Jan 24, 2013
Mesothelioma Diagnosis Doesn’t Have to Be The End of Life
There is no good type of cancer to have, but certainly one of the worst is mesothelioma. Many people ended up with this awful cancer after working around asbestos for years and never having been warned of the risks of doing so. These people with mesothelioma often get diagnosed when it is too late to cure. Treatments may not cure many people living with this cancer, but there are ways that they can live the rest of their days in greater comfort and at peace with what cannot be changed, including yoga and meditation.
For someone living with mesothelioma, the idea of trying these new things may seem far-fetched. The truth is that yoga and meditation are easy to get started with and the benefits of practicing them can be great. Yoga is an ancient practice that involves deliberate movements and poses and a focus on breathing that improves strength, flexibility, and overall physical fitness. Meditation is also an ancient practice and an important part of living a conscious life regardless of where you are from. The purpose is to clear the mind, to focus on breathing and the present moment to find a sense of calm and relaxation.
How Yoga Helps Cancer Patients
For someone living with and battling mesothelioma, or any type of cancer, yoga has tremendous benefits. Gentle, guided yoga is a great way to stay active for someone with physical limitations. The movements can be adapted to meet anyone’s needs and to accommodate any limits. Physical activity is now recommended for cancer patients because it provides so many health and wellness benefits.Exercise and yoga in particular can help patients living with cancer mitigate side effects of treatment.
For example, chemotherapy often causes nausea which leads to loss of appetite, but yoga and other types of exercise stimulate appetite and can help patients maintain better nutrition and a healthy weight. Yoga is also proven to help reduce pain and fatigue, two common symptoms of mesothelioma and other types of cancer.
How Meditation Helps Cancer Patients
There are many different ways to meditate, and it is even possible to combine the practice of yoga with meditation. It is easy to get started in meditation and anyone can learn how to do it with instruction and a little bit of patience. There are several good reasons for people living with mesothelioma to give meditation a try. Research has proven that meditation can improve mood, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, that it can reduce fatigue and pain, and that meditation can help you sleep better.
What neither meditation nor yoga can do is cure cancer. This doesn’t mean they should not be used as complementary therapies, though. Living with mesothelioma does not mean you have to accept being uncomfortable or in pain while you go through treatments. You can use proven strategies and activities like yoga and meditation to improve your symptoms, to boost your mood, and to general feel better and enjoy a good quality of life. Be sure to talk to your doctor or oncologist before you start any kind of new routine and work with instructors who understand your special needs and you will get the most out of yoga and meditation.
Click here to learn more about mesothelioma and how to treat this condition