Staying active while going through treatment for cancer can be a tremendous challenge. Especially when dealing with an aggressive cancer like mesothelioma, treatments can make exercise seem the the last thing a patient wants to do. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery all have side effects that can limit energy and create physical limitations. However, here are five activities that patients can do this summer to jumpstart a low-impact exercise program to help reduce symptoms from treatments.

1. Walk

Its the original form of exercise and it can be tailored to your energy level. If you are feeling tired, start with 10 minutes a day and work your way up from there. Walking on a treadmill is fine, but some of the benefits of walking include getting outside in the fresh air, enjoying the scenery and connecting with others as you go. Walking with a friend? A great scenario.

2. Aquatic

Swimming is a fantastic way to tone all your major muscle groups, as well as strengthen your heart. Summertime is a great time to get into the pool If you don't like to swim, many pools and health clubs offer aquatic classes for patients including adaptive aquatics and pool therapy to provide non impact exercise and range of motion exercises.

3. Dance

Line dancing, zumba or dancing in your living room. Dancing is a great way to get some aerobic exercise and a quick way to lift your mood. Put on your favorite music and have some fun. No extra points for technique.

4. Gym

Working with light weights is a great form of exercise. Many gyms offer personal training and can tailor a workout to your particular ability or fitness level. Maintaining muscle mass is important for all of us, and even more so for those undergoing treatment. The elyptical machine is another good choice, and limits the impact on your joints. Check with your local health club. Many have fitness classes geared toward cancer patients.

5. Yoga

A great way to stretch, move and feel good all at the same time. Choose the level and style that feels comfortable for you.

Nancy Brook, MSN, RN is a Nurse Practitioner in Surgical Oncology at Stanford University Medical Center, a Counselor and an Adjunct Faculty member. She has more than twenty years of experience treating patients, teaching nurses and counseling families.

Nutrition is an important part of preventing and fighting cancer. When cancer patients focus on nutrition, they build their natural defenses and fight disease naturally. Even vitamin C therapy is being considered as a way to fight cancer. Though the treatment is experimental, it shows how advanced the body is in repairing itself with nutrients it needs. Especially with rare cancers like mesothelioma, treatments may be limited so consider how these nutritional changes or inclusions can help to fight cancer.

Cancer and Antioxidants

Studies have shown that a diet high in antioxidants can help to fight and prevent cancer. Antioxidants fight free radicals and protect cells from damage. Antioxidants can be obtained through fruits and vegetables. The most effective antioxidants include lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A.

It is recommended for people suffering from cancer to eat plenty of green leafy vegetables. Kale, collard greens, mixed greens and spinach are recommended for fighting cancer. If arthritis is also an issue, collard greens and kale are better choices than spinach, which is not recommended for people suffering from arthritis. Water retention may occur near joints such as knees and ankles. Carrots, tomatoes, oranges, pumpkin, corn, broccoli, nuts, mangos and soybean oil are recommended for cancer.

Cancer and Tea

Tea, especially green tea, is thought to be effective in preventing and controlling cancer, but the American Cancer Institute does not recommend tea. Caffeine may be the reason why. The polyphenol compounds and catechins are antioxidants that are suspected to be effective in cancer prevention. The studies have been inconclusive, but there is strong evidence that leads experts to believe that the tea can be effective in healing cancer.

Cancer and Garlic

Garlic is suspected to reduce the risk of developing cancer in the gastrointestinal tract, but the extent to which it helps is unknown. Garlic helps with numerous ailments in addition to cancer prevention. If high cholesterol is a problem, garlic will help to lower the levels, and it also prevents colds from developing.

Nutrition is Important for Cancer Patients

Nutrition is important for any patient who is fighting cancer. Without proper nutrition, cancer patients will feel fatigue and may develop aches and pains that they would not otherwise. Cancer patients should work with their physicians to develop the proper regimen because there are so many things that could negatively affect cancer.

A chronic illness such as a cancer diagnosis can be a very difficult matter to digest and a heavy burden to swallow. That is why it is important for each cancer patient to maintain a positive relationship with their nurses and other healthcare professionals so that they may feel more comfortable in their situation and optimistic for the future. From mesothelioma to breast cancer, all cancer patients deserve a caring nurse who will understand and address their concerns so that the best possible outcome for health can be attained.

