Millions of people are diagnosed with cancer each year. While survival rates are improving, a cancer diagnosis is difficult for most people to handle. Studies show that up to 80 percent of cancer patients will suffer varying levels of apprehension during their initial treatment.

Anxiety is a common reaction to the stress and uncertainty that typically arises when individuals must deal with unfamiliar situations and face uncertain health outcomes. Psychological care is an important part of a patient’s overall well-being. Treatment of the anxiety experienced by cancer patients can improve their emotional, social and cognitive functions. The improvement in a patient’s quality of life has a positive effect on the success rate of his or her cancer treatment.

There are numerous ways to treat anxiety, including psychotherapy and medication as well as alternative methods found in ancient Chinese medicine. Combining complementary and alternative medicine practices with traditional cancer treatment is becoming more common.

While external circumstances may trigger feelings of anxiety, acupuncture enables your body to regain control of your reaction to your circumstances. A growing body of research shows that this ancient health practice can help alleviate anxiety as it slows the body’s production of stress hormones and blocks the pathways that allow the chemicals to exert their harmful effects. The treatment enables the body to re-balance its qi, or life energy, when the practitioner inserts sterilized needles the size of two human hairs into specific points. The locations are selected based on your personality, needs and symptoms.

People treated with acupuncture often see results after the first session, which improve with continued treatment. Because most people experience various symptoms of anxiety and require different treatments, a personalized treatment plan is a better option than a one-size-fits-all remedy.

Developed centuries ago in China, the treatment has the potential to provide a safe effective option for people suffering from anxiety induced by mesothelioma treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy or surgery. In addition to having immediate effects, the procedure can reinforce the processes that reduce the potential for anxiety and stress in the future.

Acupuncture colleges are increasingly including oncology offices and cancer treatment centers in their clinical rotations. While there is no evidence that it can treat cancer, extensive research does demonstrate that this alternative medical approach can help diminish cancer treatment side effects like pain, nausea and vomiting while reducing stress and anxiety.

Mesothelioma patients should ask their physician if the holistic practice is a permissible addition to their overall treatment plan. When combined with standard treatment protocols like radiation and chemotherapy, patients can feel better and enjoy a higher quality of life.

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