Complementary and alternative mesothelioma treatments aim to ease symptoms and side effects of treatment. Common therapies for mesothelioma include acupuncture, meditation, yoga and medical marijuana. Other options are herbal medicine and energy therapy.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: November 25, 2024
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Written by Michelle Whitmer | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: November 25, 2024
Integrative medicine for mesothelioma combines complementary therapies and standard medicine. It uses various options to manage symptoms and side effects of treatments. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, replaces standard mesothelioma therapies. These include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. It aims to treat the cancer.
Integrative and alternative medicine are a mix of products and practices. They may help some patients. But a lack of evidence about their efficacy means they aren’t cancer treatments.
Common Alternative Therapies for Mesothelioma
Patients with mesothelioma may use the same therapies in both alternative and complementary medicine. But their intention and approach are different. Most patients interested in other therapies use them to supplement their standard treatments.
If you want to try complementary medicine, speak with your doctor. Some therapies may conflict with standard methods or drugs. Not getting treatment may hurt your prognosis.
Exercise, herbal medicine, mental health therapies, and many others are types of complementary and alternative treatment for mesothelioma. Always talk to your health care provider before starting any new therapy for your symptoms.
Integrative oncology, for example, is an approach that uses complementary therapies in conjunction with traditional cancer treatment options. It uses safe and effective, evidence-based therapies for cancer. Research shows they are effective.
Some therapies, like acupuncture and medical marijuana, can help manage treatment side effects. Mind-body techniques like yoga and meditation also lessen stress and negative emotions. Nutrition and exercise can boost your quality of life.
Many mesothelioma patients use medical marijuana and CBD to ease nausea, pain and stress. This therapy lets patients pick their preferred delivery method. They can smoke the dried leaves, eat edibles and capsules or apply topicals to the skin.
A survey by The Mesothelioma Center found that 20% of mesothelioma patients aged 61 to 70 used CBD or medical marijuana. If you are considering using cannabis, talk to your doctor. Medical marijuana is not legal in all states, and federal law prohibits its use.
Cupping therapy uses cups to create suction on the skin to stimulate blood flow. A practitioner heats the cup and then places it upside down on the mesothelioma patient’s skin. As the trapped air cools, the cup creates a vacuum, pulling up the skin. Cupping is an ancient therapy that may treat a variety of symptoms, such as inflammation, pain and stress.
Some cancer patients report relief from symptoms with cupping. But evidence is scarce. It may be a useful treatment for lower back pain. Patients should discuss with their doctor if they want to use it for lung injury and respiratory diseases.
Kevin says of alternative therapies in conjunction with his traditional treatments, “Has it helped? I don’t know. But I’m still doing well two years after my surgery.” He’s been receiving cupping treatments, or fire cupping. Heated cups are applied to the skin. Kevin told us, “The cups create a suction on your back. It might be a little painful, but it’s not much.”
Most oncologists recommend gentle exercise to mesothelioma patients. Light exercise can ease side effects, reduce fatigue and improve mood. It can also boost quality of life. Adding exercise to a patient’s treatment plan lowers the risk of death and cancer recurrence.
Exercise improves cardiovascular fitness in mesothelioma patients. This helps them cope with surgery and chemotherapy. Gentle exercise can improve sleep. It helps patients rest and recover better. Dr. Diana Molinares, director of oncology rehab at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, recommends frequent light exercise. It can help build a routine and fight fatigue.
Herbal medicines and dietary supplements, like vitamins and minerals, are another form of complementary medicine for mesothelioma patients. Sellers of herbs and supplements claim to boost wellness. But the FDA does not regulate supplements.
Mesothelioma patients should be cautious with herbal medicines and supplements. These substances don’t have to pass the same safety tests as prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Herbal remedies, such as Essiac tea, turmeric and mistletoe extracts, are popular choices among mesothelioma patients. These herbs are in traditional Chinese medicine.
Mental health therapy is vital for mesothelioma patients. It helps them cope with the mental, emotional and social challenges of their diagnosis. It is as important as treating their physical symptoms. More cancer centers now offer counseling and support groups for patients and their families.
Mental Health Therapy for Mesothelioma
Mental health support is an integral part of the treatment of any disease. It is often seen as a complementary therapy. People who use mental health therapy cope better with illness.
Mind-body therapies can reduce symptoms in cancer patients. They have been scientifically proven to work. These methods encourage the mind to stay present and aware of the body’s functions. They promote relaxation, reduce stress and can improve health.
Mind-Body Therapy Modalities
Not every mind-body therapy suits cancer patients. Mesothelioma patients should always consult their doctor. They need safe, gentle therapies that support the body and mind without adding strain.
Proper, balanced nutrition is vital before, during and after cancer treatment. A mesothelioma diet can help with nausea and trouble swallowing. Some cancer centers have dietitians to help mesothelioma patients. They can create personalized meal plans.
