Mesothelioma Patient Support
Family and friends are always important when you have mesothelioma, but you may also find it beneficial to be in contact with others who share similar challenges. It has been shown that emotional support and open patient discussion of issues helps cancer patients' quality of life.
There are different categories of support. First and foremost do not underestimate the importance of support from family and friends. Human connections in difficult times become even more important and precious, especially with people with whom you are close. You may want to consider counseling, whether individual, couples or family, as a way to help deal with emotions like anger or sadness and concern about the future. This counseling can also help communications among family members.
In addition to family and friends, mesothelioma patients should consider a number of possible support services:
Religious Leaders: Members of the clergies of many faiths are trained to deal with the concerns of mesothelioma patients: pain, fear of death, feeling alone, and searching for meaning.
Home Care Services: State and local governments offer many services useful after cancer treatment. A nurse or physical therapist may be able to come to your home. Check the phone book for non-profit and for-profit Social Services, Health Services or Aging Services.
When it comes to cancer or mesothelioma support groups, it is important to remember that different support groups may have different focuses and procedures. Some groups are facilitated by a psychologist or social worker, but the core of the meeting is the personal sharing of the members. Others are led by group members, and are referred to as peer or self-help groups. Some groups are designed to be educational and structured, others emphasize emotional support and shared experience. The key is in finding a group that matches your needs
Mesothelioma Patient Support Group Dynamics
It is normal to be hesitant about sharing personal issues with a group of strangers, but it is important to remember that support groups are designed to provide a confidential atmosphere where patients can openly exchange information about their illness and the emotional ramifications of cancer, as well as practical issues such as how to manage the side effects of treatments.
For the caregivers of cancer patients, support groups are also important in dealing with the stresses of financial worries and changing roles within the family. Some support groups are specific to the family and friends of those with cancer; other groups encourage family and friends to participate along with the patient. Many support groups are free, but some require a fee. You may wish to see if your insurance will cover the cost.
Finding a Mesothelioma Patient Support Group
Malignant mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease which affects 2,500 to 3,000 people a year. Since many support groups are for cancer patients in general, finding a group with other mesothelioma patients may be difficult. This should not prevent you from joining a group.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Mesothelioma Cure
Following the backlash of asbestos-related exposures and illnesses, many people were wondering how scientific research was going to proceed. The response has been encouraging, with cancer specialists and other doctors working each day towards a cure for malignant mesothelioma. While a way to completely eliminate the cancer from the body does not presently exist, there are several successful mesothelioma treatment programs as well as clinical trials that are working towards developing a way to eliminate this unfortunate form of cancer.
Treatments for patients of malignant mesothelioma commonly fall in line with treatment of other lung and lung-related cancers. Curative treatments are those which remove the cancer from the body completely. While there are no cures for mesothelioma, any treatment could theoretically be curative, so long as it is successful in completely removing the cancer from the body. While the treatment may be curative, it is important to remember that curative treatments do not rule out the recurrence of the disease.
While curative treatments may not prevent the disease from recurring, it is important to be aware of current initiatives that are working towards a total cure for the disease. There have been instances of unique treatment programs that have prevented the recurrence of the disease for several years. Paul Krauss was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1997 and given only a few months to live by his physician. Today, Paul Krauss is still alive and active and has dedicated himself towards spreading awareness of the disease and working with others in developing treatment programs that would be as successful as his has been.
Combination treatments, which integrate two or more different treatment options, such as surgery coupled with radiation, or surgery paired with radiation and chemotherapy have been successful in extending life expectancies. Medical researchers believe that when the right combination of therapies is found, prognoses will be far longer than anyone could have imagined when the disease first manifested. Technology has also afforded new possibilities to mesothelioma patients. CT (Computer Topography) scans have been able to map three-dimensional images of the body's internal organs for targeted chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be administered.
