Many people with mesothelioma are interested in trying complementary and alternative cancer treatments such as mesothelioma treatments. If the cancer makes you feel as though you have little control over your health,
alternative cancer treatments may offer some hope. But many alternative cancer treatments are unproved and dangerous.
Alternative cancer treatments will not cure mesothelioma, but they may help you cope with signs and symptoms caused by mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatments. Common signs and symptoms such as anxiety, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, difficulty sleeping, and stress may be lessened by alternative treatments.
Use alternative cancer treatments as a supplement to treatments you receive from your doctor — not as a substitute for medical care. While alternative cancer treatments, such as acupuncture, may reduce nausea or pain, they generally aren't powerful enough to replace medications from your doctor. Work closely with your doctor to determine the right balance between traditional medicines and alternative cancer treatments.
These 11 alternative cancer treatments have shown some promise in helping people with mesothelioma.
1-Acupuncture.
During acupuncture treatment, a practitioner inserts tiny needles into your skin at precise points. Studies show acupuncture may be helpful in relieving nausea caused by chemotherapy. Acupuncture may also help relieve pain in people with mesothelioma cancer.
Acupuncture is safe if it's performed by a licensed practitioner using sterile needles. Ask your doctor for names of trusted practitioners. Acupuncture isn't safe if you're taking blood thinners or if you have low blood counts, so check with your doctor first.
2-Aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy uses fragrant oils to provide a calming sensation. Oils, infused with scents such as lavender, can be applied to your skin during a massage or the oils can be added to bath water. Fragrant oils also can be heated to release their scents into the air. Aromatherapy may be helpful in relieving nausea, pain and stress.
Aromatherapy can be performed by a practitioner, or you can use aromatherapy on your own. Aromatherapy is safe, though oils applied to your skin can cause allergic reactions.
3-Biofeedback.
You use your mind to control various body functions, such as heart rate and blood flow, during biofeedback therapy. A biofeedback therapist uses an electronic device to monitor a specific body function, such as muscle tension or your heart rate. The device uses a beeping sound or a flashing light as cues, for instance to tell you that your heart rate is slowing down or your muscles are becoming more relaxed. Working with the biofeedback therapist, you learn to control these functions by paying attention to the cues.
Biofeedback may be helpful in relieving pain in people with cancer. Biofeedback is safe when you work with a certified biofeedback therapist. With practice, you can learn to do biofeedback on your own.
4-Exercise.
Exercise may help you manage signs and symptoms during and after cancer treatment. Gentle exercise such as walking or swimming may help relieve fatigue and stress and help you sleep better.
If you haven't already been exercising regularly, check with your doctor before you begin an exercise program. Start slowly, adding more exercise as you go. Aim to work your way up to at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
5-Hypnosis.
Hypnosis is a deep state of concentration. During a hypnotherapy session, a therapist may hypnotize you by talking in a gentle voice and helping your relax. He or she will then help you focus on goals, such as controlling your pain and reducing your stress.
Hypnosis may be helpful for people with cancer who are experiencing anxiety, pain and stress. It may also help prevent anticipatory nausea and vomiting that can occur if chemotherapy has made you sick in the past. When performed by a certified therapist, hypnosis is safe. But tell your therapist if you have a history of mental illness.
6-Massage therapy.
During a massage, your practitioner kneads your skin, muscles and tendons in an effort to relieve muscle tension and stress and promote relaxation. Several massage methods exist. Massage can be light and gentle, or it can be deep with more pressure. Studies have found massage can be helpful in relieving pain in people with cancer. It may also help relieve anxiety, fatigue and stress.
Massage can be safe if you work with an understanding massage therapist. Many cancer centers have massage therapists on staff, or your doctor can refer you to a massage therapist who regularly works with people who have cancer.
Don't have a massage if your blood counts are low. Ask the massage therapist to avoid massaging near surgical scars, radiation treatment areas or tumors. If you have cancer in your bones or other bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, ask the massage therapist to use light pressure, rather than deep massage.
7-Meditation.
Meditation is a state of deep concentration when you focus your mind on one image, sound or idea, such as a positive thought. When meditating, you might also do deep-breathing or relaxation exercises. Meditation may help people with cancer by relieving anxiety, pain and stress.
Meditation is generally safe. You can meditate on your own for a few minutes once or twice a day or you can take a class with an instructor.
8-Music therapy.
During music therapy sessions, you might listen to music, play instruments, sing songs or write lyrics. A trained music therapist may lead you through activities designed to meet your specific needs, or you may participate in music therapy in a group setting. Music therapy may help relieve pain and control nausea and vomiting.
Music therapy is safe and doesn't require any musical talent to participate. Many medical centers have certified music therapists on staff.
9-Relaxation techniques.
Relaxation techniques are ways of focusing your attention on calming your mind and relaxing your muscles. Relaxation techniques might include activities such as visualization exercises or progressive muscle relaxation. Relaxation techniques may be helpful in relieving anxiety and fatigue. They may also help people with cancer sleep better.
