
ECS Wellness is honored to present at this year’s forum on 25/10/2025, sharing how holistic interventions, informed by the endocannabinoid system, can complement medical treatments. Our mission is threefold:
- To show that ECS-based care complements oncology but does not replace it.
- To bring forth integrative methods meant to lessen treatment burden while building resilience.
- To remind cancer care professionals that beyond their diagnosis, these patients are people worthy of compassion, comfort, and dignity.
We hope this viewpoint in the Sarcoma Innovation Forum will spark meaningful discussions and collaborations that will shape the next generation of truly patient-centered cancer care.
Sarcoma: The Clinical Landscape
Epidemiology
Sarcomas are rare malignancies arising from the connective tissues that hold the body together. They arise from muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels, or cartilage. Due to their rarity, sarcomas have been less researched than the so-called common cancers. Annually, 16,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States.
Clinical Challenges
A big challenge encountered in sarcoma is the delay in diagnosis. The symptoms, if present, are vague and may be ascribed to other conditions, so a lot of patients are diagnosed only after the disease has progressed. The disease usually requires multimodal treatment after diagnosis:
- Surgical removal of tumors.
- Chemotherapy attacks rapidly dividing cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy to control local spread.
While these are necessary treatments, they are harsh and may cause fatigue, nausea, peripheral neuropathy, and late complications. There are still very high chances of relapse, and the patient outcomes may depend on the tumor subtype found.
Patient Impact
The sarcoma patients face another kind of emotional strain: fear, insomnia, lack of appetite, and, in addition, they suffer the burden of caring for their loved ones. Families can often feel overwhelmed navigating all the treatments, appointments, and side effects. This is where support and integrative care come into play. Addressing quality of life is not a luxurious addition but an essential part of cancer care. Without it, patients may well get through the treatment but feel exhausted, alone, and unable to lead a real life.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and Its Relevance
Core Functions of the ECS
The endocannabinoid system acts as the body’s balancing mechanism, influencing sleep, mood, and pain regulation.
- Sleep and rest cycles
- Appetite and digestion
- Pain sensitivity and inflammation
- Mood regulation and stress resilience
- Immune system balance
Disruption in Cancer Patients
Insofar as cancer treatments are concerned, they disrupt the equilibrium. Nausea and neuropathy are caused by chemotherapy, radiation cycles are disturbed by radiation, and, if ongoing, stress disturbs mood and appetite.
Therapeutic Potential
By medically stimulating the ECS with cannabis and cannabinoids, patients may experience fewer side effects and reduced reliance on opioids. Learn more about medical marijuana benefits and side effects and how they support integrative oncology care. In short, modulation of the ECS:
- alleviates pain
- improves appetite
- stabilizes mood
- induces sleep
Treating a patient for sarcoma means more than a chance at survival; it means survival with respect and comfort.
ECS Wellness Philosophy & Model of Care
Integrative Approach
ECS wellness is complementary to oncology. ECS Wellness model incorporates:
- medical marijuana benefits and side effects supports restful sleep, while cannabis for anxiety can help patients manage stress and emotional distress during treatment.
- Lifestyle medicine: nutrition oriented toward whole foods, exercise, and stress reduction.
- Mind-body practice: meditation, guided breathwork, and mindfulness for emotional resilience.
- Patient education: understanding their bodies so the patient can take charge of their health.
Evidence-Based Practice
We ground all care in measurable outcomes. Using NIH-endorsed PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures), we track:
- Pain reduction
- Sleep quality improvements
- Emotional and functional well-being
This data validates our model and ensures every patient’s voice is heard.
Accessibility
Our commitment is equity. Working with MassHealth and most major insurers ensures affordability. You can also explore whether insurance covers medical cannabis in Massachusetts. Telemedicine further extends integrative cancer care to rural and underserved communities, breaking down barriers.
Integration into Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Care
Part 1 | Diagnosis and Primary Disease Management
Oncology Advances: Surgical techniques, diagnostic pathology, and radiation delivery techniques improve patient outcomes.
Our Role:
- Pre-treatment counseling to calm down the patient.
- Cannabis for relaxation during scans and procedures.
- Nutritional counseling and support are needed to prepare the body for intensive treatment.
Part 2 | Metastatic Disease Management
Oncology Advances: Systemic therapies and oncogenetic insights are used for individualized treatment.
Our Role:
- Treating bone and nerve pain without opioids.
- Managing chemotherapy nausea and neuropathy.
- Maintaining energy and appetite for extended treatment cycles.
Part 3 | Supportive and Palliative Care Advances
Oncology Advances: Survivorship planning and psychosocial care are fast becoming the norm.
Our Role:
- Cannabis therapies for mood stabilization, appetite, and sleep.
