nih mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer is a rare form of the disease in which cancer cells develop in the pleura, peritoneum or pericardium – the lining of the chest, abdomen and the area around the heart. This form of cancer is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma peritoneal
cancer accounts for one fifth to one third of cases are diagnosed. Symptoms of this type of mesothelioma include weight loss and swelling and pain in the abdomen due to fluid accumulation. The victims of other types of Mesothelioma may develop pain in the chest wall, fluid around the lungs, anemia, shortness of breath, or symptoms of anemia, a tendency to cough or wheezing, and coughing up blood can. In severe cases, tumors can form in the lungs or abdominal cavity, causing the collapse of the lungs.
While only a short period of exposure to asbestos, only a month or two, is required for this type of cancer that occurs, may take longer for symptoms to appear. People who were exposed as early as the 1940s are only now are being diagnosed as mesothelioma cancer has a long latency period. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, the prognosis may vary according to the Earlier it was discovered. Research in alternative medicine and conventional therapies for the treatment of this disease continues. Conventional drugs used for fight cancer and mesothelioma pemetrexed include other chemotherapy drugs, surgery to remove tumors and radiation therapy.
Moreover of these treatments, a series of alternative medicine therapies may be able to reduce symptoms of mesothelioma. Called complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, this diverse group of physicians and care options and health practices are not considered part of conventional medical practice. However, that does not mean they are ineffective. Some providers of health care practice both CAM and conventional medicine, and combine the two with good results. This is known as integrative medicine. Up to thirty and six percent of U.S. adults are using some form of CAM. This amounts to more than sixty percent if prayer and vitamin therapy included in the definition of complementary and alternative practices. Rates of alternative therapy use are higher among patients with serious diseases like cancer mesothelioma.
Some of the treatments offered by alternative medicine include acupuncture for pain relief after surgery for removal tumor, ginger to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, massage to treat pain of all types of cancers, and the combination of extract mistletoe with chemotherapy for the treatment of tumors. Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy is also increasingly common. In this therapy, substances called biological response modifiers are used to enhance the immune system's ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells and to combat other diseases.
Photodynamic therapy uses a drug that sensitizes the tissue to light, then destroys the cancer cells by exposure to a laser at a specific frequency. Gene therapy is a new field, but progress that is threatening disease by modifying of the genes of an individual for therapeutic purposes. The traditional herbal practices of countries like China and Japan, and spiritual treatments are also used in the CAM. Not all of these therapies have the ability to directly affect the mesothelioma and its effects are likely to vary depending on the patient. However, they can be very helpful in managing symptoms and side effects during the use of conventional treatments.
Those who are interested in using complementary or alternative medicine in cancer care providers should ask their health care. It is important to get answers to some questions to consider any treatment, either conventional or alternative. Information, such as the expected benefits of therapy against the risks, potential side effects, and in the case of the alternative treatments or complementary, therapy interferes with treatments that are suffering are useful. If therapy is part of a clinical trial, see who is the sponsor. Many alternative therapies are not fully covered by health insurance. Some are not covered at all. It is important to know before starting therapy if your insurance will pay CAM From there you can get the information to decide which therapies, both conventional and alternative, are right for you.
About the Author:
From personal research Nelson provides an online research tool for cancer patients; with an emphasis on Mesothelioma cancer. By visiting http://mesotheliomaplus.com/ you will find resources to specialized cancer centers, doctors and a Mesothelioma attorneys directory for legal consideration.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Mesothelioma Cancer and Alternative Medicine