Another novel technique is being integrated with surgical resections of mesothelioma tumors. Heated chemotherapeutic agents have shown increased proficiency in the elimination of cancer cells. Side effects of chemotherapy have, in the past, prevented physicians from delivering an optimal dosage of the drug. However, a novel procedure known as intracavity heated chemotherapy treatment has integrated these two concepts into a successful program. Heated chemotherapeutic agent is administered directly to the affected area during the surgical removal, destroying any remaining cancer cells in the area and extending prognoses well beyond typical timeframs.
It is through technology and advancements such as these that cancer specialists and physicians are laying the groundwork for a cure.
Treatments for patients of malignant mesothelioma commonly fall in line with treatment of other lung and lung-related cancers. Curative treatments are those which remove the cancer from the body completely. While there are no cures for mesothelioma, any treatment could theoretically be curative, so long as it is successful in completely removing the cancer from the body. While the treatment may be curative, it is important to remember that curative treatments do not rule out the recurrence of the disease.
While curative treatments may not prevent the disease from recurring, it is important to be aware of current initiatives that are working towards a total cure for the disease. There have been instances of unique treatment programs that have prevented the recurrence of the disease for several years. Paul Krauss was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1997 and given only a few months to live by his physician. Today, Paul Krauss is still alive and active and has dedicated himself towards spreading awareness of the disease and working with others in developing treatment programs that would be as successful as his has been.
Combination treatments, which integrate two or more different treatment options, such as surgery coupled with radiation, or surgery paired with radiation and chemotherapy have been successful in extending life expectancies. Medical researchers believe that when the right combination of therapies is found, prognoses will be far longer than anyone could have imagined when the disease first manifested. Technology has also afforded new possibilities to mesothelioma patients. CT (Computer Topography) scans have been able to map three-dimensional images of the body's internal organs for targeted chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be administered.
Another novel technique is being integrated with surgical resections of mesothelioma tumors. Heated chemotherapeutic agents have shown increased proficiency in the elimination of cancer cells. Side effects of chemotherapy have, in the past, prevented physicians from delivering an optimal dosage of the drug. However, a novel procedure known as intracavity heated chemotherapy treatment has integrated these two concepts into a successful program. Heated chemotherapeutic agent is administered directly to the affected area during the surgical removal, destroying any remaining cancer cells in the area and extending prognoses well beyond typical timeframs.
It is through technology and advancements such as these that cancer specialists and physicians are laying the groundwork for a cure.
Clincal Trials for Mesothelioma Treatment
Clinical trials are the study of promising new treatments for a particular disease. These trials are constantly in need of patients who are willing to try these experimental treatments before they are approved by the FDA. Patients should speak to their doctors about current clinical trials available to them and if they might qualify to be a part of a particular study. Those opting to participate in a clinical trial should carefully weigh what advantages and disadvantages, in addition to the goals of the trial before deciding to participate.
Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma Treatment
Like radiation, chemotherapy provides no cure for mesothelioma but can be extremely effective in providing relief from the difficult symptoms of the disease. As researchers continue to trial different combinations of chemotherapy drugs, patients will continue to benefit from their findings. The hops is that someday, chemotherapy drugs may go a lot further in prolonging the life of a patient and developing a cure for mesothelioma.
Chemotherapy drugs, in general, are either ingested in pill form or injected into the patient systemically. In the case of mesothelioma patients, the drugs are administered intravenously. Doctors will typically combine two drugs for the best result. One will act as the primary cytotoxin and another will serve as an alkalizing agent to stabilize surrounding healthy cells. At the present the only combination approved by the Food and Drug Administration is Alimta®; (pemetrexed) and Cisplatin®, but other drugs are used in tandem if deemed preferable for a specific patient participating in a clinical trial. In some cases, patients can only tolerate a single drug so only one is used for treatment.
Other drugs are given to the patient to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemo, such as medication to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace essential ones lost during chemotherapy. Some patients for one reason or another will make a measured determination that the side effects of chemotherapy are too severe and opt not to receive this treatment.
Chemotherapy drugs, in general, are either ingested in pill form or injected into the patient systemically. In the case of mesothelioma patients, the drugs are administered intravenously. Doctors will typically combine two drugs for the best result. One will act as the primary cytotoxin and another will serve as an alkalizing agent to stabilize surrounding healthy cells. At the present the only combination approved by the Food and Drug Administration is Alimta®; (pemetrexed) and Cisplatin®, but other drugs are used in tandem if deemed preferable for a specific patient participating in a clinical trial. In some cases, patients can only tolerate a single drug so only one is used for treatment.
Other drugs are given to the patient to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemo, such as medication to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace essential ones lost during chemotherapy. Some patients for one reason or another will make a measured determination that the side effects of chemotherapy are too severe and opt not to receive this treatment.
Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma Treatment
If a patient’s health is too fragile for surgery or chemotherapy, radiation is often recommended. Radiation is associated with the fewest side effects and is typically more to tolerable than chemotherapy for mesothelioma treatment. There are a few different methodologies of radiation therapy available to mesothelioma patients. Radiation is often used in conjunction with another type of treatment such as an in complementary capacity to an existing chemotherapy regimen.
External beam radiation - the preferred type to treat mesothelioma, this type of radiation comes from a machine outside the body and is aimed toward affected areas. Usually administered 5-days-a-week for up to 5 weeks, this type of radiation is often used for palliative purposes - to lessen breathing difficulties, pain, bleeding, or difficulty swallowing - but has seldom shown true efficacy as a curative mesothelioma treatment. This type of radiation may also be used in addition to surgery.
Brachytherapy - Rarely prescribed for mesothelioma, this kind of radiation places radioactive material directly inside the lung or abdomen.
Advancements in Mesothelioma Surgery
In recent years, doctors have made progress at some of the leading cancer medical centers with extensive surgeries that have prolonged survival rate in those diagnosed with early stage disease. Among the more exciting of these treatments is what is known as extrapleural pneumonectomy. This procedure, which requires the expertise of a leading mesothelioma surgeon, involves the surgical resection of the entire affected lung, pleurectomy, removal of the pericardium (a membrane which surrounds the heart), and the diaphragm. During the course of surgery, intra-operative chemotherapy agent (i.e. cisplatin or GEMzar) will be applied directly to the affected area to eliminate any remaining malignant cells. Following the application of chemotherapy, the diaphragm and pericardium are reconstructed with prosthetic material.
Surgery for Mesothelioma Treatment
Surgery can be performed on mesothelioma patients for one of two reasons: in an attempt to cure the disease or for palliative reasons in order to keep the patient more comfortable and improve the quality of life. Because mesothelioma is nearly always diagnosed in its later stages, curative surgery is typically not an option. Once the tumor has metastasized outside the pleural cavity, palliation is typically the only ends for which surgery is utilized.
As tests are developed that may help to diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage, surgery may become more of an option in the future. At that point, doctors may be able to attempt to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue in an attempt to stabilize the disease.
More often, however, surgery is used as a palliative measure. For example, doctors may opt for a surgery called a pleurodesis, which involves injecting talc into the lungs to prevent fluid from returning. A thoracentesis, a surgical procedure that removes fluid from the lungs by means of a thin needle, may also be recommended.
In severe cases, a pleurectomy may be recommended for palliative purposes. This involves removing the pleura - the lining of the lung - and can control fluid build-up and lessen pain and breathing difficulties.
As tests are developed that may help to diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage, surgery may become more of an option in the future. At that point, doctors may be able to attempt to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue in an attempt to stabilize the disease.
More often, however, surgery is used as a palliative measure. For example, doctors may opt for a surgery called a pleurodesis, which involves injecting talc into the lungs to prevent fluid from returning. A thoracentesis, a surgical procedure that removes fluid from the lungs by means of a thin needle, may also be recommended.
