What to do when you have mesothelioma: empowering patients through acceptance, faith and love

The doctor’s been brutally honest about telling you that you have mesothelioma and that chances are, you may not live that long. Ouch. It’s like you’ve been stabbed at the back. Not once. Not twice. But many times over. A hundred times maybe. But you didn’t bleed to death. You’re still there. In front of Doc. Still sitting on the chair and staring blankly at the realization that your days are numbered. Yes, knowing you are positive of mesothelioma ushers that feeling of fear and hatred. You may ask God, why you? You may curse at the decisions you’ve made in your life. You might even curse the doctor and demand another test. Or you might totally decide to see another doctor for second opinion. And there’s the second opinion. You are positive with mesothelioma. Another slap on your already battered soul.

You have mesothelioma.

But after all has been said and done, it will help you a lot to gather the pieces of yourself and start to move on with life. Much to your desire to deny that you have that illness, sooner or later, you’ll have to accept the fact that you have it. Indeed, denial can only serve to hasten the pain.

Right nutrition helps fight mesothelioma cancer

The National Cancer Institute can reveal that more thanone-third of all cancer  cases, including mesothelioma, are caused by poor nutrition. In fact, dozens of studies have been conducted to determine what food can best fight and prevent cancer, and that includes mesothelioma. Berries, leafy vegetables and flaxseed oil rank among the top healthy suggestions that anyone should consume for a cancer-free life.

Berries

For being a host of so many vitamins and minerals, berries have earned the moniker as the ‘super food.’ In fact, berries are among the fruits that contain the contain the most antioxidants and supply the most phytochemicals that do so much to prevent the development of cancer. Berries also contain immune-boosting nutrients, like fiber and vitamin C. If you want to get the best benefits that berries have to offer, eat them raw and fresh, instead of opting for the processed berries or drinks made from berries to ensure that you get the healing effects of phytonutrients. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, cranberries are among the most popular healthy berries.

University study finds link between cancer, taconite mining

Minnesota Daily reports that taconite miners are highly atrisk of developing mesothelioma cancer.

In 2008, the Minnesota Taconite Workers Health Study was launched to look the work-related risks that could affect the health of the workers. The $4.9 million-study can reveal that miners actually have a 3 percent risk of contracting the rare lung cancer for every year spent at work.

"This is a landmark study for Minnesota and the Iron Range," revealed School of Public Health dean John Finnegan. "Our goal was to begin to answer questions around how mining and taconite processing have impacted the health of Minnesotans. These studies have started to uncover those answers."

However, the results from the study cannot link the dust from taconite operations into contracting mesothelioma.

"Regardless of whatever is going on with our research, you can't wait around until our results come back," Mandel said in a radio interview.

Stem Cells from fat tissue may help treat mesothelioma

Human fat could be used to “to create cancer-fighting cells.,” reports Mesothelioma Help.

A study at John Hopkins University was conducted to come up with an advanced treatment that could fight glioblastoma, one of the most common types of brain tumor, in the hopes of reaching the “difficult-to-reach parts of the brain where cancer cells can hide and proliferate anew.”

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), explains that “stem cells are the foundation cells for our bodies.”  Stem cells have been proven and tested helpful in the field of cancer research because of their natural capacity to self-renew, that is, they can multiply to generate more stem cells. Stem cells also have the capacity to differentiate (transform into mature, specialized cells that replenish tissues and organs). Earlier researches have been conducted to prove that there are certain cancer stem cells that trigger cancer growth because of their ability to renew and multiply.

Mesothelioma chemotherapy tested in Japan

The theory that high levels of chemotherapy performed before other types of anti-cancer treatments are the precursor to a successful mesothelioma surgery is now under study in Japan.

Induction chemotherapy involves the administration of very high levels of chemotherapy drugs to serve as front-line cancer treatment eliminate as much cancer cells up front. This is expected to minimize if not immediately eliminate the need for more chemotherapy sessions or other types of treatment, reports Surviving Mesothelioma: A Patient’s Guide. 

Mesothelioma cancer can be very nasty that a mere chemotherapy cannot immediately destroy the cancer cells. However, Japanese researchers hypothesized that while it cannot totally eliminate the cell, this form of treatment can, in one way or another, weaken their resistance, thereby improve surgical outcomes.

New mesothelioma treatment to combat chemo-resistance to cisplatin

Chemotherapy is one of the most common types of treatment that fights the symptoms and avert the development of the mesothelioma cancer, as well as other types of cancer. However, most of the time, the tumors tend to fight off the effects of the drugs, thus, treatment becomes of no use at all. A recent study, however, can reveal the reason why cancer cells tend to resist cisplatin, a common chemotherapeutic agent. This finding can be very helpful in devising a brand-new treatment strategy not only for mesothelioma, but also for other types of cancers, that seemingly resist treatments.

Cisplatin is used together with other chemotherapy agents following surgery to slow down, if not prevent, the growth of the cancer, as well as to alleviate mesothelioma symptoms. However, Guido Kroemer, M.D., Ph.D., professor at University Paris Descartes in Paris, France reveals that a lot of patients would respond transiently to cisplatin therapy.

“Cancer cells develop ways to resist the effects of the drug,” he reveals