Asbestos Cancer Treatment

Cancer treatments, including those for mesothelioma, can be tough on the body. Even those who have never been treated for the disease hear the horror stories about the difficult side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy. And while newer drugs have lessened some of these side effects, many are still difficult to bear, especially for the cancer patient who is already feeling weak and tired.

Nonetheless, traditional treatments are often essential in treating diseases like mesothelioma. However, patients can also turn to alternative mesothelioma treatments as a complement to therapies like chemo and radiation and to help ease the side effects that go hand in hand with traditional treatment.

What’s an Alternative Treatment?

Alternative treatments refer to therapies outside the traditional. They are usually not “officially” approved by the FDA or any other governing body for the treatment of a specific disease, though many specialists acknowledge that these alternative treatments can indeed have a positive effect on the patient.

Most individuals would describe these treatments as “holistic”, meaning they address the whole body, including the spirit and mind as well as the “physical” body. For many patients, they are a Godsend, serving to help relieve the pain and anxiety associated with diseases like mesothelioma.

One of the downfalls of alternative treatment, however, is the fact that most – if not all – are not covered by one’s insurance. (There may be exceptions in some cases.) Some of them can be quite expensive, which results in them being cost-prohibitive to patients whose work status is less than stable at the time of their disease.

What Kind of Treatments are Available?

Alternative mesothelioma treatments include a number of “unconventional” therapies that have helped numerous people cope with their disease. They include:

• Acupuncture – This is the ancient Chinese medical art that involves the placing of thin needles into the skin in various places, each of which is designed to address a specific ailment or relieve pain in a specific part of the body. For example, for mesothelioma patients, the acupuncturist may place a needle in a designated location chosen to relieve chest pain.
• Massage – Massage therapy relaxes the patient and allows him/her to escape the turmoil of the disease for short periods of time. It is also known to relieve the nausea associated with chemotherapy. Massage may be performed as often as deemed necessary, but it can be expensive.
• Meditation – When one learns to meditate properly, they can learn how to control the attitudes that produce stress, therefore achieving a peaceful state. Meditation has one distinct advantage in that once it is learned, it can be used anywhere at any time.
• Yoga – Similar to meditation, yoga can help achieve a feeling of peacefulness. However, mesothelioma patients might find yoga to be painful in some instances, but a good yoga instructor can help the patient find positions that are comfortable yet still advantageous.
• TENS Therapy – Used to control pain, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation helps the body produce a morphine-like substance by stimulating the nerve pathway through a series of small electrical shocks. Many patients have experienced some relief through the use of TENS therapy.
• Supplements – Some natural supplements claim to boost the immune system while others profess to slow the progression of cancer. While none of this is scientifically proven, some success has been exhibited with the use of supplements. If using supplements as a complement to traditional therapies, patients should always inform their doctors as to what supplements they’re taking so as not to interfere with the progress of chemo or radiation.