Mesothelioma Complementary Therapies: Evidence and Safety

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 25 Mar 2009 - Updated: 3 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information reviews the complementary therapies most often used alongside standard mesothelioma treatment - acupuncture, yoga, meditation, massage, supplements and herbs, aromatherapy and TENS - and separates what current evidence supports from what it does not. It explains the difference between complementary care, which is used with standard treatment, and alternative care, which is used in place of it, and draws on the National Cancer Institute, the Food and Drug Administration and joint Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO guidelines published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Those guidelines say acupuncture may be recommended for general cancer pain, massage for pain during palliative or hospice care, and mindfulness, yoga and relaxation for anxiety and depression during active treatment. The material is useful for people with mesothelioma, seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers who want to manage symptoms and stress safely, and who need to know which questions to raise with a cancer team before trying a new therapy.

At a Glance

• 1 - Original Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low back pain and does not cover massage therapy.
• 2 - The CDC counted 2,669 new mesothelioma cases in the United States in 2022, and about three in four cases from 2003 to 2022 were in men.
• 3 - A Cochrane review of TENS for cancer pain found only three randomized trials with 88 participants in total. The reviewers judged the evidence inconclusive.
• 4 - St. John's wort can weaken some cancer medications, including irinotecan, imatinib and docetaxel. The FDA does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements before they are marketed.

Topic Definition

Complementary Therapy

Complementary therapy is any health practice or product, such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, meditation or aromatherapy, that is used along with standard medical treatment but is not considered a standard treatment by itself. In cancer care its purpose is to ease symptoms, treatment side effects and stress rather than to treat the cancer. It differs from alternative therapy, which is used instead of standard medical treatment, and from integrative medicine, which combines conventional care with complementary practices that research has shown to be safe and effective.

Overview

Complementary therapies are often described as holistic because they aim to support a person's mental, emotional and spiritual well-being as well as their physical comfort. For people living with mesothelioma, a cancer of the thin tissue that lines the lung, chest wall and abdomen, these therapies may help ease stress and some of the side effects of medical treatment. They work alongside standard care - they do not replace it.

Mesothelioma is uncommon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counted 2,669 new cases in the United States in 2022. Across 2003 to 2022, about three in four cases were in men and 81 percent began in the pleura, the lining around the lungs [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025].

Complementary and Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments

The two terms are often used as if they mean the same thing, but they do not. The National Cancer Institute describes complementary medicine as care used along with standard medical treatment, and alternative medicine as care used instead of it [National Cancer Institute, 2024b]. Standard treatment for mesothelioma now includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy [National Cancer Institute, 2025].

To make the most of cancer treatment, talk with your doctor before starting any of these therapies, because things that seem safe can interfere with cancer treatment [National Cancer Institute, 2024b]. Complementary therapies used by people with mesothelioma include:

• Acupuncture
• Yoga
• Meditation
• Massage therapy
• Nutritional supplements and herbs
• Aromatherapy
• TENS therapy

These therapies can be expensive and insurance coverage varies by plan. Original Medicare covers acupuncture only for chronic low back pain and does not cover massage therapy [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, n.d.-a; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, n.d.-b], so seniors and caregivers should check costs before booking.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, long used in traditional Chinese medicine, involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. A joint guideline from the Society for Integrative Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) says acupuncture may be recommended for general cancer pain or musculoskeletal pain in adults, based on an intermediate level of evidence [Mao et al., 2022]. Because chemotherapy and radiation therapy can weaken the immune system, a strict clean needle method must be used [National Cancer Institute, 2024a].

Yoga and Meditation

Yoga, meditation and similar practices combine relaxation with awareness of body and mind. A second joint guideline recommends mindfulness-based interventions, yoga and relaxation for symptoms of anxiety and depression during active cancer treatment [Carlson et al., 2023]. The evidence that these mind-body practices relieve cancer pain is low or inconclusive [Mao et al., 2022]. People with breathlessness or limited mobility can ask about chair-based or gentle classes.

Massage Therapy

Massage involves rubbing and kneading the body's soft tissue to relax the body and ease the mind. The pain guideline says massage may be recommended for people experiencing pain during palliative or hospice care [Mao et al., 2022].

Discuss massage with your doctor first, particularly soon after surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, or if cancer has spread to the bones. Massage therapists may need to use less pressure than usual in areas that are sensitive because of cancer or its treatment [National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2019].

Nutritional Supplements and Herbs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements before they are marketed [Food and Drug Administration, 2026], and no studies prove that any diet, vitamin, herb or supplement can slow cancer, cure it or keep it from coming back [National Cancer Institute, 2024b].

Some herbs can also reduce the potency of treatment. St. John's wort, for example, can weaken some cancer medications, including irinotecan, imatinib and docetaxel [National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2025]. Give your cancer team a full list of everything you take.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from plants, which are inhaled or diluted in a carrier oil and massaged into the skin. Studies in people with cancer have had mixed results, and aromatherapy products do not need FDA approval [National Cancer Institute, 2023]. Aromatherapy by inhalation is among the options recommended for anxiety during active treatment [Carlson et al., 2023].

TENS Therapy

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses a small device to apply an electrical current through electrodes on the skin to treat pain. The FDA regulates these devices as Class II medical devices [21 C.F.R. 882.5890], and they can be used at home. A Cochrane review found only three randomized trials with 88 participants in total and judged the evidence for cancer pain inconclusive [Hurlow et al., 2012]. TENS is not suitable for everyone, so check with your care team first.