Nurses that specialize in oncology care take on the roles of many people. In one day they may serve as a friend, educator, social worker, counselor, or researcher, among many others nursing duties. The great thing about being a nurse is that they have the best opportunity than any other healthcare professional to develop a meaningful relationship with the patient and serve as a critical advocate for that patient’s health.

Effective nurses will always make their patients feel as though they can address them with any concern at any time, opening communication lines and assisting patients through their cancer treatment when they need support the most.

One of the most important skills of a qualified oncology nurse is to be knowledgeable about the patient’s disease and the ability to educate that patient and their family on various symptoms, treatment methods, and prognosis stages. Studies show that when patients are unaware or unsure about what their prognosis means, they are more likely to suffer from depression during treatment. That is why it is important for nurses to keep their patients informed about their progress and talk to each patient as an active decision-making individual and not a lost cause.

A nurse should also possess good listening skills and encourage the patient to voice their concerns whenever needed. Simply showing a cancer patient that they are cared for is enough to relieve their stress on some level and establish a conducive, healing environment.

Developing a positive relationship with a nurse when going through cancer treatment offers many benefits. A nurse that has worked with a particular patient for a long period of time will know that patient more extensively than any other healthcare professional and will be able to recommend appropriate healing techniques and treatment methods.

This nurse will also be able to read the patient’s emotions more readily and understand when they may need help with something or are uncomfortable with a certain treatment procedure. Nurse and patient relationships such as these are optimal for healthcare and exemplify what every cancer patient needs when going through a tough treatment.

In addition, patients who establish close relationships with their nurses are more likely to trust other healthcare providers and comply with various treatment guidelines so that the best results may be achieved. That is why it is so important to find not only someone who cares, but find a medical professional who knows how to help. Find a nurse that can ease your worry and guide you on the right track back to your optimal health and never give up the fight.

When one is undergoing a cancer treatment, thoughts of confusion, uncertainty, and pressure can be at the forefront of their minds. It can be extremely difficult to find time to relax and ease your mind amidst all the doctor appointments, days where rest is needed or simple thoughts about the future. However, there is hope and a safe alternative to gaining a piece of mind for both body and spirit—that hope lies within Reiki treatment.

Traditional massage therapists target muscle groups to help relieve soreness and tension while promoting relaxation. This hands-on therapy can be a rigorous workout for both the practitioner and the patient. However, a Reiki therapist takes a very light touch or, in some cases, a hands-off approach that can alleviate the pain and tension caused by illness.

Cancer patients undergoing Reiki therapy find that this touch method relieves pain. Some discover that Reiki can ease chemotherapy side effects such as nausea and extreme fatigue. In fact, positive feedback from cancer sufferers who endorse Reiki massage has inspired many cancer centers throughout the country to offer on-site Reiki therapy as an option for patients.

Those who suffer with advanced forms of cancer such as mesothelioma, breast or ovarian, as well as those undergoing their first course of treatment can benefit from Reiki. According to the American Cancer Society, "some patients who were getting cancer treatment have reported an increased sense of well-being, with less pain, nausea and vomiting after Reiki sessions." However, ACS also points out that no rigorous scientific studies have confirmed the efficacy of Reiki therapy for cancer patients.

People in pain and physical distress require only the proof of personal results. Because Reiki is light or no touch therapy, it poses little danger of harm and promises many benefits. Practitioners who treat cancer patients carefully avoid sensitive areas, such as surgery incisions, while providing gentle, relaxing therapy.

The Reiki practitioner works to increase the universal life energy within and around the patient to strengthen his or her physical and mental resources promote relaxation and foster healing. In the case of cancer patients, the intent is not to heal but to ease pain, reduce stress and bring peace of mind.

During the typical hour-long therapeutic session, the patient wears comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. The practitioner focuses on between 12 and 26 strategic points on the patient's body, letting his or her hands rest gently on each location or hover above for approximately 5 minutes or less. The practitioner's hands act as a conduit to direct positive energy in and around the patient. Many Reiki experts recommend that a subject receive three treatments within a short time period so that the practitioner can build on the positive results.

