Ishwaria M. Subbiah, MD

As a supportive care and integrative oncology physician for Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone, I work closely with patients, their families, and their primary oncology team to manage symptoms and ease the side effects of treatment. My work is guided by the belief that helping patients live well is just as important as helping them live longer, especially as cancer treatment breakthroughs have opened new possibilities for patients.

I practice supportive oncology, a medical specialty in which physicians and multidisciplinary team members with advanced training work toward relieving the symptoms of cancer and its treatment, such as pain, fatigue, nausea, trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, and anxiety or low mood. In my clinic, I work with patients and their medical team to develop a whole-person symptom management plan that combines medications, specialized therapies, and lifestyle adjustments. This can include prescribing medications when appropriate for specific symptoms like pain or nausea as well as guidance on evidence-based complementary approaches such as nutrition, mind-body practices, and acupuncture.

As the director of the Symptom Management Program at Perlmutter Cancer Center, I work alongside each patient’s oncology team—regardless of cancer type—to support overall well-being. This care extends to families and caregivers, whose needs and contributions are an essential part of the cancer experience. My goal is for patients to know they have a dedicated partner focused on whole-person cancer care, helping them feel as well as possible throughout treatment.

I actively participate in supportive oncology research, and my clinical trials focus on reducing patient symptom burden through technology integration and finding new treatments for common side effects of cancer treatment. Supportive oncology is an important element of comprehensive cancer care at any point in treatment; patients don’t need to wait until symptoms become severe to benefit from additional support.