Alternative therapies have become very popular in providing mesothelioma warriors with relief and hope. These types of therapies don’t cure cancer, but they can help a patient cope with their disease.

Many patients experience a wide variety of side effects, especially from treatment. Sometimes these responses can affect their everyday lifestyle.

As a mesothelioma warrior, you must be strong.

In this two-part series, we have compiled a list of side effects that many mesothelioma patients experience and we’ve paired them with an alternative therapy that can help.

Alternative Therapies: Helping 3 Mesothelioma Treatment Side Effects

  • 1
    Fatigue

After a patient undergoes a serious operation like EPP, they may find themselves limited to what their body will allow them to do. An individual may experience tightness and fatigue from the procedure.

Yoga is believed to help with returning flexibility to the body. It also helps with stiffness and joint pain that is associated with chemotherapy treatment.

In clinical trials, yoga has been proven to help many cancer patients manage their side effects. It is even thought to help with improving a patient’s Quality of Life (QoL).

“In addition, patients themselves also perceived improvements in QoL, fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression,” states one study.

Many hospitals offer yoga classes to their patients. Bed Yoga can even be done if a patient cannot leave their bed.

  • 2
    Anxiety

Receiving your prognosis can cause depression and anxiety. Not only can a mesothelioma patient have these feelings, but so can their caregiver.Meditation allows patients and their loved ones to help control their worries and fears. By entering a deep state of concentration, it allows individuals to focus their mind on something positive.

While meditating a patient will enter a state of relaxation by taking deep breaths. Some research even suggests that meditating before radiation therapy can help manage the side effects associated with it.

“More than 3,000 scientific studies have been conducted on the benefits of meditation, and include positive outcomes for the treatment of depression, anxiety…” states the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
  • 3
    Stress

Getting a diagnosis of mesothelioma can be life-changing. A patient may experience multiple types of treatment sessions that can cause them to reach levels of stress they’ve never had before. Tai chi may be a remedy for this.

“Research has shown that this practice of meditation can actually be an effective form of medication for cancer patients,” states the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

During tai chi, a patient focuses on slow and graceful motions. Participants will also focus on deep breathing techniques. Some research suggests that tai chi can help individuals with improving their overall health.

A patient should always speak with their doctor before incorporating alternative therapies into their treatment plan. Their physician will determine what is safe.

Image of Nurse Jenna.For more information about alternative therapies, please contact Jenna Campagna. You can reach her at 888-385-2024 extension 102 or by emailing jenna@mesotheliomaguide.com.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed the first part of this blog series. Don’t forget to check back on Thursday for Alternative Therapies That Help Manage Mesothelioma Treatment Side Effects – Part 2.

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Show Sources & Author

  1. Alternative cancer treatments: 10 options to consider. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-treatment/art-20047246. Accessed: 02/13/2018.
  2. Which alternative cancer treatments are worth trying?. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-treatment/art-20047246?pg=2. Accessed: 02/13/2018.
  3. Tai chi: Healing from the inside out. MD Anderson Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/cancerwise/2010/12/tai-chi-healing-from-the-inside-out.html. Accessed: 02/13/2018.
  4. Yoga for Cancer Patients: 5 Benefits, 4 Poses. Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/yoga-poses-for-cancer#2. Accessed: 02/13/2018.
  5. Physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga in cancer patients and survivors, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3571972/. Accessed: 02/13/2018.
  6. Anxiety, Fear, and Depression Having cancer affects your emotional health. American Cancer Society. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/emotional-side-effects/anxiety-fear-depression.html. Accessed: 02/13/2018.
  7. Meditation for Cancer Patients. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Retrieved from: https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/201702/meditation-cancer-patients. Accessed: 02/13/2018.

About the Writer, Nicole Godfrey

Nicole Godfrey is the Senior Content Writer for Mesothelioma Guide. She writes and edits pages to make sure that mesothelioma patients and their families receive the most current and significant information about mesothelioma.