Despite being adopted by more and more health care facilities for pain relief, Reiki massage therapy remains outside the therapeutic mainstream. Most health insurance providers that pay for traditional massage therapy do not cover Reiki sessions and probably won't until researchers deliver substantiation of its therapeutic efficacy. Reiki therapy is a forefront treatment for mesothelioma patients primarily because it does not involve a lot of pressure on joints or ligaments; rather it is a spiritual and relaxing massage alternative.

However, for cancer patients in pain, Reiki has proven helpful in a number of ways. It not only encourages patients to relax and helps ease discomfort, but Reiki massage can relieve the depression, anxiety and exhaustion that accompany serious illness. Reiki massage for cancer patients may not be a scientifically substantiated therapy, but many people find that it helps them cope with their daily pain and maintain the peace of mind that helps them to relax and rest.

Consult your doctor today and see if Reiki is a therapy that could be beneficial for you and your treatment. Let your mind relax and escape some of life’s everyday stressors. Nourish your body both mentally and spiritually and gain the piece of mind that you deserve.

Receiving treatment for cancer is stressful and painful, and a qualified massage therapist can help relieve those symptoms. A good masseuse can relax muscles, relieve pressure, and release pain; cancer patients who have received massage therapy often comment on how the massages often helped relieve the pain and stress associated with having cancer. Since cancer treatments are so painful and draining, not every patient will feel up to having a massage. Since there are different types of cancer, treatments, and different styles of massaging, each patient will have to find the combination that's best for him or her.

Massage therapists offer a wide variety of bodywork options. Acupressure, Swedish massage, shiatsu, sports massage, and neuromuscular therapy are a few of the choices from which cancer patients can choose. Some massage types stick to light massages while others require a heavier hand. Massage speed may also vary; some types require slow, steady massaging while other massage types use a quicker massaging method. Cancer patients may wish to avoid receiving massage therapy near a tumor location as such stimulation may cause pain and other medical problems.

Massage proponents also claim that receiving massage therapy can boost both the patient's mood and immune system. Some claim that massaging releases chemicals called endorphins in the body, producing feelings of pleasure and well-being in the patient. Others claim that receiving regular massages can increase the patient's immune system and can even cause the body to produce more cancer-fighting cells. Most doctors hesitate to call massage therapy a cure for cancer since no link has ever truly been proven between the two, but some studies have produced results that seem to link massage therapy to cancer patient benefits.

While there are neither positive nor negative concrete links between massage therapy and cancer, several studies as well as numerous anecdotes from cancer patients put massage therapy for cancer patients in a positive light. One undisputed point is that massages reduce stress and pain, and many cancer patients who receive some sort of massage therapy report a significant reduction of symptoms after receiving bodywork.

Whether or not massage therapy actually results in negative effects for cancer cells, there is little scientific evidence to support the claim that massage therapy worsens cancer. Patients who are contemplating receiving massage therapy should consult their physicians before beginning their bodywork regimes since doctors should be aware of all types of therapy their cancer patients are receiving.

Who doesn’t love the opportunity to relax their mind, body and spirit? Give yourself a vacation from some of life’s trials and tribulations and immerse yourself in massage therapy and get your serenity back!

4 Tips for Happiness

It’s no secret that life can get tough. There are things that happen beyond our control, like a cancer diagnosis, that can turn life upside down and make you feel down, but it’s important to remember that things will get better if you take a proactive approach in making things better. Physical health and mental health go hand and hand, and there are several ways in which you can ease your mind and also improve your health while dealing with mesothelioma cancer.

1. Creativity

As important as it is to nurture our bodies with healthful foods and physical activity, it’s vital that we nurture and explore our minds—our creative side. Imagination doesn’t have to go away when you grow up, you just have to make sure to engage it. It can be as cathartic as it is productive; putting your feelings into what you are creating is often very therapeutic. So while you’re taking your walk, bring your camera and snap a few pictures. When you find the time, write down your thoughts and goals. Pick up and start that crafting project you always thought you wanted to try. Start a scrapbook to document family outings or just random creative presentation kits. Why wait? Channel all of your anxiety into things that can relax your mind and serve as an outlet of inner expression!

