Complementary Cancer Therapies: Helpful or Hurtful?

Complementary and alternative therapies are readily available to aid sufferers of a multitude of diseases, including cancer. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation asks, "Do they really help?" The surprising answer is that sometimes they can hurt.

At this year's International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, presented by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, Kathleen Wesa, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, focused on complementary therapies used in conjunction with mainstream treatments for cancer patients.
Cancer patients in particular should know that using complementary therapies could interfere with, and in certain cases even destroy, the benefits of traditional treatment. Antioxidants such as Vitamin C, widely available in supplement form and aggressively marketed as "cancer fighters," can actually prevent patients from fully benefiting from chemotherapy. In mesothelioma specifically, the one FDA-approved chemotherapy, Alimta, operates as an anti-folate. Overuse of the common "daily supplement" folic acid can actually block Alimta's therapeutic benefit. This is a risk no mesothelioma patient should undertake blindly.
On the other hand, other complementary therapies used in conjunction with mainstream treatments have been found to be helpful. For example, for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, a study from the University of Rochester in New York has shown the effectiveness of ginger in relieving nausea. Adding an exercise routine and paying close attention to nutrition have both been shown to greatly benefit cancer patients. The World Cancer Research Fund International recommends daily exercise in excess of 30 minutes and a diet prevalent in foods of plant origin, limiting sugary foods and drinks. Meditation, yoga, tai-chi and other "alternative" types of mind-body practices used by cancer patients also show benefits against pain, anxiety and insomnia.
The bottom line for mesothelioma patients: Before shelling out money for the latest alternative or complementary "cure," investigate carefully and consult with your physician or other medical expert.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is the national non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for mesothelioma by funding mesothelioma research, educating and supporting mesothelioma patients, and advocating for a national commitment to end the mesothelioma tragedy. More information is available on the Foundation's website at curemeso.org..

From the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation