Understanding the Treatments of Mesothelioma

Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments

Alternative treatments attack the mesothelioma cancer quite aggressively, with few or no side effects.They work by training the patient's immune system to recognize and destroy the tumor tissue. The method relies on cancer vaccines to stimulate the patient's immune system and destroy tumor cells. Immunoaugmentative Therapy (IAT) works by strengthening and balancing four different proteins found in the blood. Special drugs are administered to kill cancer cells in Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy (IPT). The drug makes cancer more sensitive to light. Several days before the surgery, it is injected into a vein. A special light is used to detect cancer during surgery. IPT is basically used in the early stages of mesothelioma in the chest. Mutilated genes, which cause mesothelioma, are either replaced or removed in gene therapy. This treatment is at its infant stage but is a promising treatment.

Some types of alternative treatments have been practiced for generations but do not have any scientific backup. Homeopathy is used as an alternative system. An example of homeopathic treatment in mesothelioma is the use of Iscador from mistletoe. Iscador is an herbal medicine used to boost the body's immune system. Specific diet therapy, rich with vitamins and minerals, and metabolic therapy are other types of alternative treatment. Cow or shark cartilage is used as a food supplement in some treatments. Essiac is an herb supplement used. Bach flower is used in aromatic treatment. Other examples of alternative medicine are faith healing, vitamins, herbs, and supplements sold in your local drugstore.

Herbal medicines use active ingredients from natural substances. If you are interested in trying any of them as part of your mesothelioma treatment, first make sure the therapist is properly qualified, then talk to your cancer doctor. Some herbal medicines may contain steroids (a powerful drug that can have unpredictable side effects) or estrogen. Doctors are cautious because they don't thoroughly understand what effects the treatments might have and they want to help you avoid potentially risky drug interactions.

Any non-convential treatment of mesothelioma may be considered "Alternative." Examples include but are not limited to herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, peptides, and other natural non-toxic supplements. Often, these are used alongside conventional treatments, in which case they are considered to be "complimentary treatments." Examples of alternative or complimentary treatments for mesothelioma cancer include:

Ukrain: This semi-synthetic compound is derived from a common weed (greater celandine) when it is combined with the chemotherapy drug Triethylene-thiophosphoric acid triamide (Thiotepa). The weed itseld contains a range of alkaloids, most notably chelidonine. Ukrain is commonly administered intravenously. While studies have demonstrated efficacy and/or improvement in mesothelioma cancer patients, there are "serious methodological limitations" assocaited with it, and the authors of the study stated that "independent rigorous studies are urgently needed."

Iscador: Iscador the brand name of an extract derived from a European species of Mistletoe (viscum album) which is not found in the United States. The medicinal use of mistletoe, which has been considered a sacred plant in many cultures, extends back to ancient times. There have been claims that it can aid in the reduction of tumor size, and proponents claim that it stimulates the immune system, promoting well-being and improving the survival of cancer victims. An article on the use of Iscador was published by the Canadian Medical Association in 1998. In the article it was stated that several studies of Iscador have "indicated an improvement in immune function, quality of life and even survival." The article goes on to state, however, that most "studies had significant design limitations, making it difficult to interpret their results and seriously limiting the value of their findings."

Vitamin C: Vitamin C, suprisingly, is one of the most "controversial" alternative treatments for cancer. Dr. Linus Pauling, a distinguished physician who has been awarded two unshared Nobel Prizes for his research, is a major proponent for the efficacy of Vitamin C in cancer treatment. He and Ewan Cameron , MB , ChB, chief surgeon at Vale of Leven Hospital in Scotland administered vitamin C to cancer patients and reportedly had excellent results. Other institutions that have performed similar studies reported no efficacy.

Ozone Therapy: Some published scientific reports (with data from as long as 60 years ago) indicate that cancer cells do not prosper in an aerobic (richly oxygenated) environment. Ozone is an activated, trivalent form of oxygen. That is, Ozone has three atoms (0-3) while oxygen only has two (O-2). Medical ozone is made with an ozone generator which electrically activates medical grade oxygen to form ozone. Ozone is germicidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal. However, there is little published literature on the safety and efficacy of ozone therapy in the treatment of cancer.

Astragalus: A plant native to northern China, Astragalus membranaceus has been used by the Chinese to replenish vital energy. The four- to seven-year-old dried root of Astragalus is collected in the spring used medicinally. Consequently, nearly all the studies on Astragalus have been conducted by the scientific community in China . In 2002, a study stated that "Astragalus injection supplemented with chemotherapy could inhibit the development of tumor, decrease the toxic-adverse effect of chemotherapy, elevate the immune function of organism and improve the quality of life in patients." Another Chinese study in 2003 reported that "Astragalus injection combined with chemotherapy can significantly improve the quality of life in non-small-cell lung cancer patients of advanced stage."

Cat's Claw: Cat's Claw, technically referred to as Uncaria tomentosa, is a South American tropical vine. The vine derives its name from the thorns found at the base of its leaves, which look like a cat's claw. In folk medicine Cat's Claw has been used for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, gastritis and epidemic diseases. Results from conventional studies have yielded inconsistent results. One cancer study that found positive results was published in 2001.

Essiac: Essiac is the name given to a mixture of herbs (burdock root, the bark of slippery elm tree, Turkish rhubarb and sheep sorrel) that's named after a nurse, Rene Caisse (Essiac spelled backwards). She claimed that in 1922 a patient who'd been cured of cancer attributed his cure to a recipe containing it that had come from an Indian medicine man. Caisse claims to have used the recipe to cure her aunt of stomach cancer. Its promoters claim that it can cure cancer and other diseases but the National Cancer Institute has studied Essiac and found no evidence that it has any effect on cancer or any other illness.

Cow or shark cartilage: In this treatment, cartilage (tissue found between bones and joints) from cows or sharks is ground up and given as a supplement in capsule or powder form. It is supposed to block the development of new blood vessels and thus starve the cancer. So far, no evidence has been found that it prevents or cures cancer. Doctors and researchers are recommending that cartilage should only be taken under doctor's supervision as part of a cancer research trial. Side effects in some people include nausea and vomiting.

Bach flower remedies: These remedies, available from health food stores and some pharmacies, contain the essences of flowers, diluted many times and given in liquid form. They are considered harmless and are said to help reduce psychological and emotional symptoms.

People are on the lookout for alternative mesothelioma treatment due to the complex nature and deadliness of mesothelioma. Not only patients, but researchers and doctors are trying to find out new ways to treat mesothelioma. Most alternative mesothelioma treatments are not scientifically approved but certain treatments have been found to give relief to patients and certain others are found to be of no use.

Note: You should not use these treatments unless they are supervised by a licensed healthcare practitioner. In addition, access to these agents may be regulated by various U.S. laws. This material is for informational purposes only. No representation or warranty is made concerning the efficacy or safety of these treatments.

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