- Guided caregiver education to reduce burnout.
- PROM-driven survivorship care to support life after treatment.
Collaborative Care Framework
Our philosophy is deeply rooted in partnership. Direct coordination happens between oncologists, nurses, nutritionists, and mental health providers. Shared data dashboards enable teams to track patients’ progress in tumor response and daily functioning, comfort, and resilience.
In this setup, the patients will never feel that supportive care is an “afterthought”. Instead, it will be included in every step of treatment.
Research & Innovation
Existing Evidence
Early clinical trials suggest that cannabinoids may help relieve cancer pain, improve sleep, and lessen anxiety.
PROM-Based Research
Real-world data is generated by every interaction with a patient. By tracking longitudinal outcomes, we are slowly building one of the most important datasets in integrative oncological care.
Collaborations
ECS Wellness considers itself a partner with top-notch establishments such as MGH, Harvard Medical School, and Mass General Brigham in broadening the scientific base of ECS-informed cancer care.
Future Directions
Clinical trials that aim to measure survival and quality of survival hold the future. With its focus on rare cancers such as sarcoma, ECS Wellness is facilitating the establishment of new care models for patients often overlooked in mainstream research.
Patient & Family Empowerment
Cancer is a family disease that affects not just the patients. It is regarded as one of the core tenets of our model to empower the customer.
- Education Programs: Workshops and webinars on ECS, nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management.
- Family Support: Caring and building resilience in caregivers who all too often carry a heavy, silent load.
- Technology Tools: Patient portal for outcome tracking and telehealth visits maintained even during a client’s stay in another state.
It is often a matter of feeling less helpless and more in control when patients and their families know the options available.
Ethical & Regulatory Considerations
Safe Prescribing Practices
Cannabis therapy is always physician-guided to ensure safe dosing and compliance with state laws, helping minimize risks such as cannabis allergies or long-term effects of cannabis use.
Myths vs. Evidence
We help patients navigate stigma and disinformation. ECS care is not about unregulated cannabis use-it is science-backed, carefully-monitored medical therapy.
Equity in Access
We push for insurance coverage, affordability so that no patient is left behind due to some form of socioeconomic barrier.
Future Outlook: Integrative Oncology as Standard of Care
Vision
We see integrative, ECS-based treatment moving from the margins into the mainstream. It is not an option; it must be done.
Expansion
Our model is transferable to other rare cancers to spread holistic oncology care.
Policy Implication
We work to shape healthcare policy to ensure supportive services are considered and reimbursed as critical components of oncology.
Long-Term Research
By establishing large and credible data sets, we intend to update the NCCN and ASCO guidelines to include a holistic approach to treatment.”
Key Takeaways for Forum Attendees
- Sarcoma care calls for scientific innovation alongside holistic support.
- The ECS Wellness strives to fulfill this gap in evidence-based integrative care.
- Patient-reported outcomes publish real-world improvements in resilience, comfort, and well-being in scientific journals.
- Collaborative care is setting a new standard in oncology.
We invite attendees to discuss, collaborate, and expand the future of sarcoma care beyond this forum.
The Future of Sarcoma Care
To all the speakers, patients, and their families who make the Sarcoma Innovations Forum a place of learning, we say thank you and go.
The key message of our work states:
“Sarcoma care is strongest when innovation meets compassion, and science embraces holistic healing.”
ECS Wellness encourages you to explore our resources, such as the website, patient portal, and upcoming education events, to keep up with this important conversation beyond the forum. Together, we can ensure that patients living with sarcoma are not treated; they are cared for as whole beings.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does ECS Wellness integrate into standard sarcoma treatment?
Direct collaboration with oncologists is maintained so that these integrative services complement the conventional medical treatment and do not replace surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
2. Is medical cannabis safe to be used in cancer patients going through an active treatment?
It is supervised by competent physicians. We would integrate them into active treatment with great caution on dosing and on drug interactions.
3. What kinds of support services exist for families and caregivers?
Counseling, caregiver workshops, stress management techniques, and educational programs exist.
4. Will insurance cover if one opts for integrative care like this?
Absolutely. MassHealth and most major insurers cover services. Thus, the patients are offered services free of cost.
5. How does ECS Wellness measure patient outcomes?
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), funded by NIH, assess pain, sleep, mood, and functions of daily living. In other words, data should be gathered based on concrete examples of changes in patients’ lives.
Dr. Ryan Zaklin is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and a Harvard-trained expert in Integrative and Functional Medicine. He brings deep experience from his work at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. As founder of ECS Wellness, Dr. Zaklin leads the clinical strategy with a focus on the endocannabinoid system, mind-body medicine, and plant-based therapies. He regularly educates medical professionals and the public on cannabis therapeutics and continues to advance research and innovation in integrative care.
