Alternative therapies

Some members feel that they have been able to slow the advance of PCa by modifying their diet. How much difference this can make is difficult to quantify as this is based more on what those affected men feel rather than through independent trials. Generally speaking, those posting on non medically proven therapy have tended to be very sceptical - after all if there was effective alternatives such as you mention, this would save patients radical treatment which would also be a saving for the NHS. But those tending to use diet or alternative medicine usually also have recognised treatment. Many of us feel it is good to remain positive and motivated and to research treatment and be aware of what is continuing to become available to combat PCa. Volunteering to go on trials can result in men being closer monitored and benefiting from the latest advances and be especially beneficial for those with more advanced PCa.

PCa is very unpredictable and it is not impossible that some alternative therapies might reduce tumours or indeed in a few rare cases these might shrink without any treatment. But it is generally accepted that at present the best chance of combating PCa is with recognised medical treatment. Maybe some day a more natural treatment may be found - hopefully.

Thank you. I've recently been diagnosed with PC (Gleason 7) and am I'm still trying to decide whether it should be surgery or radiotherapy. The doctors don't recommend one or the other very strongly and basically say its down to 'my personality'. I just wanted to know if there were any alternatives.

Scaro

Let's be clear, there are no alternative or complementary therapies that can cure cancer. 

Alternative therapies are those which are proposed as replacements for conventional treatment. There are many of them, all spinning much the same line: chemotherapy is poison, radiotherapy is worse than nuclear fallout, and surgery is just butchery - but if you follow this "natural" treatment instead, then all will be well - provided you pay a mere $300 a month.  No doubt some practitioners are well meaning quacks who genuinely believe the twaddle they're pushing, but most are cynically exploiting the fears of the sick at a time when they're most vulnerable. 

On the other hand, there are Complementary treatments, which aim to support the patient while they're going through conventional cancer treatment. Personally, I have had acupuncture many times over the last 35 years and found it useful. At times when I'm feeling generally unwell, a few pins in strategic places seems to make all the difference - but whether it's really the pins or just the placebo effect working I still can't say. I will say that having 8 or 10 needles stuck in you week after week is a sure and certain cure for needle phobia, which is handy when you're a prostate cancer patient. 

I've also used meditation now and again. I find it helpful when I'm getting stressed out, such as waiting for the latest PSA result. There's a really useful video on YouTube called "One-Moment Meditation: How to Meditate in a Moment" which is great for a quick fix. 

Edited by member 11 Oct 2014 at 01:46  | Reason: Not specified