Treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the age of the individual, the presence of other medical conditions, and the man's preferences in conjunction with the physician's recommendations.
If prostate cancer is detected early, treatment usually involves either surgical removal of the prostate or radiation therapy. For more advanced cases of prostate cancer, or if cancer spreads beyond the prostate, hormone medications are the preferred treatment.
If the man is older than 70 and has only a slow-growing tumor, the physician may adopt a strategy called "watchful waiting," in which the man returns frequently for check-ups. Treatment occurs only if the man's condition worsens.
Dietary modifications may slow the growth of the cancer in men undergoing watchful waiting, as well as those who have had surgery or are being treated iwth with medication or radiation. For example, eating a low-fat diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, soy, selenium, and fiber has been associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer.
Saw palmetto, a widely studied herb, appears to significantly reduce symptoms associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and may be used in prostate cancer, but only under the supervision of a doctor.
Acupuncture can relieve pain and the side effects of surgery while meditation and massage may reduce stress and anxiety associated with having prostate cancer.
Medications
Medications are considered the best therapy for people with advanced stages of prostate cancer or when cancer spreads from the prostate to other parts of the body. Drugs may also be prescribed prior to radiation therapy or when surgical procedures fail to lower PSA levels. Most medications for prostate cancer lower levels of male sex hormones (such as testosterone). Lowering testosterone levels can cause tumors to shrink or slow their growth.
Some commonly prescribed medications include:
- Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LH-RH) agonists (such as leuprolide, goserelin, and buserelin) -- LH-RH is natural hormone, released by the hypothalamus in the brain, that lowers the production of testosterone, and the medication encourages the release of this natural hormone. Side effects can include hot flashes, weight gain, development of male breast tissue, breast pain, and nausea.
- Hormones including antiandrogens (such as flutamide, bicalutamide, and nilutamide) and estrogens (such as diethylstilbestrol) -- these medications reduce testosterone levels, but side effects can include reduced sex drive, fatigue, nausea, impotence, diarrhea, and hot flashes.
- Chemotherapeutic medications (such as mitoxantrone and estramustine) -- improve symptoms in advanced cancer but do not increase life expectancy
Surgery and Other Procedures
- Removal of the prostate (prostatectomy) -- offers an excellent cure for men with prostate cancer that is completely confined to the prostate, and is performed if life expectancy is at least 10 years and cancer is confined to the prostate. Side effects include incontinence and impotence, but new procedures that spare nerves near the prostate preserve sexual function in 25 - 90 % of men.
- Surgical exploration of lymph nodes -- may be performed to evaluate whether prostate cancer has spread to the lymphatic system.
- Resection of the prostate (called TURP or transurethral resection of the prostate) -- removal of all or part of the prostate gland to eliminate cancer and to relieve obstruction of urine.
- Removal of the testes (orchiectomy) -- lowers testosterone levels, but side effects can include impotence and hot flashes.
In addition to these surgical procedures, radiation therapy may be effective for cancer confined to the prostate, particularly for older men. Radiation can be administered through an external source, or irradiated seeds can be placed internally near the prostate. Using irradiated seeds actually lowers the risk of damage to organs surrounding the prostate from radiation because administration can be more precise in both amount and location. Side effects can include proctitis (inflammation of the lining of the rectum), urinary tract infections, and impotence.
Nutrition and Dietary Supplements
A comprehensive treatment plan for support of the health of men living with prostate cancer may include a range of complementary and alternative therapies. Preliminary studies suggest that nutritional supplements may reduce the symptoms of some prostate cancer. Ask your team of health care providers about the best ways to incorporate these therapies into your overall treatment plan. Always tell your health care provider about the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using.
Following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:
- Eat foods high in B-vitamins and calcium, such as almonds, beans, whole grains (if no allergy), dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), and sea vegetables. A study found that men who consumed 28 or more servings of vegetables per week were 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who had less than 14 servings per week.
- Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes) and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
- Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar.
- Quality protein sources, such as organic meat and eggs, whey, and vegetable protein shakes, may be used as part of balanced program aimed at gaining muscle and preventing weight loss that can sometimes be a side effect of cancer therapy. Try to eat fewer red meats and more lean meats such as chicken and fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy), or beans for protein.
- Eat cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower) -- they contain special cancer fighting chemicals.
