The following article provides ten Holistic Treatments for Prostate Cancer.
Prostate cancer is the world’s most diagnosed malignancy in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men. In 2020 alone, over 1.4 million people were diagnosed with the disease, and 375,000 patients died.
Fortunately, the five-year survival rate for people with prostate cancer in the United States is 98 percent, thanks partly to the high rate of diagnoses that occur before the cancer spreads to other areas of the body.
Prostate cancer patients generally undertake one or more therapies to kill the disease, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, reports suggest that between one-quarter and one-half of all patients leverage the healing power of at least one complementary and alternative medicine modality.
This article will explore prostate cancer and conventional treatment in more detail before listing ten holistic therapy options that empower patients to maintain their quality of life throughout the healing process.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland become abnormal and grow out of control. Over time, this rampant growth forms a malignant tumor.
Early or localized prostate cancer refers to diseased cells that have grown but have not spread to areas of the body beyond the prostate. Advanced-stage prostate cancer can fall into one of two categories: locally advanced or metastatic.
- Locally advanced prostate cancer has spread outside the prostate gland but only to nearby or local parts of the body.
- Metastatic prostate cancer means the cancer has spread far beyond the prostate to other, distant parts of the body. This type of advanced prostate cancer can be more challenging to treat.
What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
In its early stages, prostate cancer does not typically result in noticeable symptoms. However, advanced prostate cancer may lead to the following:
- Back and pelvis pain
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Frequent urination
- Pain while urinating
- Weakness in the legs or feet
If the disease has spread far beyond the prostate, including to the bones, patients might experience the following symptoms:
- Anemia
- Bone pain
- Fatigue
- Paralysis from spinal metastases
- Unexplained weight loss
What Causes Prostate Cancer?
Several factors put individuals at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer. These include the following:
- Age, with people over 50 years at an increased risk
- Family history of cancers, including prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer
- A father or brother diagnosed with the disease before 60
- High testosterone levels
How Is Prostate Cancer Typically Treated?
How prostate cancer is treated varies from patient to patient and depends on the speed of the cancer’s growth, whether it has spread to distant parts of the body, the patient’s overall health, the patient’s preferences, and the side effects of the treatment.
In a conventional oncology setting, treatments will likely include one or more of the following:
Surgery
Surgery involves removing the prostate gland, surrounding tissue, and some lymph nodes. This process is called a radical prostatectomy. Surgery is an invasive procedure typically reserved for patients with localized prostate cancer.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy prevents the body from producing testosterone, as prostate cancer cells require the hormone to power growth. By halting testosterone production, the cancer may die, or growth may slow.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses toxic drugs to kill cells that grow rapidly, including both cancer cells and healthy cells. Chemotherapy drugs are administered in pill form or via catheters in the patient’s arm or chest.
Chemotherapy is an option for cancers that have spread or are resistant to hormone therapy.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses harmful rays similar to X-rays to destroy cancer cells.
Holistic Treatments for Prostate Cancer
Many prostate cancer patients explore the potential of unconventional therapies and holistic treatment programs as an alternative or in addition to traditional options. Here are ten such treatments, activities, and therapies.
1. Yoga
Yoga has demonstrated its ability to mitigate physical fatigue and depression in cancer patients. One study found that patients who participated in 8-week yoga therapy programs enjoyed a higher quality of life than those who did not. A higher attendance rate was also associated with less fatigue.
2. Acupuncture
A cornerstone of Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into certain areas of the body. The process can help to alleviate pain, nausea, and other symptoms caused by prostate cancer and toxic or invasive treatments.
3. Massage
Massage can help alleviate tension, relieve pain, lessen anxiety, and combat fatigue in patients with prostate cancer.
4. Pomegranate
For over 3,000 years, pomegranate has been used in medicine to address ailments from hypertension to malignancy. Studies have demonstrated pomegranate’s ability to hinder several cancer cell lines.
5. Pelvic Floor Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises (tightening and releasing the muscles that stop the flow of urine) have been shown to assist with continence following the surgical removal of the prostate. One study found a pelvic floor muscle exercise program starting before surgery improved post-surgical measures of pelvic floor function.
6. Curcumin
Curcumin is a component of the spice turmeric. It is used to treat inflammatory conditions and malignancies, including prostate cancer. Curcumin can be administered in high doses via an IV by qualified medical professionals.
7. Ozone Therapy
Ozone therapy supports prostate cancer patients in several ways by increasing the body’s oxygen levels:
- It targets cancer cells, which cannot survive and grow in highly oxygenated environments.
- It introduces additional oxygen into the bloodstream, aiding the body’s natural detoxification process.
- It enhances circulation and has antioxidant properties, assisting with wound healing pot-surgery.
8. Low-Level Laser Therapy
Regeneration is critical to treating prostate cancer holistically. Low-level laser therapies, such as the Weber Laser, promote cell regeneration while supporting the body’s natural healing processes.
9. Vitamin C Therapy
The holistic treatment of prostate cancer focuses on enhancing the body’s natural ability to fight disease and heal. When administered at high doses via an IV, Vitamin C has immune-boosting effects.
10. Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy leverages photosensitizing agents to target and eliminate cancer cells and encourage healing. A type of harmless light triggers the photosensitizing drugs.
Are Holistic Prostate Cancer Treatments Right for Me?
Please contact our patient care coordinator team today for more information and personalized advice. They’d be more than happy to help.
Resources:
Klempner, Samuel J, and Glenn Bubley. “Complementary and alternative medicines in prostate cancer: from bench to bedside?.” The oncologist vol. 17,6 (2012): 830-7. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.2012-0094
Leslie, Stephen W., et al. “Prostate Cancer.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 3 July 2022.
Scassellati, Catia et al. “Ozone: a natural bioactive molecule with antioxidant property as potential new strategy in aging and in neurodegenerative disorders.” Ageing research reviews vol. 63 (2020): 101138. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2020.101138
Zetzl, Teresa et al. “Yoga therapy to reduce fatigue in cancer: effects of reminder e-mails and long-term efficacy.” Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer vol. 29,12 (2021): 7725-7735. doi:10.1007/s00520-021-06345-z