In severe cases, a pleurectomy may be recommended for palliative purposes. This involves removing the pleura - the lining of the lung - and can control fluid build-up and lessen pain and breathing difficulties.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Cancer treatment usually focuses upon destroying malignant cells and preserving healthy ones. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. At the present, patients will typically utilize three primary mechanisms for mesothelioma treatment. Either surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, or some combination of the three are considered the most effective for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. What course of treatment is recommended will largely depend on these issues:
The type of mesothelioma and location of the tumor
The size of the tumor(s)
The degree to which the cancer has spread or metastasized
The staging of the cancer – I, II, III, etc.
The age of the patient
The overall physical health of the patient
Setting up any type of treatment may involve seeing a variety of doctors, including an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist), or radiologist. Patience is sometimes necessary to determine the exact malignancy variety and location, but knowing these factors will undoubtedly assist the oncologist in prescribing the best possible method of mesothelioma treatment.
The type of mesothelioma and location of the tumor
The size of the tumor(s)
The degree to which the cancer has spread or metastasized
The staging of the cancer – I, II, III, etc.
The age of the patient
The overall physical health of the patient
Setting up any type of treatment may involve seeing a variety of doctors, including an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist), or radiologist. Patience is sometimes necessary to determine the exact malignancy variety and location, but knowing these factors will undoubtedly assist the oncologist in prescribing the best possible method of mesothelioma treatment.
Mesothelioma Treatment
A diagnosis is always difficult, whether it is pleural mesothelioma or another variety. Because this is such an aggressive malignancy, patients and their families may have a difficult time addressing the issue of treatment. However, because options for mesothelioma patients are steadily increasing, the discussion of treatment with one’s primary oncologist, family members, and loved ones is important. Nearly all mesothelioma patients have treatment options-be they curative or palliative that can extend survival, alleviate pain, and increase quality of life.
Each mesothelioma case is considered individually and there is no singular prescribed roadmap for the management of malignant mesothelioma. What's best for each individual patient will depend on any number of factors. Diagnostic procedures such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies will be used to determine these factors and these tests will assist your primary care physician and/or oncologist in determining the best treatment for the individual and their particular circumstances.
Each mesothelioma case is considered individually and there is no singular prescribed roadmap for the management of malignant mesothelioma. What's best for each individual patient will depend on any number of factors. Diagnostic procedures such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies will be used to determine these factors and these tests will assist your primary care physician and/or oncologist in determining the best treatment for the individual and their particular circumstances.
Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment Options
There are many options for treatment upon receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. Traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation, may be the very first options that a physician will recommend. These, however, are not the only options, and many individuals suffering from mesothelioma choose to couple the traditional forms of mesothelioma treatment with alternative options.
Alternative treatments that may benefit individuals who suffer from asbestos cancer include:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is often used as a palliative therapy, involving the insertion of very narrow needles into the skin at specific pressure points. This has been proven to relieve pain in many individuals suffering from a wide variety of ailments, including mesothelioma.
Aromatherapy
This method of therapy involves the use of aromatic oils, plants, and other substances to be used in conjunction with massage and or baths. These fragrances can result in a heightened mood, which can promote good health and pain relief.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is an alternative therapy than can help cancer patients deal with the physical and emotional challenges that they often experience during treatment.
Biofeedback Therapy
Biofeedback, also known as mind-body therapy, can help individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma manage the pain that is often associated with the disease.
Bowenwork
Bowenwork can help elicit the relaxation response in mesothelioma cancer patients to help lessen the side effects associated with traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is an alternative therapy used to help mesothelioma cancer patients manage pain while going through conventional treatments like chemotherapy.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy is an alternative treatment that can help manage pain and the side effects of more conventional treatments for mesothelioma.
Dance Therapy
Dance therapy is an expressive method of treatment that helps patients connect with the emotional issues that exist when dealing with a serious illness like mesothelioma cancer.
