Aromatherapy

If you go through the categories of therapy for mesothelioma cancer or any other cancer; there are mainly two kinds of treatments or therapies. First and the most essential therapies are clinical therapies, which include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. All these clinical therapies are really beneficial medically, but it doesn’t mean that all the alternative therapies and treatments are not capable enough to cure the disease. However, mesothelioma cancer patients are usually treated through these alternative therapies for the well-being of the patient. These complementary or alternatives therapies are found to be really helpful and advantageous regarding mesothelioma patients. 

Aromatherapy is one of the most common alternative therapies used by patients having mesothelioma cancer. Similar to other complementary therapies aromatherapy is also used in conjunction with traditional therapies to cure the disease. Moreover, aromatherapy helped many mesothelioma patients to live manageable and convenient life while they are combating with their disease, but with the combination of conventional treatments.

As a therapy, Aromatherapy when compared with other alternative treatments is comparatively can be said a recent one particularly in cancer patients, but it has been in practice for other capacities since thousands of years back. In this treatment, the perceptions and senses are stimulated in such a manner to create a calm and relaxing environment. If we are talking particularly about some person’s level of anxiety, it will extremely depend on the senses. For that reason, if the senses are calm down then there is a high possibility to alleviate levels of anxiety and stress in some patients. There are certain essential oils that are used, whose fragrance activates emotional ease that is very much valuable for a person who is combating with the cancer at later stages.

Aromatherapy can be coupled up with massage therapies in some cases that can be really helpful in easing up the whole body in both muscle relaxation and sensory perception. When we looked around in certain trials, there are a number of mesothelioma patients that actually have experienced easiness in symptoms related to chemotherapy, like fatigue and nausea on subjection to controlled environment of aromatherapy. The point is to be noted, the above observation is not done clinical and the result may differ in patients.

We should keep this in mind that with most of the alternative treatments are based on personal choice and the outcomes will differ to a great extent from one person to another. One thing we should also do before opting to any alternative treatments is to consult our doctor. Firstly, the patient must be totally aware of the goals of traditional treatments and guarantee they are compromised.

Just do the above mention things and go for aromatherapy, you might find it beneficial for you.

 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture- a very ancient way of alternative treatment is usually used to control the pain, but not only this it provides a path toward healing changes  with respect to immune response, brain function, digestion, hormones, etc.  The first execution of acupuncture was in China and it was thousands of years ago.

In acupuncture treatment first acupuncturist has to determine acupoints (acupuncture points) on the body and then in a very strategically manner he has to insert tiny needles into these points. In order to alleviate physical pain and restore balance and calm to the soul, the needles should be positioned very precisely. According to ancient Chinese thought that the correct positioned of these tiny needles could give many medical benefits.

Acupuncture is very popular in the United States even though it may look like an unconventional method of managing pain. As a matter of Fact the Food and Drug Administration has categorized acupuncture needles as medical devices because of the extensively use of this alternative treatment as well as it has been approved as a treatment ways for numerous health conditions.

There are many people who rely on acupuncture treatment for different health conditions that also includes those people who are suffering from mesothelioma cancer; they use this treatment to deal with the discomfort that is an effect of their weakening disease. This malignant mesothelioma cancer imposes great deal of pain on the sufferer of this disease, and acupuncture treatment is found out to be a very effective way of controlling and lessening this pain. There are numerous clinical studies has been conducted on mesothelioma cancer patients that were receiving traditional treatments of cancer like chemotherapy along with acupuncture treatment. The good thing is that the patients who have participated in this study their pain was much lessened due to the inclusion of acupuncture treatment and there were some patients who have give up their some conventional pain medicine. Isn’t this great news?

The studies have also revealed that besides this if the mesothelioma cancer patients include acupuncture into their treatment, it can strengthened and boost their immune system and they also experienced a reduction in the discomfort effects of chemotherapy treatment. These patients experienced less nausea, less fatigue and they have maintained a healthy weight during the sessions of chemotherapy.

Acupuncture, as an alternative treatment is generally safe for most of the people. There are some side-effects, which are associated with acupuncture treatment that includes feeling of dizziness after the session of acupuncture and soreness at the place of insertion; nevertheless these side-effects are relatively negligible. There are many patients who opted for acupuncture found this treatment really effective and they have benefited with it greatly.

Art Therapy

Just about from few centuries art is being used to deal with emotional and physical problems as well as to encourage healing. However, from the last 30-40 years or so the art therapy is accepted as a science; and this credit goes to American Art Therapy Association, which is offering college degree programs in art therapy. Nowadays, art therapy is playing an essential role in a person who is combating with cancers like mesothelioma.

The very first question will arise in your mind and that is how does it work for a mesothelioma patient?

Different Forms of Arts Use For Mesothelioma Patients

Art therapy is used to support mesothelioma patients get to grips or express anxiety regarding their illness, particularly in the patients that are in their last stage. There are many mesothelioma clinics that are hiring art therapists in their staff and by making them a part of their medical professionals’ team, they are treating cancer.

An art therapist can work with an individual or with groups of patients, who are going about the same challenges. When participating in art therapy sessions, there is no requirement for a patient to be an artist or can be able to paint or draw.

Usually, this alternative treatment provides a patient to express themselves, whether by observing art or by creating art. A patient’s fear, anxiety and stress are also major concerns of qualified art therapists. For instance, patients that are combating with mesothelioma cancers are being asked to draw an image of them with cancer, and by this image, patients can usually express their concerns consciously or unconsciously regarding their disease. The art therapists are not expecting drawings to be master pieces; they just need these drawings for providing a vehicle to begin the conversation. This is not the only way of this treatment; this therapy may also involve observing at photographs or paintings provided by the art therapists. Then, after going through the paintings patients may be asked to express their feelings regarding what they have observed.

The next question must arise in your mind, does this treatment actually works?

There are numerous clinical trials of art therapy have been carried out for patients with different diseases and as well as disorders, which were both mental and physical that also includes cancer. In 2002-2006 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Kimmel Cancer Center situated in Philadelphia reported study on art therapy in cancer patients that showed a great reduction in anxiety and pain in those who attended eight therapy sessions of 2-5 hours.

A study by Dr. Jack Lindh of Umea University in Sweden after studying 41 breast cancer patients reported that art therapy is strongly recommended for the breast cancer patients because it provides a powerful tool in rehabilitation of breast cancer patients and also in other types of cancer. In this study, the remarkable thing was noted that in five therapy sessions that the women that were participating in these sessions of process and express; they have improved their quality of life.  Furthermore, their coping skills also improved who attended these therapy sessions.

In any case, art therapists never confess that they can cure the cancer. Though, the main objective of art therapists is to reduce a notable depression, anxiety or stress in cancer patients by providing them with an artistic passage. In addition, a patient who is experiencing chronic or acute pain if they attend art therapy sessions often reported reduction in pain as he was so engaged in the session that he did not feel any pain and discomfort.

Now, I want to share some really important points that you should know…

• Art therapy is completely safe for any age

• Patients should be not forced to engage in the activity during therapy sessions

• You should realize expressing emotions for some patients may cause temporary distress.

• Art therapy should be used in conjunction with traditional treatments and not alone as it is an alternative treatment.