There are essentially two
categories of therapy for cancer patients like those with mesothelioma cancer.
Clinical therapies, such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are
likely the most medicinally beneficial. However, this is not to say that other,
complementary therapies are not important as well. These complementary
therapies may not be able to cure the disease, but will often treat the
holistic wellbeing of the person. Cancer patients, such as those with
mesothelioma, often take advantage of these services. One of the more common
complementary therapies used by patients with asbestos cancer is aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy is not for all patients and offers no cure for the disease.
However, when used in conjunction with other more traditional therapies,
aromatherapy has helped many cancer patient's lives much more manageable as
they battle their disease.
Aromatherapy, as a therapy, is a
relatively recent phenomenon in the alternative treatment of cancer patients,
but its uses can be traced back thousands of years in other capacities. The
idea of the therapy is to stimulate the senses and perceptions in such a way to
create a relaxing and calm environment. The senses are incredibly related to a
given person's levels of anxiety. Therefore, when the senses are relaxed it is
possible to ease levels of stress and anxiety in some people. Using certain
essential oils, these scents trigger emotional ease, which can be highly
valuable for a patient battling terminal illness.
In some cases, aroma therapy will
be coupled with massage therapies, which can ease the entire body in both
sensory perception and muscle relaxation. In certain trials, certain patients
have experienced an easing of symptoms related to chemotherapy, such as nausea
and fatigue, when subjected to controlled aromatherapy environments. These
trials were not clinical in nature and may not demonstrate the same results in
all patients.
It is important to keep in mind
with most alternative therapies that they are strictly based on personal preference
and results will vary greatly from one patient to another. It is also important
to consult with any doctors that a patient may be working with before engaging
in any complementary therapies. Although beneficial, the patient needs to be
conscious of the goals of the traditional therapies first and ensure they are
compromised.