Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments
Acupuncture
Acupuncture, while not curative, may offer some palliation to individuals suffering from mesothelioma. Acupuncture involves inserting very thin needles into a patient’s skin and then manipulating the needles manually or with electricity. It has been scientifically proven to help relieve chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting.
Yoga
Yoga, through its use of intense concentration and fluid movements, may help to alleviate stress in patients with cancer. In one study, patients with lymphoma who also participated in yoga experienced better sleep quality than those who did not. Another study suggested that breast cancer patients who participate in yoga may also experience fewer cancer-related symptoms.
Meditation
Like yoga, meditation may help to relieve stress in patients with cancer, as well as potentially reducing their cancer-related pain and discomfort.
Massage
Massage can be a relaxing experience when performed by a knowledgeable practitioner. Thought not specifically proven to help with cancer, many cancer patients have found it to be relaxing and stress-relieving.
Pet Therapy
Pet therapy has long been known to confer a number of health benefits, particularly in the elderly population. Time spent with a pet can provide significant improvement in mood and stress, not to mention substantial entertainment value. Dogs and cats have been the most extensively studied for this purpose. The National Cancer Institute is currently sponsoring a study looking at the effects of pet therapy on psychological and physiological distress in cancer patients undergoing treatment for pain.
Supplements
The supplements that purport to help with medical illnesses are too numerous to discuss individually. Few, however, have undergone rigorous medical study. Some of the ones that may have potential benefit include:
St. John’s wort has been studied as a treatment for depression. The results have been inconsistent, but tend to show that it may be useful in cases of mild depression. It was not shown to be of much benefit in major depression.
The coriolus versicolor mushroom may have some antitumor properties when used as a supplement to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, although further studies are needed to fully analyze its efficacy and safety.
Sun’s soup has been anecdotally noted to be of potential benefit to individuals struggling with cancer, but additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to help prevent heart damage from the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin.
TENS Therapy
A TENS unit can offer significant pain relief under a variety of conditions. A TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit is a small device that sends electrical impulses to certain areas of the body to block pain signals. Electrodes are placed on a patient’s skin and are connected to the device, which can be carried in a pocket or clipped to a belt. Most often TENS units are used for pain associated with arthritis and joint pain.
Anna L. Kaplan, M.D.