Eating well is crucial to feeling physically and mentally better. Good nutrition helps you to get through your treatments in the best way possible and helps the body heal.
More oncology teams are stressing good nutrition for mesothelioma. It is a key complementary therapy. Patients can change their diet to reduce inflammation. This may improve outcomes.
Eating the right diet throughout mesothelioma treatment can ease your symptoms.
Get Free Recipes and TipsEnergy therapies, acupuncture, and other types of complementary therapies have helped ease mesothelioma symptoms and side effects. Research the benefits and risks first. Then talk to your doctor about which are best for you.
Other Complementary Therapies
Another type of complementary therapy is palliative care, which aims to ease symptoms and promote well-being. While some believe this type of care is for end-stage patients, using it earlier in treatment improves prognosis and life expectancy.
Some mesothelioma cancer centers offer integrative oncology programs that include complementary therapies. These programs aim to treat the whole person, not just the disease.
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Working with your doctor to find the right program for you is best. Research and ask questions. Find out what therapies may help your symptoms and support your treatment.
Access top mesothelioma cancer centers that have experience treating this rare disease.
Get Help NowIntegrative oncology doesn’t promise a cure for mesothelioma. It also doesn’t always improve survival rates. Complementary therapies aim to improve comfort and quality of life. They also seek to help patients tolerate conventional mesothelioma treatments.
For example, patients suffering from chemo’s side effects can find relief in complementary therapies for nausea and vomiting. The ability to complete the full chemo treatment can have a positive impact on survival. It’s vital to follow your mesothelioma doctor’s treatment plan. Do this even if the complementary therapies provide some relief. Avoiding any standard treatment can harm a patient’s survival.
In 2016, doctors diagnosed Jim Huff with pleural mesothelioma. He didn’t want to endure the harsh side effects of chemotherapy. Instead, he used medical marijuana, taking a dose of CBD oil twice a day. For 15 months, his CT scans showed no new tumor growth. When his cancer progressed, Huff found success with Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug. “Something is working, a combination or whatever,” Jim said. “I’m just riding this wave as long as I can.”
In 1980, doctors diagnosed Jerry Lampe with peritoneal mesothelioma. At the time, there were few treatments for the rare cancer. Doctors gave him only six to 12 months to live. A friend suggested Lampe check out the Immune Augmentation Therapy Clinic, an experimental cancer center in Freeport, Bahamas. He had daily injections of a protein mixture made from the blood of healthy donors. Today, Lampe may be the longest-living mesothelioma survivor in the U.S. “There is no way to prove now what it did or didn’t do for me back then,” Jerry said. “[The injections] built up my immune system, and I survived.”
In 1996, Sissy Hoffman had a radical surgery called an extrapleural pneumonectomy. Dr. David Sugarbaker, a pioneer in mesothelioma treatment, did the surgery. Hoffman thrives today. She eats well and does tai chi and water aerobics. It’s allowed her to take a lifetime trip to Italy and even snorkel despite having one lung. “Was it easy? No, it was not,” Sissy said. “But I am stronger for it, and I have a deeper appreciation for life.”
Supplemental mesothelioma treatment options often prove useful for managing the severity of symptoms. Many patients turn to complementary therapies. They want to ease the side effects of standard mesothelioma treatments and boost their health.
Patients considering complementary treatments should consult their doctor first. This is to avoid any negative interactions with new treatments. Doctors and a patient’s care team can recommend therapies. They can also provide info on integrative oncology centers that offer complementary and traditional treatments.
Complementary therapies often help with the side effects of standard mesothelioma treatments, like chemotherapy. The ability to tolerate conventional treatments through to the end can help increase the patient’s chances of surviving mesothelioma.
A patient should choose complementary therapies based on their symptoms, depending on their type and severity. Medical marijuana can often manage nausea. Proper nutrition boosts well-being. A meditation practice can reduce stress. The best approach is to combine several alternative therapies.
These terms mean different approaches to treating mesothelioma. Alternative medicine for mesothelioma is any treatment that avoids standard methods. It uses only non-standard methods to treat or cure the disease. This can include a special diet instead of cancer drugs.
Naturopathic remedies are a type of alternative medicine. They use herbs and natural remedies to support the body’s self-healing. Holistic medicine treats the whole person. This approach often includes multiple therapies like integrative medicine, which combines conventional mesothelioma treatments with complementary therapies.
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The sources on all content featured in The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com include medical and scientific studies, peer-reviewed studies and other research documents from reputable organizations.
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Whitmer, M. (2024, November 25). Integrative Medicine and Alternative Treatments for Mesothelioma. Asbestos.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/alternative/
Whitmer, Michelle. "Integrative Medicine and Alternative Treatments for Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com, 25 Nov 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/alternative/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "Integrative Medicine and Alternative Treatments for Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com. Last modified November 25, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/treatment/alternative/.
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Dr. Estelamari Rodriguez is an oncologist and hematologist specializing in mesothelioma at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, Florida.
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