Emotional Freedom Technique
The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is used as a complementary therapy to other conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments to help relieve pain and anxiety in patients.
Feng Shui
The Chinese practice of Feng Shui recommends making changes to a cancer patient's environment to enhance the flow of Qi. This complementary therapy can support mesothelioma cancer patients throughout their mesothelioma treatment.
Healing and Therapeutic Touch Therapy
Healing Touch Therapy is an emerging therapy that is becoming more widely used by patients battling cancer like mesothelioma. This therapy invokes the relaxation response in patients and can help lessen the negative side effects associated with conventional cancer treatments.
Health Coaching
Health Coaching can help mesothelioma patients enjoy better quality of life, lessen pain and stress and make important lifestyle changes that can help speed up recovery from their cancer treatment.
Herbal & Nutritional Supplements
Many natural herbs have natural medicinal aspects which have been used to treat seemingly incurable ailments. Many times, nutritional Supplements work in conjunction with herbal remedies to provide the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals to fight off infection and other illness.
Homeopathy
Many cancer patients, including those battling malignant mesothelioma, have turned to homeopathy because it is a natural alternative to aggressive conventional cancer treatment drugs and can help manage the adverse side effects associated with them.
Hypnotherapy
Guided hypnosis sessions can have substantial positive effect on a patient undergoing treatment for cancer, including mesothelioma. For this reason, hypnosis is now being increasingly integrated into alternative cancer treatment regimens.
Light Therapy
Light therapy is a complementary therapy that some cancer patients find helpful to throughout the course of their conventional treatment to help reduce pain, stress and anxiety.
Lymph Drainage Therapy
Manual lymph drainage therapy is a technique that uses very gentle manipulation to help reduce swelling in the body after surgery or radiation treatment in mesothelioma cancer patients.
Manual Therapy
Integrative manual therapy is a gentle, non-invasive form of therapy that can be very helpful for cancer patients looking to ease pain and anxiety from their illness.
Massage
Massage therapy is the practice of hands-on physical manipulation of the body's soft tissue. Massage can be both relaxing and pain-relieving. Massage methods include Acupressure, Anma, and Balinese, all of which have differing effects on the body. Massage is often used during treatments for certain health conditions, like cancer, to ease muscle tension and induce relaxation.
Meditation
Meditation is the process of moving into deep relaxation. It is therapeutic in the sense that it can help patients develop a calm mind to make sound decisions and be at peace with health conditions they may have, including cancer like mesothelioma.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a complementary therapy than can help alleviate the uncomfortable side effects of cancer treatment as well as help reduce both chronic and acute pain.
Myofascial Therapy
Myofascial therapy can be used by cancer patients, including those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, to help manage the pain that sometimes accompanies traditional cancer treatment.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy is an alternative paradigm of medicine that focuses on nature's remedy and the body's intrinsic ability to heal itself. Naturopathy favors a holistic approach to treating illnesses like mesothelioma through the use of mineral, diet, and lifestyle-based remedies.
Nutritional Resources
Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can prove to be an important factor in the treatment of someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a complementary therapy that mesothelioma cancer patients find helpful for reducing stress, fatigue and some of the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy.
Personal Fitness and Training
Maintaining some level of movement can be a tremendous help to cancer patients undergoing treatment and can lead to improved outlook and quality of life. There are personal fitness trainers that are specifically trained to provide this type of support to cancer patients.
Pet Therapy
Pet Therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, utilizes dogs and other animals as a soothing and relaxing modality for patients battling mesothelioma and other cancer.
Reflexology
Foot reflexology is an alternative treatment therapy designed to help mesothelioma cancer patients manage pain.
Reiki
Reiki promotes a deep sense of relaxation and well-being and is an alternative therapy that many mesothelioma cancer patients are now using as part of their overall treatment plan.
Sound Therapy
Some cancer patients welcome the use of more non-invasive therapies, like sound therapy, that can help alleviate the stress and pain that is often associated with more traditional forms of cancer treatment.