Relaxation techniques are safe. Typically a therapist leads you through these exercises and eventually you may be able to do them on your own.
10-Tai chi.
Tai chi is a form of exercise that incorporates gentle movements and deep-breathing. Tai chi can be led by an instructor, or you can learn tai chi on your own following books or videos. Practicing tai chi may help relieve stress. It may also be helpful if you're having difficulty sleeping at night.
Tai chi is generally safe. The slow movements of tai chi don't require great physical strength, and the exercises can be easily adapted to your own abilities. Still, talk to your doctor before beginning tai chi. Don't participate in any tai chi moves that cause pain.
11-Yoga.
Yoga combines stretching exercises with deep breathing. During a yoga session, you position your body in various poses that require bending, twisting and stretching. There are many types of yoga, each with its own variations. Yoga may provide some stress relief for people with cancer. Yoga has also been shown to improve sleep and reduce fatigue.
Before beginning a yoga class, ask your doctor to recommend an instructor who regularly works with people with health concerns, such as cancer. Avoid yoga poses that cause pain. A good instructor can give you alternate poses that are safe for you.
You may find some alternative treatments work well together. For instance, deep breathing during a massage may provide further stress relief.
Mesothelioma Alternative Treatments
Care Giving for Mesothelioma Sufferers
If you are a caregiver for someone with mesothelioma, you already know, or are learning quickly, how drastically your routines must change. Fortunately, there are seemingly endless
sources of support for you as the caregiver, as well as for your loved one with this diagnosis.
Start with an Internet search to learn about mesothelioma (the disease, causes, treatments, care giving, support, options–everything you can find) and print out as much as you can. You won’t be able to remember it all. Make a file and organize it into categories so that you can easily find what you need when you need to know it. Then devise a plan to investigate each aspect of your care giving in an orderly manner. If you jump around from topic to topic, you’ll surely get confused, forget things and become overwhelmed. Make notes and file them with your topics.
Also, be aware that there are many sites that offer unreliable or biased information, so consider your sources carefully. One place to start might be the American Cancer Society where you can learn many facts about malignant mesothelioma and what you and your loved one will be dealing with. This will help you in giving support and caring for emotional and physical needs. As you meet with the medical team members, they can help you devise a care plan that includes caring for your own needs, as well.
You will need to find out what resources are available to you in your area, and which are covered by insurance, which by volunteers, which by support groups or local services. Meal delivery services for seniors and the disabled is one such service that could relieve you of meal preparation at least once a day. Remember that you will not only be taking care of both of your needs, but may have to carry out many requests to make your patient more comfortable. Requests such as bringing something to drink or snack on, something to read or do, change a TV channel and other small adjustments might begin to overwhelm you. Let your patient do as much for himself as possible.
Some of the things you’ll have to learn that are specific to your role as caregiver include:
• How to coordinate your care plan with your patient’s medical team’s plans. Decide who will take the patient to his or her appointments. List all questions ahead of time and make sure you are satisfied with the answers. Report all symptoms
• The specific type and location of mesothelioma your patient has and how it will affect him or her. This includes stages and treatments associated with different stages, and other options, such as clinical trials, and how each of these will affect both of you physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially and financially.
• Nutrition for mesothelioma patients. Your team will probably include a nutritionist who can advise you both of dietary needs at different stages of treatment, and ways to streamline meal preparation and shopping to reduce your work.
• Medications and supplements
• How to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, hygiene, dressing, mobilizing, changing a bed with someone in it, and especially assisting someone who is weak or in pain.
• Emotional support and understanding the emotions a patient and caregivers will experience. These can include frustration, anger, depression, hopelessness, euphoria, annoyance, exasperation, denial and many more that you are not accustomed to dealing with at this new level. Learn how to listen, don’t contradict or judge, and never disagree with your patient’s description of his or her emotions. Emotions are neither right nor wrong–they just are, and if your patient is feeling any particular emotion, that is the fact, though you might wish it were not. If your loved one is not ready to talk, wait until they are. They are losing control of almost everything in their life. Allow them to control what they need to express.
• Caring for your patient after treatment, which could be surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, fluid drainage, or other less imposing treatments. Each type of treatment will require specific types of care.
• Caring for yourself is as important to your patient as it is to you, so include yourself in the care plan. If you burn out or injure yourself, your loved one has lost his or her primary caretaker. Know your limitations and seek help where you might otherwise push yourself.
Rest will be one of your greatest needs. Are respite services available in your area? These services provide people to cover for you for a day or two while you physically leave and take respite somewhere else.
Maintain your routines, hobbies, interests, social life, outside activities as much as possible.
Your loved one is not the only one suffering emotional pain. You will be, as well. Caring for another person 24 hours a day, seven days a week would wear anyone out. If you have someone who can relieve you one or two days a week, take advantage of the opportunity to refresh yourself.
