In honor of Asbestos Awareness Week it’s important to know
that it’s still a prevalent toxic mineral affecting many people in this day and
age, in spite of the toxin’s use being essentially halted about forty five years
ago in the US. Unfortunately, the mining of it is still prevalent in other
countries. Not to mention Asbestos may take its time to adversely affect someone’s
health, and new exposure is still possible in the U.S. as its presence is not
eradicated, so many people continue to develop symptoms and illnesses due to
the exposure. No amount of asbestos
exposure is safe. The longer and more intense the exposure, the more likely an
individual is to develop mesothelioma cancer or another asbestos disease, so it’s
important to be aware of this fact if you are exposed to it, or believe you
have been in the past.
Because many people rely on statistics about mesothelioma
and asbestos to inform personal medical and legal decisions, you can find these
statistics Here.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos refers to a set of six naturally occurring microscopic
minerals that are durable and resistant to fire and most chemical reactions and
breakdowns, making it very useful in commercial and industrial capacities from
the 1930s to the 1970s. The use of Asbestos drastically declined in the late
1970s when it became apparent that it posed a threat to human health and
safety.
Although the use has been declined greatly over the last
35 years, it still poses a threat to those exposed either previously or
currently in remaining products and locations that contain the toxin. If you believe you have been exposed to the
toxin, or have developed mesothelioma, it is important to know your options to
bringing back your health and dealing with the health ailments it causes.
Mesothelioma
People with mesothelioma usually turn to their doctors
for conventional relief, but it is important to know that there are other
alternatives to bring back your health in a more holistic and full way. It’s important to work with your doctor, but
also to be aware of all the options you have at your disposal to return to
health in addition to what is available at your doctor’s office. Many people will turn to complementary and
alternative therapies to help treat the cancer and its effects on their body
and mind. There are great advantages in
incorporating nutritional therapies, and body/mind therapies such as
incorporating yoga as methods of balancing the body and mind to increase their
survival rates.
Outside of mainstream medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a more holistic
method of dealing with illnesses. In this context the word “complementary”
refers to approaches used in combination with mainstream medicine, and “alternative”
refers to approaches used in place of mainstream medicine.
It is important to treat the whole person when dealing
with a disease, so enters Integrative
Programs.
Integrative oncology programs have sprung up throughout
the U.S. in recent years. These programs unite clinically proven complementary
therapies with conventional medicine to treat the whole person, not just the
disease.
Although complementary and alternative treatments don't
promise a cure for mesothelioma, in some cases they can increase survival rates
while alleviating some of the pain and suffering associated with the cancer.
Body-based
therapies use various techniques to heal pain and discomfort throughout the
body. The primary body-based therapies used in cancer care include TENS
therapy, chiropractic care, therapeutic massage and acupuncture.
Treatment Centers
Incorporating Complementary Therapies
A number of cancer centers that specialize in
mesothelioma treatment offer complementary therapies through integrative
oncology programs. Now that integrative health care is increasing in
popularity, these centers are found throughout the country. The programs offer
a variety of complementary therapies, such as massage, acupuncture, yoga, tai
chi, meditation and nutritional counseling. The goal is to offer therapies that
treat the whole person — not just the disease — to boost quality of life and
overall health
Complete Healing
Systems
The most commonly used complete healing systems in CAM
include Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
and Ayurveda.
The Chinese developed TCM, and practitioners have used it
for thousands of years to help treat cancer.
Ayurveda originated in India, and for thousands of years
it too has helped people with cancer feel better. Ayurvedic doctors treat
cancer with surgery, herbal medicine, dietary changes, bodily-cleansing
therapies and lifestyle changes.
Emotional Effects
Therapies
Emotional effects therapies include techniques that
positively impact the emotional health and well-being of a person. This
category includes meditation, counseling and pet therapy. It’s easy to overlook the importance of a
healthy and positively focused mind when dealing with any devastating disease,
but in my opinion it is the single most important factor in healing the
physical body.
Meditation
techniques can help people cope with anxiety, depression and pain caused by
cancer. Whether spiritually-focused or not, meditation may help people attain a
better outlook, and this can greatly reduce stress.
Pet Therapy is
also very effective in improving the patient’s outlook and state of mind when
dealing with a road to recovery from an illness.
Homeopathy,
from the Greek words "homeo" (similar) and "pathos" (suffering),
is a system of medicine that relies on two ideologies: the principle of
similars and the principle of dilution. This therapeutic method was developed
by German physician Samuel Hahnemann over 200 years ago and has been offered in
the United States since the early 19th century. According to a 2007 National
Health Interview Survey, an estimated 4.8 million Americans used homeopathy in
the previous year.
Homeopathic remedies are derived from natural substances
that come from plants, minerals or animals. They are generally considered safe
and unlikely to cause severe adverse reactions or interfere with conventional
drugs. Although this method is not conventionally accepted as effected by many,
if it helps patients who choose to use it, it can be a great asset to recovery,
and should not be overlooked by all.
Mind-body Therapies
are practices designed to facilitate the union of body and mind. The most
commonly studied types of mind-body therapies in cancer treatment include yoga,
qigong and tai chi.
Yoga’s origins
trace back thousands of years to ancient India. The practice is designed to
enhance mindfulness through meditation and movement.
Qigong and tai chi are similar practices that
unite movement with mindfulness and breathing. The disciplines originated in
China and have been widely used for centuries.
Naturopathic
and Osteopathic medicines are two
different holistic approaches to health care that offer complementary therapies
to mainstream cancer care. The two disciplines are similar in their natural and
holistic approach to treating the patient, not just the ailment.
Naturopathic
medicine focuses on disease prevention and whole-body health through
natural treatments and teaching good health habits to patients.
Osteopathic
medicine takes an approach to health care that emphasizes the integrated
nature of the human body.
Adequate and Balanced
Nutrition is important before,
during and after cancer treatment.
Herbal medicine
is a complementary therapy that may lessen cancer symptoms and enhance certain
cancer treatments.
Before choosing any CAM therapy, a
mesothelioma patient should consult with his or her medical practitioner or
health care provider and fully explore the pros and cons of each method for relief
in question.