TENS Therapy
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation is used as a palliative care option. An electrical stimulation is directed through different areas of the body resulting in pain relief which can increase the level of endorphins. TENS Therapy is typically administered by a physical therapist, but can also be done at home if a patient has the necessary documentation for TENS equipment.
Thermography
Thermography, which is a type of medical imaging, can help detect problems in the body, like mesothelioma cancer, and can also aid in monitoring the healing process.
Yoga
Yoga is a combination of meditation and movement. Yoga is of Hindu origin and is designed to promote a heightened sense of oneness between body and mind, inducing relaxation and contentment.
Why should I consider alternative treatment?
When paired with traditional treatment methods, alternative options can be an important component of a mesothelioma treatment plan. These alternative methods are most helpful in controlling pain and maintaining balance and peace within an individual's mind and body. Many patients find treatments, such as massage or meditation, to be a welcome distraction from the ongoing cycle of hospital visits, medication, and general stress associated with a cancer diagnosis.
It is very important to consult with your physician before pursuing any new form of treatment. A doctor will be able to determine whether or not a patient is healthy enough to incorporate alternative treatment practices into their already-established treatment plan.
There are many options for treatment upon receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. Traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation, may be the very first options that a physician will recommend. These, however, are not the only options, and many individuals suffering from mesothelioma choose to couple the traditional forms of mesothelioma treatment with alternative options.
Alternative treatments that may benefit individuals who suffer from asbestos cancer include:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is often used as a palliative therapy, involving the insertion of very narrow needles into the skin at specific pressure points. This has been proven to relieve pain in many individuals suffering from a wide variety of ailments, including mesothelioma.
Aromatherapy
This method of therapy involves the use of aromatic oils, plants, and other substances to be used in conjunction with massage and or baths. These fragrances can result in a heightened mood, which can promote good health and pain relief.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is an alternative therapy than can help cancer patients deal with the physical and emotional challenges that they often experience during treatment.
Biofeedback Therapy
Biofeedback, also known as mind-body therapy, can help individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma manage the pain that is often associated with the disease.
Bowenwork
Bowenwork can help elicit the relaxation response in mesothelioma cancer patients to help lessen the side effects associated with traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is an alternative therapy used to help mesothelioma cancer patients manage pain while going through conventional treatments like chemotherapy.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy is an alternative treatment that can help manage pain and the side effects of more conventional treatments for mesothelioma.
Dance Therapy
Dance therapy is an expressive method of treatment that helps patients connect with the emotional issues that exist when dealing with a serious illness like mesothelioma cancer.
Emotional Freedom Technique
The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is used as a complementary therapy to other conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments to help relieve pain and anxiety in patients.
Feng Shui
The Chinese practice of Feng Shui recommends making changes to a cancer patient's environment to enhance the flow of Qi. This complementary therapy can support mesothelioma cancer patients throughout their mesothelioma treatment.
Healing and Therapeutic Touch Therapy
Healing Touch Therapy is an emerging therapy that is becoming more widely used by patients battling cancer like mesothelioma. This therapy invokes the relaxation response in patients and can help lessen the negative side effects associated with conventional cancer treatments.
Health Coaching
Health Coaching can help mesothelioma patients enjoy better quality of life, lessen pain and stress and make important lifestyle changes that can help speed up recovery from their cancer treatment.
Herbal & Nutritional Supplements
Many natural herbs have natural medicinal aspects which have been used to treat seemingly incurable ailments. Many times, nutritional Supplements work in conjunction with herbal remedies to provide the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals to fight off infection and other illness.
Homeopathy
Many cancer patients, including those battling malignant mesothelioma, have turned to homeopathy because it is a natural alternative to aggressive conventional cancer treatment drugs and can help manage the adverse side effects associated with them.
