Alternative Medicine (definition of)

As traditional Western medicine continues to look for a mesothelioma cure, many patients turn to alternative therapies. In some cases, such alternatives have had astonishing results, as in the cases of Australian mesothelioma survivor Paul Kraus, who has survived with the disease for nearly twenty years, and American Rhio O' Connor, who practices "mind-body" medicine, meditates and takes vitamin supplements.

Although such alternative therapies has enabled these patients to live with their disease far beyond their initial mesothelioma prognosis, their effectiveness have not been proven. Mesothelioma patients are advised to discuss any alternative treatments with their doctor before starting such a regimen.

Meditiation

Meditation has long been an established part of Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. It survives in the West in the Sufi sect of Islam as well as Kabbalic Judaism; however, such mystic sects in Christianity were largely eliminated during the Inquisition of the Middle Ages.

Paitents often report that mediation helps in relieving stress, reducing pain and alleviating anxiety. It is also known to improve immune function. Once meditation techniques have been mastered, they can be practiced anywhere.

Massage

Patients who undergo massage therapy find that it can reduce stress and lower pain levels in addition to relieving the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The only drawback here is that massage therapy is not covered by most kinds of insurance, and the services of a licensed massage therapist can be expensive.

Vitamin and Herbal Supplements

Supplements are just that - supplements. They are not a substitute for food. It should also be pointed out that herbal substances contain many of the same chemical compounds as pharmaceutical prescription drugs. The difference is that an herb or root extract contains several different compounds in diffuse amounts, whereas a typical prescription drug is a highly concentrated form of a single compound. Nonetheless, the danger of interactions remains.

Likewise, vitamins can be at best useless and at worst harmful if taken improperly. "Megadosing" on Vitamin C is essentially a waste, because the body can absorb only a limited amount at one time; excessive amounts of Vitamin A can actually be toxic.

This understood, vitamin and herbal supplements can be helpful for some patients if used judiciously and under the guidance of a licensed naturopath or herbalist. Be certain that you discuss any such regimen with your attending physician before starting it, however.

T.E.N.S.

TENS is an acronym for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. This form of treatment utilizes electrodes, which are placed on the body and carry electrical current to the nerve pathways. The purpose here is to release the body's natural endorphins, which can relieve pain and create a feeling of well-being. Many mesothelioma patients excellent results from undergoing this type of therapy.

Acupuncture

In its native country, this ancient therapy is known as zhēn biān or zhēn jiǔ. It involves the insertion and manipulation of fine needles into the body's "meridians," or paths of "vital energy" that is known in Mandarin as qi. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, these energy channels can become blocked; the purpose of acupuncture is to clear these channels, allowing for the flow of qi.

Acupuncture does little for the disease itself, but may bring relief from associated pain and provide some help in dealing with side effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Again, this is not generally covered by U.S. (so-called) "insurance plans."

PTD

PhotoDynamic Therapy is one of the most promising new treatments currently available for mesothelioma patients. It is non-invasive, virtually painless and has few side effects. The patient is given a special photo-reactive or light-sensitive drug in advance of the actual procedure. A thin, fiber optic probe is inserted directly into the tumor and the maligant cells are exposed to laser-generated beams of infrared light. The interaction between the light and the drug causes a photo-chemical reaction, killing off the cancerous cells.

PTD is effective when the cancer is diagnosed in stage 1, and the only side effect is an increased sensitivity to bright light and sun. Patients who receive this treatment are advised to stay indoors for a few weeks following the procedure.

Immunotherapy

Oncology researchers have long sought a way to use the body's own defenses in the treatment of cancer. The challenge lies in the fact that is that cancer cells are not "foreign," or exogenous pathogens (viruses and bacteria) from outside the body, and therefore are not recognized as such by antibodies.

Researchers are currently attempting to "train" the immune system to recognize cancer cells as if they were a virus or dangerous bacteria. The use of genetically modified cytotoxic (cell-killing) T-cells is showing the greatest promise at present. These are white blood cells that excrete enzymes which literally puncture the membrane of diseased cells, which in turn destroys the amino acids that keep them alive. Scientists are also exploring the use of genetically modified viruses and bacteria in order to stimulate an immune response that can in turn be used against the tumor.

Current methods of immunotherapy use antibodies that have been engineered in the lab. These can be administered alone or as an adjuvant therapy along with chemo and radiation treatments.

Nutritional and Naturopathic Treatments

According to a 2007 Japanese study, boysenberries - which contain high levels on the anti-oxidant polyphenol - appears to inhibit the growth of tumors associated with mesothelioma (including pericardial mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma). This anti-oxidant compound is also available in red wine, olive oil, chocolate, walnuts, peanuts and a South American beverage known as yerba mate.

Naturopathic treatments for cancer are not without controversy. Many people believe (not without reason) that the large pharmaceutical corporations and private health insurers are literally purchasing influence in Congress and in the media in order to suppress and outlaw such alternative treatments. However, there are many thousands of predators and scam artists who offer so-called "miracle cures" to those unable to get conventional treatments under the privatized, for-profit American health care "system." All claims made for so-called "natural" and "miracle" treatments should be investigated thoroughly.