Ignore those who are critical of your caretaking unless you and your patient agree that a change would be an improvement. If the two of you are satisfied, and your caretaking is going well, realize that there is just so much you can do. If others insist that more can be done, and you and the patient are open to this, suggest that they provide the missing care as you would welcome all the help you can get.
• Delegation and available support. List individuals and groups. What can they best offer in the way of help or assistance? Can you rely on them for regular help? Do you have alternate sources of help? Get them to commit to a schedule and to specific ways of helping so that you can plan and organize. If you have family, friends, or volunteer organizations, or if your patient qualifies for in-home care services, you can delegate many of your tasks. These can be anything from running errands, to light housekeeping, meal preparation, bathing and other assistance with personal hygiene (for the patient, not you.) You might delegate bill paying, shopping, laundry, or any number of duties that would free up your time and energy for caretaking.
• Are everyone’s affairs in order, including yours? Advance directives. Wills. Bills. Taxes. Licenses. Important papers. Important contact information. Does a trusted person know where these papers are?
• What if something happens to you? Do you have a backup plan to care for your patient? Does a reliable person know of your plan, and are they ready to carry it out, if necessary?
• Legal matters. You will want to seek counsel from an attorney with experience in mesothelioma cases. If you are eligible for compensation, you will have to file for this within time limits set by statutes of limitations. If you are entitled to compensation, this will provide financial assistance for medical bills, caregivers and other expenses, as well as other losses, such as income and more.
Why You Should Know about Mesothelioma
For greater than a hundred years asbestos lung cancer have been partners in cancer. Most individuals who've been diagnosed with mesothelioma had occupations where they were exposed to and breathed asbestos dust particles. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which could be
either benign or malignant. It is found within the mesothelium which is a thin protective tissue overlaying most internal organs. The one recognized reason behind mesothelioma results from being exposed to and breathing of asbestos dust in the air.
Breathing asbestos dust over extended intervals of time can lead to asbestosis, a persistent progressive lung disease, in addition to lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although asbestos and lung cancer have had a unmistakable association for many years, fresh instances of asbestos-triggered cancer continue to appear every year.
Asbestos is mostly present within the manufacturing, mining, milling, application, or removal of asbestos materials. Although asbestos was banned decades ago it still exists in merchandise that had been produced before the ban was passed. The risk of developing a progressive lung disease, lung cancer, or mesothelioma is associated with the overall lifetime exposure to asbestos dust particles.
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals which are resistant to fire and chemical compounds. They are fibrous mineral types of impure magnesium silicate and located in fire-proofing materials, electrical insulation, cement, shingles, acoustic and decorative ceiling or wall plaster, and other building materials. When removing, fixing, or disturbing asbestos-containing supplies, microscopic asbestos dust particles can be dispersed into the air. Once airborne they may be inhaled into the lungs, leading to mesothelioma, cancer, and progressive lung disease.
Asbestos is not the actual causative factor of cancer, but is a promoter of the illness. Once asbestos particles are inhaled into the lungs the body's immune system cells attempt to remove them as best they can. In spite of this, the immune cells die which trigger the body to produce scar tissue surrounding the lifeless cells. The scar tissue continues to develop until there is an adequate quantity to cause the lungs to cease functioning. The risk of getting lung cancer is increased in people who smoke with asbestosis. The possibility of getting lung cancer is tremendously increased in individuals who are both intense smokers and exposed to asbestos fibers.
Cancer within the mesothelium is a result of abnormal tissue cells dividing out of control. Cancer cells can metastasize, which means they will invade tissues which can be close to the area of cancer, and distribute by way of the lymphatic system and bloodstream to different locations of the human body. Mesothelial cancerous tumors usually grow within the mesothelium of the peritoneum or pleura. Pleura is the skinny membrane overlaying both of the lungs which folds back to create a chest cavity lining. The peritoneum surrounds the walls of the abdominal cavity which wrap around the soft internal organs. Primary mesothelial tumors of the tissue surrounding the heart are rare.
Diseases attributable to the inhalation of asbestos dust particles normally don't present symptoms for many years after the instance of exposure. By the time the disease is found it's usually in its later stages. Because of this, mesotheliomas attributable to exposure are generally deadly in 2 to 4 years following diagnosis. The National Cancer Institute continues to sponsor scientific trials, hoping that they'll someday lead to a remedy or at the very least new and improved therapy.
It is important to take out or seal any asbestos-containing items that you may become exposed to. The asbestos removal cost is well worth the peace of mind you will obtain realizing you are not breathing this deadly substance.
If you have been diagnosed with asbestos cancer, often known as mesothelioma, you can visit asbestos.com and obtain a complimentary packet that contains details about specific therapies geared to your explicit diagnosis. The packet also includes top mesothelioma medical doctors and cancer facilities throughout the nation, in addition to several choices for monetary assistance that might help pay for therapeutic costs.