Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many current treatments.  Patients often face surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, as well as being barraged with prescription medicines to relieve the symptoms of the disease and the side effects of the treatment.

More and more mesothelioma patients are looking for non-traditional ways to beat the cancer and to improve their quality of life.  Doctors are becoming more supportive, and even encourage their patients to look for alternative treatments of holistic care and alternative therapies that focus on improving their emotional and physical well-being.

What Is Holistic Medicine?
Holistic medicine is an alternative care approach that treats a patient as a “whole” person as opposed to simply treating the symptoms and illness.  Holistic care looks at an individual’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being in an attempt to improve the health and prevent further illness.  The concept follows Aristotle’s theory that “the whole is more than the sum of its parts.” 

Holistic practitioners believe that there is no limit to the range of diseases that can be treated, although alternative medicine does not specifically focus on a disease.  For example, mesothelioma is not treated; rather the body and immune system are strengthened allowing the body’s defense mechanisms to heal the cancer.  The approach works on balancing the body, mind, spirit, and emotions while improving the immune system as the entire being begins functioning smoothly.  An illness, disease, or disorder is seen as an imbalance in the body’s systems. 

Alternative medicine and holistic practice have been around for centuries, but only relatively recently has the modern medical field begun to accept it and begin to integrate it into the health care system and treatment for patients.  Holistic therapies tend to emphasize proper nutrition, avoidance of chemical substances, use of homeopathic remedies, and meditation techniques.  Holistic care techniques are non-invasive. 

Some of the major holistic therapies include ayurveda, chiropractic, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, Unani, stress reduction, and reflexology. 

Hypnosis for Pain Management
Trying to limit the amount of pills ingested into their system, some mesothelioma patients are turning to hypnosis as a way to manage their pain. Hypnosis is becoming more popular in clinical settings and is used to help people stop smoking, lose weight, and now, deal with pain.

Hypnotherapy, when performed by a trained specialist, has been proven to be a powerful and effective procedure for many people.  The hypnotist slowly brings the patient to a state of high concentration allowing him to have a strict focus.  The person then “projects” himself to, or envisions himself in, another place or state where he can block pain awareness or substitutes other sensations for the painful ones.

Hypnosis is considered an unconventional therapy and is often used with other holistic treatments including yoga and meditation.  Hypnosis is not effective for everyone.

Supplements and Lifestyle Changes
Some mesothelioma patients decide not to embark on the path of standard treatment and opt instead for alternative treatments and lifestyle and dietary changes. 

Through radical lifestyle changes and by altering their diet by adding a regimen of vitamins, herbs, amino acids and other immune boosting therapies and supplements, some find without the often debilitating side effects from chemotherapy they can continue to live their lives as they had before their diagnosis.  

Focusing on the power of the mind-body connection choosing to be optimistic and positive is also beneficial.  By reaffirming a focus in life and the reason living, taking on their emotional healing can bring physical healing. 

By choosing to manage their shortened life outside a clinical setting, those that opt for holistic care feel empowered by their choices.  Even though they know they will probably not be cured, they believe continuing to live their life as they choose is important for them and their families.

Once the fluid is drained, preventive measures can be taken to prevent the pleural space from refilling, known as pleurodesis.   One of the most common strategies in pleurodesis is through thoracoscopic talc poudrage.  In this procedure, the talc is typically introduced into the chest cavity in the form of a slurry, via a chest drain.

According to a report from the Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, “an application of talc, either through poudrage via thoracoscopy or via instillation of slurry, has lasting success in 88 to 100% of all cases.”

Although general anesthesia is sometimes used, local anesthesia makes the method, often referred to as “medical thoracoscopy,” a simple, inexpensive, and minimally invasive nonsurgical procedure.  Yossef Aelony, MD, Pulmonary Disease Physician, UCLA Medical Center,  agrees with these findings stating “thoracoscopic talc poudrage is currently the least morbid, least expensive, most effective (in long-term relief of dyspnea), and most readily available control modality of care” for mesothelioma patients.

