Mesothelioma Unconventional Therapies
Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.
A number of mesothelioma treatments are outside the mainstream of both established and experimental therapies. As lawyers, not doctors, we are not qualified to judge the value of such unconventional or unproven treatments. In our experience, most doctors disapprove of these treatments, and there is no clear, non-anecdotal evidence of the success of any of these treatments. However, we believe you have the right to all the information available so that you can discuss all possibilities with your physician and make an informed decision about your options.
Unusual remedies and approaches to cancer treatment often achieve public notoriety. As the parent of a child with cancer, inevitably you will hear of these yourself or have them brought to your attention by others. Patients, particularly older ones, may also hear of such treatments.
These treatments may involve unusual forms of therapy or strict dietary regimens that are reported to cure cancer. As a group, these treatment techniques have not been tested in the same strict method as have treatments employed by your physician. Reports of unconventional cures seldom provide enough information to compare their effectiveness with that of more conventional therapies.
The guarantee of cure these treatments offer may seem attractive when judged against the difficult treatment course of conventional therapies and the fact that your physician cannot absolutely predict the results of that treatment. If you develop an interest in an unconventional treatment or have any questions, discuss it with your physician, who should be able to provide or direct you to relevant information. The treatment team's primary concern is that your child receives the most effective treatment possible. If some magical, easy cure for cancer existed, caregivers would be the first to make it available.
Because many people have heard of these alternative methods of cancer treatment, you, or occasionally the older patient, may find yourself in the position of defending your decision to follow conventional treatment methods. This can be a frustrating situation and place a burden on you during an already stressful time. It is important to remember that suggestions are usually well intentioned and that they come from those who are not well informed about treatment advances. The best way to deal with this may be to provide these people with more information and make it clear that you appreciate their interest but that you feel your child is already receiving the best treatment available.