2. Interaction

One thing that is essential to our well-being is that feeling of being needed and heard. We can give so much back to the world, and it’s incredibly rewarding to give without expecting anything in return. One thing that I find extremely rewarding is the simple act of engaging with others around you—by sharing your story you’ll propel yourself into an environment where through encouragement, healing can take place. There is no shortage of things to do that will leverage that level of meaningful interaction. Whether it takes place online [through blogging or social networking], within your own community, or even at your own dinner table, communication is key and you will be so happy you did.

Inspire. Educate. Motivate.

Be inspired. Be educated. Be motivated.

3. Affirmations

It’s difficult sometimes to maintain a positive outlook in life, especially when times are tough. One helpful tip is to say daily affirmations from when you wake up to whenever you need to remind yourself just how wonderful you are. You can say anything you want: "I am strong and beautiful" or “I will be better than I was yesterday.” Anything that takes you to a more peaceful place is effective. Sit in the driver seat on your road to wellness and cheer on that “personal trainer” mentality—by knowing that “I can do this!” will turn into “I have done this!” As stated before, physical health and mental health go hand and hand, which is always something to remember.

4. Wellness

Our bodies are wonderful gifts that nature has bestowed on us, and if we take care of our bodies then they will take care of us. If you’re feeling stress or going through tough times, release that from your body. Exercise serves so many purposes—and exudes characteristics of being highly therapeutic. You don’t have to go to the gym and pump iron to exercise. Exercise can be done in the comfort of your own home and can be done at your own pace based on your own abilities. Eating healthy, following prescribed treatments and treating your body to the activity that it needs will help lay a good foundation for overall wellness!

When you learn how to find happiness during times of stress or unease, you are giving yourself a gift you truly deserve. Remember above all else: be kind to yourself.

The How-To

Often people who feel as if there is too much they need to do to reach their goals, and then avoid setting them. Asking yourself what you’d like to do with their future may represent too much of a stretch, especially if they are not accustomed to setting goals. A better way set goals are to ask:

What are my yearly goals and what are my seasonal goals?

Take Action!

Be proactive and stay positive! Do extensive research to learn as much as possible about treatments, survivors and things people did on their path to healing! Use the internet! There are many internet of support groups for people going through the same experience as yourself; seek out help and encouragement! You may have your own ideas and experiences that can serve as encouragement for others. The ability to share stories about your diagnosis, treatment and prognosis will help you to better understand what it is you are experiencing and what life is going to entail from this point forward.

Channel Your Thoughts..

When you are home, write down your thoughts, questions, anxieties, goals and inspirations. Fortunately, with the popularity of blogging, it is easier than ever to read firsthand accounts from others about almost any disease imaginable as well as make your own blog. You can read how individuals were diagnosed and their treatment options. You can read their innermost feelings and thoughts as they go through the process of being diagnosed and being treated and you may feel a sense of friendship to these anonymous bloggers going through the same thing as you. Reading and participating in a personal journal or a public journal can make your thoughts tangible resources and serve as motivation—

                                                                          Start Healing From The Inside Out!

Share & Communicate

It’s amazing that you can help others in this way. Think about what you read on a daily basis. Turn your illness into inspiration. Perhaps you read a firsthand story full of inspiration from a woman suffering cancer that wanted to be strong enough to dance with her son at his wedding or a blog from a patient that motivated you to start living a fuller, healthier lifestyle that increased your quality of life and made it possible for your body to react more quickly to your treatments. Maybe you even took at look at Heather’s story within this blog and gained an understanding of her success overcoming a rare aggressive cancer, mesothelioma. With the abundance of firsthand information on the internet these days, it is possible that you can take your negative experience and turn it into something positive for yourself and others.

Sharing your experience with others may help them in a way you'll never know. Perhaps your story will inspire another to seek better treatment, reconcile with friends or seek a second opinion that could save their life. Emotions you feel during a potentially life altering experience is probably the exact same range of emotions others are feeling. Who wouldn’t love to hear how you dealt with those experiences when they could consequently inspire them to overcome this new obstacle and continue living their life to the fullest? Communication is the key to overcoming stress and anxiety, which will improve the quality of life of the sick and make healing easier.

All thanks to you…you can inspire yourself!

All thanks to you…you can inspire others!

