My friend who is a Physician's Assistant just found out he has prsotate cancer, and is looking into alternative treatments. Any suggestions? 48 years old, stage 1, no other health complications and thank you everyone for your time and great responses - helps so much!!
Cancer - 7 Answers
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1 :
depends on the stage ?? gleason score 6 i think is good caught early so i know pts that have done well with hormonal therapy its a shot on your fanny every 4 mos with psa and prostate exams .... or a radical prostatectomy hmm how old is he??? he should have a bone scan and ct done to make sure it didnt spread good luck!!!
2 :
I would have thought a physician's assistant might possibly have known better than to look to alternative cancer 'treatments'. In this context 'alternative' means 'unproven and untested'. If a medicine has been proven to work, it is no longer alternative medicine, it is just medicine. Sadly wherever there is cancer there are ruthless charlatans waiting to part vulnerable and desperate people from their money in exchange for ineffective and sometimes dangerous 'treatments'. There are also, of course, well-meaning and kind people who pass on information about 'alternative treatments' they have heard of, usually from unsubstantiated anecdote. These people, though kind, are ill-informed and invariably have no experience of cancer. Conventional treatments are far from perfect, but we know - because they have been rigourously tested and proven in double-blind clinical trials - that they save many lives and prolong many, many more. If your friend experiments with alternative treatments he will be investing money, hope and - most dangerous of all - time in ineffective scams while his cancer remains untreated. People will probably recommend diets; I once thought my organic vegan diet, rich in fruit, veg and juices, and my healthy lifestyle would protect me against cancer. It didn't; nor did it cure me. If your friend is tempted by any particular 'alternative treatment', he (or you) should do a search on http://www.quackwatch.org/ for the facts.
3 :
If they worked, "alternative" treatments wouldn't be alternative any more, would they? They would be tested, approved, and absorbed into the gamut of mainstream treatments. I am appalled to hear that someone working as a Physician's Assistant has failed to grasp this most fundamental division between treatments that actually work and treatments that may or may not work...
4 :
I dont think this would be considered an alternative treatment, but I can tell you from experience.. the very best and easiest treatment. I had prostate cancer 3 years ago. I was treated with Proton Radiation at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda California. Proton Radiation is very different from conventional radiation in that it has little and usually no side affects..I was not sick one single day during my treatments, all my male plumbing still works just like when I was 30... Proton Radiation has no side effects because it delivers 90% off the energy for treatment exactly to the specific area being treated... It is released at that point.. Therefore, no surrounding tissue or organs are damaged... The cure rate is about 90% the same or I think a little better than other treatments available.. There is a website called Proton Bob that has much more information about Proton Radiation.. Please read it..and especially read the section of Testimonials from former Proton Radiation patients. Loma Linda University Medical Center pioneered Proton Radiation in this country about 17 years ago and because of their great success, other hospitals in this country are beginning to offer it finally. MD Anderson in Houston, a hospital in Mass( at Harvard I think), one in Indiana and one in Florida that I know of.. The Proton Bob website tells you where it is available. Many Doctors do not recommend it yet.. some just dont know about it, some still consider it experimental and others just flat have a vested interest problem in sending patients else where for treatments... uhhh they dont make any money!!! When all treatments are considered, I believe Proton Radiation is a no brainer decision, no side effects and a cure rate as good or better than other options!! Funny lots of Doctors wont recommend it for their patients, but when I was at Loma Linda having my treatmets, there were sure lots of doctors and other people in the medical fields out there having the treatments for thier Prostate cancer... If you have any questions, feel free to email me or i will also visit on the phone... best of luck... ohh my psa is point one nine thats.19... just be sure and have him check into Proton Radiaton before he decides on any other treatment,.... I think its the only way to go!! One other thing, there is a new book out called YOU CAN BEAT PROSTATE CANCER... by Robert J. Marckini, a prostate cancer survivor he out lines all treatments available and gives the pros and cons.. your friend probably already knows them, but its a great book for any one with prostate cancer... Mr. Marckini had Proton Radiation several years ago.. Every patient who has had Proton Radiation is completely sold on it.. at least, all I have ever met.. Having my treatments was like being on a 3 month vacation in California ..was great. Again be sure you and your friend read the Proton Bob website.. youll see what Im talking about!!!..........Just had to add this.. I read one of the answers above from the fellow who had surgery, chem and radiotherapy..... There is absolutely no need for any of that when Proton Radiation is available.. sorry to write so much.. but since I have already been through it, it just upsets me to see any one go through all of that when its not necessary at all.. As you know those are exactly the treatments that most Urologist are going to try to convince you to take.. My first Urologist wanted me to take Lupron for 10 years.. told me I could live 10 more years.. I had a PSA of 4.5 and a gleason of 8 ..how ridiculicious.. my spelling isnt good and my puter cuts of if i spell check ...sorry here it comes mispelling and all!!
5 :
A good diet of vegetables and fruits can help. Blueberry and pomegranate juices can slow the cancer. Biobran and Zyflamend are great against prostate cancer. THe first one stimulate the imune sistem and the second inhibits cox-2 and supress cancer cells. Best whishes
6 :
Anybody who is recommending herbs, chants, or crystals is an idiot. I just had prostate cancer - the treatment depends on the age of the patient. Here's what I learned: In old folks, they give them hormonal shots to slow the tumor (the thought being that surgery will make their life worse, and they will die of something else before the slow cancer gets them) For older folks 60-70's or so who may not tolerate surgery, they use radiation, either seeds or beam. This cures the cancer, at least for awhile. Be aware of the side effects - burns, etc. Also be aware of the incidence of recurrence - there's a lot of data out there! I had mine removed (I'm 55). The latest in surgery is the DiVinci robot - no large incision, and I was discharged 36 hours after surgery and fully recovered after 4 weeks, other than retraining my plumbing. The robot surgery spares the critical nerves for "man land", it just numbs them for a bit. My cancer was completely confined to the gland, so the incidence of this coming back is slim indeed. Your PA friend should find an experience urologist who can guide him. I consulted several to ensure the accuracy of the information
7 :
I have an alternative suggestion that is all natural and is full of vitamins & mangosteen. If you are interested in learning more, send me an email. Ingrid.
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