Why These Therapies Should Not Replace Standard Care

Some patients report that these therapies help when combined with conventional treatment, but they are not stand-alone treatments for cancer. In a study of 281 people with nonmetastatic breast, prostate, lung or colorectal cancer who chose alternative medicine alone, the risk of death was 2.5 times that of matched patients who had conventional treatment [Johnson et al., 2018]. The study did not include mesothelioma, but the lesson carries over - use complementary therapies to support treatment and comfort, with your cancer team's knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes mesothelioma?

The main risk factor is exposure to asbestos. According to the National Cancer Institute, most people with mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos, and the disease usually takes a long time to form after exposure. Living with a person who works near asbestos is also a risk factor.

Is medical cannabis an approved treatment for mesothelioma?

No. The FDA has not approved cannabis or cannabinoids as a treatment for any cancer. Two cannabinoid drugs, dronabinol and nabilone, are FDA approved for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, so anyone thinking about cannabis for symptom relief should raise it with their cancer team first.

Can acupuncture help with nausea from chemotherapy?

It may. The National Cancer Institute reports that a 2013 review of 41 randomized controlled trials found acupuncture helpful for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It is used alongside prescribed anti-nausea medicine, not in place of it.

Can hypnosis help with cancer pain?

The 2022 guideline from the Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO says hypnosis may be recommended for adults who experience procedural pain, meaning pain linked to medical procedures. It is offered by trained practitioners as an addition to standard pain control.

Are tai chi and qigong recommended for people with cancer?

The 2023 Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO guideline recommends tai chi, qigong or both for symptoms of anxiety and depression after cancer treatment has finished. Both are slow, low-impact practices, but it is still wise to check with the care team before starting.

What is the difference between palliative care and hospice care?

Palliative care is meant to improve the quality of life of people with a serious illness such as cancer, and it can be given at any point from diagnosis onward, alongside cancer treatment. Hospice care begins when curative treatment is no longer the goal and comfort and quality of life become the sole focus.

Does music therapy help people with cancer?

The 2023 Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO guideline recommends music therapy for symptoms of anxiety and depression during active cancer treatment. Like other complementary approaches, it is used alongside standard cancer care rather than in place of it.

When did the FDA approve immunotherapy for pleural mesothelioma?

On October 2, 2020, the FDA approved nivolumab plus ipilimumab as a first-line treatment for adults with malignant pleural mesothelioma that cannot be removed by surgery. In the trial behind the approval, median overall survival was 18.1 months with the combination compared with 14.1 months with chemotherapy.

References:

• Carlson, L. E., Ismaila, N., Addington, E. L., Asher, G. N., Atreya, C., Balneaves, L. G., Bradt, J., Fuller-Shavel, N., Goodman, J., Hoffman, C. J., Huston, A., Mehta, A., Paller, C. J., Richardson, K., Seely, D., Siwik, C. J., Temel, J. S., and Rowland, J. H. (2023). Integrative oncology care of symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology - ASCO guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 41(28), 4562 - 4591.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Incidence of malignant mesothelioma. U.S. Cancer Statistics.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.-a). Acupuncture. Medicare.gov.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.-b). Massage therapy. Medicare.gov.
• Food and Drug Administration. (2026). Questions and answers on dietary supplements.
• Hurlow, A., Bennett, M. I., Robb, K. A., Johnson, M. I., Simpson, K. H., and Oxberry, S. G. (2012). Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) for cancer pain in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012(3), Article CD006276.
• Johnson, S. B., Park, H. S., Gross, C. P., and Yu, J. B. (2018). Use of alternative medicine for cancer and its impact on survival. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 110(1), 121 - 124.
• Mao, J. J., Ismaila, N., Bao, T., Barton, D., Ben-Arye, E., Garland, E. L., Greenlee, H., Leblanc, T., Lee, R. T., Lopez, A. M., Loprinzi, C., Lyman, G. H., MacLeod, J., Master, V. A., Ramchandran, K., Wagner, L. I., Walker, E. M., Bruner, D. W., Witt, C. M., and Bruera, E. (2022). Integrative medicine for pain management in oncology: Society for Integrative Oncology - ASCO guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 40(34), 3998 - 4024.
• National Cancer Institute. (2023). Aromatherapy with essential oils (PDQ) - Patient version.
• National Cancer Institute. (2024a). Acupuncture (PDQ) - Patient version.
• National Cancer Institute. (2024b). Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
• National Cancer Institute. (2025). Mesothelioma treatment (PDQ) - Patient version.
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2019). Massage therapy: What you need to know.
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2025). St. John's wort.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator for pain relief, 21 C.F.R. 882.5890.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The clearest warning in this area comes from a study of 281 people with nonmetastatic breast, prostate, lung or colorectal cancer who chose alternative medicine on its own - their risk of death was 2.5 times that of matched patients who had conventional treatment. Mesothelioma was not part of that study, yet the point applies to anyone weighing unproven remedies against surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or immunotherapy. No diet, vitamin or herb has been shown to slow or cure cancer, and even gentle options such as aromatherapy, where trial results are mixed, are best treated as comfort measures. For patients, older adults and the family members who care for them, the practical step is simple: tell the cancer team about every therapy and product in use, so that relief from pain, anxiety and stress never comes at the cost of the treatment itself.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.