Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments

-->

Alternative treatments for mesothelioma are often described as holistic treatments because not only do they help patients' physical well being but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Alternative treatments help ease stress and reduce the side effects caused by conventional treatments for mesothelioma cancer. Alternative treatments for mesothelioma therefore are a great compliment to medical treatment.

Alternative Treatments

In order to make the most of your cancer treatment, it is a good idea to discuss alternative treatments with your doctor. Anything deemed outside the traditional treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation) are alternative treatments. Alternative mesothelioma treatments can include:

Acupuncture

Yoga

Meditation

Massage Therapy

Nutritional Supplements and Herbs

Aromatherapy

TENS therapy

These treatments may be expensive and most are not covered by health insurance.

Acupuncture

This technique involves thin, long needles being inserted into certain points on the body. Mesothelioma victims seek this pain relief method used in China for centuries because it decreases the intense pain that may be a symptom of the disease or its treatments and stimulates the release of endorphins.

Yoga and Meditation

Patients use these methods in order to reduce stress and pain. Yoga, meditation, and other similar therapies consist of relaxation and an awareness of body and mind.

Massage Therapy

Massages as a treatment for mesothelioma cancer are therapeutic because the rubbing and kneading of the body's soft tissue increases blood flow, thereby improving circulation. Doctors often promote massages for cancer patients in order to ease the mind and relax the body, in turn helping to control the pain.

Discuss massage therapy with your doctor, as a massage immediately after radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery may cause damage to the recovering parts of the body. Deep massages may cause significant pain if the cancer has spread to the bones, and may even cause bone fractures.

Nutritional Supplements and Herbs

Though not all are verified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most patients use this treatment as a complement to conventional treatments. Also used for centuries in China, nutritional supplements and herbs may boost the immune system.

Again, discuss this alternative treatment with your doctor before beginning an herbal regimen, because some herbs or nutritional supplements may decrease the potency of and otherwise interact with certain drugs.

Aromatherapy

Oils derived from plants are burned releasing a smell that have been known to ease the mind into relaxation by appealing to the human sense of smell.

TENS therapy

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is an alternative method approved by the FDA. Electrodes are placed on the nerve pathways producing an electrical current that stimulates the production of a morphine-like substance in the brain. Some patients have found success through this method as its electrical shocks relieve pain much like massage therapy or acupuncture. There are few side effects to TENS and this method can be performed at home.

Although many of these treatments are not endorsed by some doctors, many patients have found these treatments to be effective in either combination with the conventional medical treatments or as stand-alone therapy.

The Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer Resource Center is focused on bringing an easy to use and extremely informative website to those searching for information on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. With our informative videos and accurate, board-certified-oncologist reviewed articles, we trust you will find this to be a true resource.