Hypnotherapy
Guided hypnosis sessions can have substantial positive effect on a patient undergoing treatment for cancer, including mesothelioma. For this reason, hypnosis is now being increasingly integrated into alternative cancer treatment regimens.
Light Therapy
Light therapy is a complementary therapy that some cancer patients find helpful to throughout the course of their conventional treatment to help reduce pain, stress and anxiety.
Lymph Drainage Therapy
Manual lymph drainage therapy is a technique that uses very gentle manipulation to help reduce swelling in the body after surgery or radiation treatment in mesothelioma cancer patients.
Manual Therapy
Integrative manual therapy is a gentle, non-invasive form of therapy that can be very helpful for cancer patients looking to ease pain and anxiety from their illness.
Massage
Massage therapy is the practice of hands-on physical manipulation of the body's soft tissue. Massage can be both relaxing and pain-relieving. Massage methods include Acupressure, Anma, and Balinese, all of which have differing effects on the body. Massage is often used during treatments for certain health conditions, like cancer, to ease muscle tension and induce relaxation.
Meditation
Meditation is the process of moving into deep relaxation. It is therapeutic in the sense that it can help patients develop a calm mind to make sound decisions and be at peace with health conditions they may have, including cancer like mesothelioma.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a complementary therapy than can help alleviate the uncomfortable side effects of cancer treatment as well as help reduce both chronic and acute pain.
Myofascial Therapy
Myofascial therapy can be used by cancer patients, including those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, to help manage the pain that sometimes accompanies traditional cancer treatment.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy is an alternative paradigm of medicine that focuses on nature's remedy and the body's intrinsic ability to heal itself. Naturopathy favors a holistic approach to treating illnesses like mesothelioma through the use of mineral, diet, and lifestyle-based remedies.
Nutritional Resources
Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can prove to be an important factor in the treatment of someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Osteopathy
Osteopathy is a complementary therapy that mesothelioma cancer patients find helpful for reducing stress, fatigue and some of the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy.
Personal Fitness and Training
Maintaining some level of movement can be a tremendous help to cancer patients undergoing treatment and can lead to improved outlook and quality of life. There are personal fitness trainers that are specifically trained to provide this type of support to cancer patients.
Pet Therapy
Pet Therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, utilizes dogs and other animals as a soothing and relaxing modality for patients battling mesothelioma and other cancer.
Reflexology
Foot reflexology is an alternative treatment therapy designed to help mesothelioma cancer patients manage pain.
Reiki
Reiki promotes a deep sense of relaxation and well-being and is an alternative therapy that many mesothelioma cancer patients are now using as part of their overall treatment plan.
Sound Therapy
Some cancer patients welcome the use of more non-invasive therapies, like sound therapy, that can help alleviate the stress and pain that is often associated with more traditional forms of cancer treatment.
TENS Therapy
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation is used as a palliative care option. An electrical stimulation is directed through different areas of the body resulting in pain relief which can increase the level of endorphins. TENS Therapy is typically administered by a physical therapist, but can also be done at home if a patient has the necessary documentation for TENS equipment.
Thermography
Thermography, which is a type of medical imaging, can help detect problems in the body, like mesothelioma cancer, and can also aid in monitoring the healing process.
Yoga
Yoga is a combination of meditation and movement. Yoga is of Hindu origin and is designed to promote a heightened sense of oneness between body and mind, inducing relaxation and contentment.
Why should I consider alternative treatment?
When paired with traditional treatment methods, alternative options can be an important component of a mesothelioma treatment plan. These alternative methods are most helpful in controlling pain and maintaining balance and peace within an individual's mind and body. Many patients find treatments, such as massage or meditation, to be a welcome distraction from the ongoing cycle of hospital visits, medication, and general stress associated with a cancer diagnosis.
It is very important to consult with your physician before pursuing any new form of treatment. A doctor will be able to determine whether or not a patient is healthy enough to incorporate alternative treatment practices into their already-established treatment plan.
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