The procedure of talc pleurodesis can be performed successfully by nurses, with sufficient training in respiratory care, as well as by doctors.  Talc pleurodesis can be used as a palliative treatment for controlling recurrent malignant pleural effusions, or prior to radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

Avastin is given intravenously for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).  Avastin was the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – approved biological therapy designed to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels to tumors, slowing the growth and spread of the tumors.  Studies have shown that VEGF, an autocrine growth factor released by mesothelioma cells, causes new blood vessels to form.  VEGF levels are shown to be higher in mesothelioma patients suggesting that VEGF may be a proper target for Avastin as a mesothelioma treatment.

Pleural mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium.  Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.

Some doctors have had concerns about the safety of Avastin in the treatment of lung cancer.  The researchers, however, wrote in the journal Lancet Oncology that “the study findings confirm the well established and manageable safety profile of bevacizumab (Avastin).”  Avastin.com lists serious and sometimes fatal bleeding as a side effect of Avastin. 

Sources:

• Study Backs Avastin
• Molecular Targets in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment; Giulia Pasello and Adolfo Favaretto

When a mesothelioma patient no longer responds to a prescribed treatment plan, and the primary caregiver needs support caring for their loved one, turning to a hospice program is one option to explore.  

Hospice is not a “place” rather a concept of care.  According to the Hospice Foundation of America, hospice is designed to improve the quality of a patient’s last days by offering comfort and dignity.  In addition, hospice care neither prolongs life nor hastens death. However, it does allow for a patient to remain in their own home surrounded by their loved ones.

One hospice nurse in North Carolina describes her job as “not only helping people meet death but encouraging them to live their last days as fully as possible.”

Hospice programs typically offer a team of professionals including nurses, chaplains, nursing assistants, social workers and bereavement counselors.  The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization estimates that there are over 4,800 hospice programs in the United Staets. Eighty percent of the hospice care is provided in the patient’s home, family member’s home or in nursing homes.

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers.  Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until up to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. However, after symptoms become apparent, mesothelioma may rapidly progress to cause life-threatening complications.  A hospice nurse can check vital signs, help manage pain, and explain the changes in symptoms a mesothelioma patient is experiencing.

Hospice Foundation of America
Hospice Care Centers

One type of surgery that is often performed on mesothelioma patients is the pleurectomy. In fact, pleurectomy is the most common surgery used to manage patients with pleural mesothelioma. The pleurectomy, a surgical procedure whereby the outermost lining around the lungs is removed, is used to control the symptoms of pleural effusion that develop with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer and the symptoms may not appear until up to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. However, after symptoms become apparent, mesothelioma may rapidly progress to cause life-threatening complications. The treatment at this point is often palliative, and is aimed at relieving the symptoms and improving the patient’s quality of life.

Debulking (removing a significant part or most of a tumor) pleurectomy is often a beneficial palliative treatment for pleural mesothelioma patients who are not eligible for radical surgery.

Following are the basic surgical steps:

1. An incision is made above the diseased area.
2. The lining within the chest wall and the lining on the lung are removed.
3. The lung tissue beneath the diseased pleura may be removed.
4. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be administered.

Most often the surgery is followed with a regimen of either chemotherapy or radiation, or both.

The patient may remain in the hospital for seven days after the procedure. Depending on his condition, the in-patient care could take longer. The patient should check with his physician when determining when he will be able to resume normal activities.

Sources:

• Surgical Treatment of Mesothelioma: Pleurectomy
• Pleurectomy Procedure

Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, often has a complex growth pattern making complete surgical removal a very difficult task. The goal of the surgery is to achieve a macroscopically-complete resection, which refers to the removal of all visible tumor cells. Finding hidden cells can be close to impossible making a test like this critical to the treatment of both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Led by Victor E. Velculescu, MD, PhD, the team found that each patient’s cancer is unique, which is the key to this new test that may revolutionize cancer treatment. The team identified nine unique tumor characteristic rearrangements at the ends of its chromosomes that together serve as the tumor’s fingerprint. PARE is named for this finding: personalized analysis of rearranged ends.

This test is not yet widely available and the cost, around $5,000 per patient, may be prohibitive to some. Johns Hopkins University holds the patent on PARE.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years.

Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma, and the average survival time varies from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis. With such a grim prognosis, looking for ways to live longer and to improve their quality of life, many patients are turning to alternative treatments, natural remedies, and holistic care.