Healthy foods give us the nutrition we need without any of the harmful additives we don't. Clean, whole, organic foods also detoxify the body. The pure water contained in the fruits and vegetables and the fiber in whole grains and nuts sweep the digestive tract resulting in improved efficiency and functioning of the body. Better equipped to cleanse itself and assimilate the vitamins and minerals from food, the body's cravings for unhealthy foods are greatly reduced, and optimal health comes within reach.

While organic meat, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains provide us with the taste and nutrition we require, the importance of clean, filtered water is not to be underestimated. Our bodies are 98% water; nothing gets done without it! It keeps our joints lubricated, our skin supple and clear, and our blood flowing smoothly. Chronic disorders such as mental fog, muscle stiffness, dry eyes, and more can be traced to a lack of adequate hydration. And all of these chronic disorders can be seen within a large scale of illnesses.

Consider Exercise

It is impossible to realize your body's full potential for great health without regular, challenging physical activity. Exercise is proven to benefit the body in a number of ways. Besides weight control and improved overall appearance, exercise has also been proven to slow or even reverse the aging process, increase lifespan, and improve quality of life at any age. Exercise also has a positive effect on mental health. Endorphins, natural painkillers released by the body during exercise, can lift your mood, bringing feelings of peace, awareness, and optimism. In fact, health professionals often prescribe exercise as an effective treatment for depression. It is also perfect for boosting energy and improving sleep patterns. Increased blood flow and oxygen uptake causes the blood vessels to dilate improving circulation to all areas of the body resulting in better overall functioning.

If you can take a deep breath today, you owe it to yourself to experience the pure joy of setting your body in motion. Too often perceived as drudgery, exercise can, in fact, be a pleasant and invigorating experience. Increased oxygen uptake leaves your body's cells tingling with life and alertness. Exercise satisfaction is multiplied when you engage in fun, fresh-air activities that you truly enjoy. Biking, gardening, swimming, walking, and dancing are all popular ways to get fit and burn calories without having to hit a gym.

Benefits of Holistic Health

Holistic health is based on the premise that engaging the whole person (body, mind, and spirit) results in more complete healing than treating symptoms alone. A person is a person, after all, not just a patient; healing need not be limited to what can be seen with the eyes. When the physical body is clean, balanced, and flowing with energy, mental and spiritual capacities improve as well. This is why people report feelings of epiphany, enlightenment, and inner joy when fasting, changing their diet, or even after engaging in strenuous physical activity. With a holistic approach, healing occurs from the inside out as well as the outside in.

Tried and true holistic therapies include massage, prayer and meditation, and herbs. Massage can cover a spectrum of bodywork techniques such as acupressure, Reiki, or more traditional shiatsu, Swedish, or deep tissue message. These practices have been used by anyone seeking a more comprehensive wellness or alternative approach to healing, including those suffering from mesothelioma. The aim of all bodywork is to skillfully apply pressure to certain areas in order to release tension, toxins, and blocked energy. Further healing may occur in the form of prayer or mediation wherein the practitioner enlists the help of a higher power through supplications offered while the mind and body are under strict self-control.

When driven to frustration by the breakneck pace of modern life, it is all too easy to argue that there is no time to take care of ourselves; but the truth is, there is no time not to. Every moment of your life is precious—take care of yourself, and everything else will follow.

Hi Everyone, Melanie here. I just wanted to take a moment and introduce myself along with some of the work that I’ll be doing for this blog.

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance has kindly allowed me to join their blog contributors specializing in alternative and holistic health topics. As a person passionate about integrative healthcare and cancer treatments, to be apart of a blogging community such as this is a great opportunity to spread awareness over a larger platform. Alternative care is booming as people are learning more about the way their bodies work and respond to different therapies.  It is important for individuals to keep on top of their nutrition, exercise, and wellness of the whole person.

Topics I may write on include fitness, nutrition regimens, holistic care practices, and other areas outside traditional medicine. When I'm not writing, I enjoy dance, exercise, and am admittedly addicted to art and photography. While these topics likely won't be featured on this blog, I have a way of incorporating my love of artistic expression into my writing.

The mind, body and spirit all work together as one—by strengthening each, you place yourself on the path to healing. I have realized that an empowered patient has a better chance of fighting off illness and that one should incorporate holistic and complementary methods into traditional treatments for an excellent way to balance the combined approach of these therapies.

Stay tuned for a fresh perspectives and tangible information you can use!

-Mel