Chiropractic Care for Asbestos-Related Cancer Victims

October 9, 2009 by Dr. Carla Cupido

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was utilized extensively throughout the 20^th century in a number of military and industrial applications. Asbestos exposure occurs when the material becomes damaged or deteriorated and the microscopic fibers are released into the air where they can be inhaled or ingested. Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of a rare and aggressive cancer known as mesothelioma.

The combination of disease symptoms and treatment side effects can cause mesothelioma patients a great deal of pain. Cancer patients have included chiropractic care in their course of treatment to help control pain and alleviate headaches, tension and stress.

Chiropractors seek to restore mobility and alleviate pain through a variety of different treatments including spinal adjustment, massage, stretching movements, rehabilitation exercises and numerous modalities. These doctors devote careful attention to the biomechanics, structure and function of the joints of the body, 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.”

Two studies published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics observed the cases of two patients fighting cancer. A 57-year-old man diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer experienced significant pain relief and was able to lower the amount of medication needed following chiropractic care. An increase in his quality of life was also reported following visits to a chiropractor.

A 54-year-old man who was diagnosed with lung cancer (a cancer often related to asbestos exposure) began seeing a chiropractor a year after going through surgery because he was unable to relieve the pain with the medications he was given. He experienced pain relief immediately after beginning chiropractic care and discontinued use of all pain medications after two visits to his chiropractor. The Journal noted, “These clinical examples offer two specific instances of how chiropractic may improve the quality of a cancer patient’s life.”

Written for www.drcarlacupido.com by: Richard Moyle, American National Awareness Coordinator, Mesothelioma Center, Asbestos.com