A product derived from three edible plants and a unique immune enhancing botanical extract with anti-carcinogenic and antimutagenic functions, Oncolyn, is touted as helping to reduce and neutralize the toxicity of harmful agents, helping to enhance immune cellular function, enhancing energy and mood levels, and enhancing the protection of leukocytes and platelets.

The makers of Oncolyn studied the effect of Oncolyn with standard chemotherapeutic agents. They found that Oncolyn “causes reduction of tumor size, inhibited vascularity on the surface and in the periphery of implanted tumor fragment and other morphological changes such as karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis consistent with apoptosis.” Apoptosis causes cancer cells to die.

In one study published in Natural Products in Cancer Therapy from a September 2008 symposium, researchers stated that when Oncolyn was used in the treatment of one pleural mesothelioma patient full remission was achieved and ten years later the patient remained cancer free.

Oncolyn was developed by Dr. Arthur H.K. D’Jang of Sante International. Dr. D’Jang is a licensed physician (M.D.) and certified specialist by the American Boards of Pathology (Clinical Pathology & Anatomic Pathology) and Nuclear Medicine and has expertise in Infectious Diseases, Biochemistry and Immunology ( Ph.D.,) Preventive Medicine ( M.P.H.) and Cytopathology.

Oncolyn is produced by Sante International. The drug is not FDA-approved, however, it does hold a U.S. patent.

Pleural mesothelioma can be diagnosed with a VATS biopsy. VATS pleurodesis can also be performed on mesothelioma patients. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium.

VATS is useful for many different diagnostic and treatment procedures, and each patient is evaluated to determine whether VATS is an appropriate procedure. According to surgeons at the Mayo Clinic, the best candidates are patients who have not previously had chest surgery as scar tissue from previous procedures can make access into the chest cavity difficult.

VATS offers many advantages over traditional thoracotomy, which uses one larger incision to gain access to the chest.

• Patients may be able to leave the hospital in only one to two days versus close to five days required otherwise
• Patients experience less trauma to the body
• Less pain medication is required
• VATS leaves a smaller surgical scar.

A study reported in Interactive Cariovascular and Thoracic Surgery concludes that VATS decortication (the removal of the visceral pleura encasing the lung) is useful as a palliative measure in advanced malignant mesothelioma, and that drainage of effusion and pleurectomy/decortication improves the quality of life and may increase survival as well.

Malignant Peural Mesothelioma (MPM) is a form of lung cancer that is caused by inhaling airborne asbestos fibers and affects the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium. While pleural mesothelioma is not classified as a lung cancer according to the medical definition, the treatments between lung cancer and mesothelioma are often similar. There is no cure for malignant mesothelioma and the treatments that are used to fight the disease are considered aggressive and can be difficult on the patient.

According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology the combination of carboplatin, as opposed to cisplatin, and pemetrexed is well tolerated in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. “Disease control rate, time to disease progression, and overall survival” were similar to those of patients treated with the standard regimen of pemetrexed and cisplatin.

The choice between treatment with cisplatin or carboplatin for mesothelioma should be discussed with your oncologist. While carboplatin is often better tolerated, the efficacy of cisplatin is slightly better. If kidney function declines while on cisplatin, a switch to carboplatin is reasonable.

Source:
Journal of Clinical Oncology

Mesothelioma, an unusual form of cancer known to be caused by asbestos exposure, can take up to five decades to be properly diagnosed and is responsible for approximately 3,000 new cases of cancer each year in the United States. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.

The mesothelioma program at Chicago is able to offer patients specialized treatment based on the specific characteristics of their disease. Staffed with oncologists, surgeons, nurses, and imaging specialists, the program focuses on a team approach when treating the patients, and the staff members attend weekly meetings to stay apprised of any changes in cases or in research.

Through their comprehensive and multidisciplinary focus the center has developed many different treatment options and can tailor the right treatment to each mesothelioma patient. The program conducts clinical trials in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, and has a priority of testing new and novel approaches for the treatment of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Program Doctors:

• Hedy Kindler, MD
• Ravi Salgia, MD, PhD
• Aliya Husain, MD
• Samuel Armato, PhD
• Phillip Connell, MD
• Heber MacMahon, MD
• Jai Raman, MD

The information on the University’s website was developed through encouragement and assistance by a mesothelioma patient. The information covers basic and detailed information about mesothelioma, information about approved drugs as well as drugs within clinical trials, and treatment options.