- Use healthy oils in foods, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
- Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
- Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.
You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:
- A daily multivitamin, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins, and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and selenium.
- Calcium D-glucarate, 200 - 400 mg daily, for support of immunity and anticancer effects.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 - 3 tablespoonfuls oil, one to three times daily, to help decrease inflammation and help with immunity. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources but not substitutes for supplementation.
- Whey protein, 10 - 20 grams daily mixed in favorite beverage, when needed as a protein supplement for support of immunity and weight gain; or creatine, 5 - 7 grams daily, when needed for muscle weakness and wasting. Talk with your health care provider.
- N-acetyl cysteine, 200 mg one to three times daily, for antioxidant effects.
- Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus among other strains), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day, when needed for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health. You should refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results.
- Astaxanthin, 2 - 6 mg daily, for immune and antioxidant support.
- Coenzyme Q10, 100 - 200 mg at bedtime, for antioxidant and immune activity.
- Vitamin C, 500 - 1,000 mg one to three times daily, as an antioxidant and for immune support. Some doctors will use higher doses in alternative cancer therapies. Check with your health care provider.
- Lycopene, 5 mg one to three times daily, for antioxidant and anticancer activity. In a large study, lycopene levels were significantly lower in those with prostate cancer compared to those without.
- L-glutamine, 500 - 1,000 mg three times daily, for support of gastrointestinal health and immunity.
- Melatonin, 2 - 5 mg one hour before bedtime, for sleep and immune protection. Ask your health care provider about potential drug interactions with the use of melatonin.
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Herbs
Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body's systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to get your problem diagnosed before starting any treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day.
- Green tea (Camellia sinensis) standardized extract, 250 - 500 mg daily, for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune effects. Use caffeine-free products. You may also prepare teas from the leaf of this herb.
- Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) standardized extract, 160 mg two times daily, for hormonal support. There has been some concern that saw palmetto could mask prostate cancer by lowering prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. However, a randomized study of more than 1,000 patients did not demonstrate this effect on PSA levels. Talk to your health care provider about using saw palmetto for your condition.
- Fermented wheat germ extract, 1 packet dissolved in favorite beverage once daily, for anticancer and immune effects. Ask your health care provider for more about this supplement.
- Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia) standardized extract, 200 mg two to three times daily, for anticancer and immune support.
- Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) standardized extract (D-fraction), 600 mg twice daily, for immune and antiviral effects. You may also take a tincture of this mushroom extract, 30 - 60 drops two to three times a day.
- Garlic (Allium sativum), standardized extract, 400 mg two to three times daily, for antibacterial or antifungal and immune activity.
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture may provide relief from side effects of orchiectomy (removal of the testes). Studies also support the use of acupuncture for the pain that often occurs when cancer has spread beyond the prostate (particularly to the bones). A National Institutes of Health statement released in 1997 also supports the use of acupuncture to alleviate nausea associated with chemotherapy.
Evidence suggests acupuncture can be a valuable therapy for cancer-related symptoms (particularly nausea and vomiting that often accompanies chemotherapy treatment). Studies have also indicated that acupuncture may help reduce pain and shortness of breath. Acupressure (pressing on rather than needling acupuncture points) has also proved useful in controlling breathlessness and is a technique that patients can learn and then use to treat themselves.
Massage and Physical Therapy
Studies suggest that massage reduces stress and boosts immune function, so it may help relieve anxiety for men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
Pelvic floor exercises -- the repetitive use of muscles that start and stop the flow of urine -- may help decrease incontinence caused by prostatectomy (removal of the prostate). This therapeutic approach is often combined with biofeedback.
Mind-Body Medicine
Meditation
Meditation may benefit men with prostate cancer by helping them to reduce stress, ease anxiety, and regain a sense of self-control.
Biofeedback and Pelvic Muscle Training (PMT)
Several studies have found that learning to start and stop the flow of urine by repeatedly using the muscles of the pelvis (PMT) in combination with biofeedback can reduce the duration of incontinence after prostate cancer surgery. Other studies suggest however, that PMT alone, with or without biofeedback, is responsible for the beneficial effects. Either way, both PMT and biofeedback are safe, noninvasive therapies that may benefit men who suffer from incontinence following either surgical removal of the prostate or other treatments for prostate cancer.
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