Alternative Treatments for Mesotheileoma
In addition to the traditional treatments for mesotheileoma, there are a number of new alternative treatments as well as clinical trials for which patients with mesotheileoma may qualify. Some of these treatments are still in the experimental stages, while many of them have reached the stage of clinical trials. Besides the experimental medical treatments for mesotheileoma, there are many alternative and holistic health options that can help patients with mesotheileoma deal with side effects and improve their health during treatment.
New Drug Therapies
Pharmaceutical companies are working on a number of new drugs and drug combinations which may be more effective in treating certain aspects of mesotheileoma. Eli Lilly’s cancer treatment drug Alimta is one of the more recent advances in drugs that treat mesotheileoma. It has been shown to significantly increase the life expectancy of those diagnosed with mesotheileoma and to reduce the impact of the disease’s symptoms. Many major hospitals and research centers are involved in clinical trials to evaluate the effects of different drugs and combinations of drugs against mesotheileoma. The American Cancer Society maintains a database of ongoing clinical trials for all types of cancer treatment. If a patient can qualify for a clinical trial, it may represent the best chance of survival with a new cutting edge treatment.
Immunotherapy
Another avenue of alternative mesotheileoma treatment that is being explored is immunotherapy. Immunotherapy for mesotheileoma involves removing healthy cells from the patient and using drugs and other methods to activate their own immuno-response defenses. The activated cells are then returned to the body. Immunotherapy is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy. Early trials of immunotherapy have been very positive and show that it is effective in shrinking existing tumors and possibly preventing the growth of new tumors. Most patients who have been involved in immunotherapy trials for mesotheileoma have been in the earliest stages of the disease. The treatment’s effectiveness has not been explored in the later stages of mesotheileoma.
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy involves the alteration of the DNA of cancerous cells designed to halt or slow their rate of growth and reproduction. Gene therapy has one of two aims – either to trigger the “death sequence” in cancerous cells so that they die off naturally, or to disable their reproductive function so that they cannot replicate themselves. While gene studies in animals have been remarkably promising, the results in humans so far have been disappointing. That may change as new technology and methods are discovered.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy has been proposed as an alternative to radiation therapy that is less harmful to healthy cells. Drugs have been developed which bind specifically with cells altered by mesotheileoma and increase their sensitivity to light. The drug is given to a patient before treatment, then the cancerous area is bombarded with a specific wavelength of light delivered through a surgical procedure. While the early results were promising, further research has not shown much benefit of photodynamic therapy over traditional methods of treating mesotheileoma. Research continues, however, and ongoing clinical trials may yet prove the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in conjunction with other methods of treatment.
Multimodality Treatment
While some doctors still prescribe one type of treatment for mesotheileoma, many are turning to multimodality treatment – a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery that is tailored to each specific patient. It is currently the most accepted of the alternative methods of treating mesotheileoma.
Alternative and Holistic Medicine
Traditional medicine has begun to accept many alternative treatments as effective adjuncts (additions) to traditional treatments for mesotheileoma. While herbal medicine, acupuncture, meditation, yoga and other alternative forms of medicine are not suggested as treatment for mesotheileoma, any or all of them may be prescribed to help alleviate the discomfort and pain caused by the disease and by its treatment. The most common use for these alternative medical techniques is to help alleviate pain and reduce nausea during chemotherapy, and to help improve quality of life. Many doctors believe that even those alternatives that “merely” improve a patient’s outlook on life can have a very beneficial effect on other treatments for mesotheileoma.
