Most people wouldn’t think of chiropractic care as a useful tool in the treatment of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused mainly by exposure to asbestos. Typically, the symptoms of mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to begin showing and by the time the cancer is diagnosed treatment options are usually limited.
Cancer patients may elect to visit a chiropractor as part of their treatment regimen. The American Chiropractic Association has stated that chiropractic doctors “have a deep respect for the human body’s ability to heal itself without the use of surgery or medication. These doctors devote careful attention to the biomechanics, structure and function of the spine, its effects on the musculoskeletal and neurological systems, and the role played by the proper function of these systems in the preservation and restoration of health. A doctor of chiropractic is one who is involved in the treatment and prevention of disease, as well as the promotion of public health, and a wellness approach to patient healthcare.”
In order to help control pain and relieve headaches, tension and stress, many cancer patients have integrated chiropractic care into their course of treatment. Alleviating severe headaches and movement pains during cancer treatment may make the treatment process more comfortable for cancer patients, including those fighting mesothelioma.
A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics examined the case of a 54-year-old man diagnosed with lung cancer (a cancer often related to asbestos exposure) who began seeing a chiropractor after experiencing little pain relief one year after he underwent surgery to remove his cancer. The man experienced pain relief immediately after beginning chiropractic care and discontinued use of all pain medications after two visits to his chiropractor.
Mesothelioma patients interested in alternative treatment, who strongly believe in the body’s capability to heal itself, may find chiropractic care appealing and should definitely consult their doctor if they wish to proceed.
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