How To Cure Prostate Cancer
Medically reviewed by
Last Updated: May 25, 2021References
This article was medically reviewed by . Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 15,796 times.
Prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men and an estimated of 220,000 men are diagnosed with the condition in 2015. In men, prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. However, with an aggressive treatment regimen and healthy lifestyle habits, the disease can be treated.XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Cancer SocietyNonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and supportGo to source
How Can Diet Affect Bph
Similar to prostate cancer, BPH is a multifactorial disease. Many hormones and growth factors act in the prostate tissue to cause enlargement. But some epidemiologic studies have also identified dietary factors associated with BPH.
For example, a study in China showed that overeating animal proteins could increase the risk.
Another study from Japan showed that regular milk consumption has the same effect. Thats why a plant-based diet is recommended for preventing prostate enlargement and reducing the number of prostate cancer cells
According to other research, Asian men have a lower incidence of BPH. Such a lower incidence responds to a high-fiber diet compared to Western men . But why is diet so important?
The amount and proportion of nutrients we take influences the function of the body. Among many other things, they modulate hormone concentrations. They also modulate the role of the sympathetic nervous system, which acts directly in the urethra. Thats why changing your diet can improve your urinary tract symptoms if you have them .
In this article, we will discuss 3 foods that shrink prostate gland. The following foods, nutrients and diets are recommended to shrink the size of the prostate gland. You can always look for food sources or prostate supplements that include them in the list of ingredients.
You May Like: How Long Can You Take Lupron For Prostate Cancer
Cancer Cells Under A Microscope
If you have had a biopsy,the biopsied tissue is sent to a laboratory where a doctor called a pathologist will look at the cells in the tissue under a microscope. When healthy cells become cancerous, their appearance begins to change. The more changed the cells look, the more dangerous the cancer is likely to be.
The results from a prostate biopsy are usually given in the form of the Gleason score. On the simplest level, this scoring system assigns a number to describe how abnormal the cells appear under a microscope. Grade 1 and 2 are thought of as normal prostate cells. Grades 3 5 are thought of as cancer cells, with grade 5 being the most abnormal.
The doctor will take more than one sample when you have a biopsy. This is because there may be more than one grade of cancer in the tumour. The pathologist works out an overall Gleason score by adding together the two most common Gleason grades.
For example, if the most common grade of the samples is grade 3 and the second most common is grade 4 then the overall Gleason score is 7. Some doctors write the two scores separately, for example 3 + 4, instead of 7.
The grade can only ever give a doctor an idea of how a cancer might behave. It cannot definitely predict what will happen. Most cancers will behave as expected, but not all.
Don’t Miss: How To Treat Prostate Cancer That Has Spread To Bones
There Are Different Types Of Treatment For Patients With Prostate Cancer
Different types of treatment are available for patients withprostate cancer. Some treatments are standard , and some are being tested in clinical trials. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment.
What Affects My Treatment Options
Your treatment options will depend on whether your cancer is contained within the prostate gland , has spread just outside of the prostate or had spread to other parts of the body .
You may have a choice of treatments. Your doctor or specialist nurse will explain all your treatment options, and help you to choose the right treatment for you.
Your treatment options and which treatment you choose may depend on several things, including:
- how far your cancer has spread
- how quickly your cancer may be growing
- the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment
- what each treatment involves
- the possible side effects of each treatment
- practical things, such as how often you would need to go to hospital, or how far away your nearest hospital is
- your own thoughts about different treatments
- how the treatment you choose now could affect your treatment options later if your cancer comes back or spreads
- your general health
- how long youre expected to live for.
The first treatment you have may affect which treatments you can have in the future, if you need further treatment. Speak to your doctor or nurse about this.
It can help to write down any questions you want to ask at your next appointment. And to take someone to appointments, such as your partner, friend or family member.
Listen to a summary of this page
Also Check: Prostate Cancer Spread To Bone Marrow
Although It Is The Most Commonly Diagnosed Cancer In American Women Breast Cancer Can Impact People Of All Genders
Your doctor will want to discuss treatment options as well as the prognosis for bladder cancer. But hearing the words can still be scary. Getting a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be a difficult time. Not only does the stage tell you how serious the disease is, but it can help you and. If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early enough stage, it’s treatable. Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer in men, according to the mayo clinic. The earlier the detection of prostate cancer, the better the patient’s chance of survival is. A diagnosis of lung cancer naturally causes some overwhelming emotions, but you don’t have to let those emotions get the best of you. However, as with other types of cancer,. Although it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in american women, breast cancer can impact people of all genders. Here are 10 more facts about prostate cancer. It may grow slowly and it’s typically treatable. Please understand that our pho.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men. Although screenings for prostate cancer are one tool for early detecti. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer found in women after skin cancer but that doesn’t mean men aren’t at risk as well. Although the percentage of cases in men is much lower than in women, male breast cancer accounts for a por. Being armed with information is vital to begin the fight.
Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
The initial symptoms in the preliminary stage of prostate cancer are usually urinary related. Symptoms often include Frequent urination, difficulty in holding back urination, the weak or interrupted flow of urine, painful urination, urination with a burning sensation, painful ejaculation, difficulty in erection, bloody urine or semen or stiffness and pain in the lower back, thighs or pelvis. However, none of these symptoms may always show up together or may be too subtle to identify. Often, these urinary symptoms can also mean the patient has Prostatitis or BPH . This also causes the enlargement of the prostate gland and has very similar symptoms. This makes PSA screening an important method for detecting any existence of cancer.
Also Check: Does Prostatitis Go Away Without Treatment
Herbal Remedies For Treating Prostate Problems
Saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is a small palm that grows up to 3 m high. It is so slow growing that some plants in Florida are expected to be 700 years old.
Traditionally it has been used to treat many conditions of the prostate and arguably is the most popular herbal treatment for prostate problems.
Saw palmetto has been found to be effective in treating benign prostate hyperplasia in a number of studies.
Nettle
Nettle derives its names for its ability to sting if touched to the extent that some species in Asia can cause very nasty reactions. It has been used to make clothes, and is also consumed as a food.
One study has found nettle extract to kill prostate cancer cells.
Another study showed nettle can also treat prostate enlargement.
African cherry
Pygeum africanum or African cherry is a shrub distantly related to cherries. African cherries are one of gorillas favourite foods. Its bark has been used to treat various diseases such as malaria, gonorrhea and fevers.
A phytosterol from Pygeum africanum was found to kill prostate cancer cells in lab studies.
Another study found that the African cherry can be useful in treating benign prostate hyperplasia as well.
Where Prostate Cancer Spreads
If left untreated, diagnosed prostate cancer can grow and possibly spread outside of the prostate to local tissues or distantly to other sites in the body. The first sites of spread are typically to the nearby tissues.
The cancer can spread down the blood vessels, lymphatic channels, or nerves that enter and exit the prostate, or cancer could erode directly through the capsule that surrounds the prostate.
The seminal vesicles are a site of particularly common early spread. More extensive local spread can occur with cancer invading the nearby bladder or rectum.
Further advancement of cancer can occur when cancer cells enter the blood vessels and lymphatic channels. Once cancer has entered into these vessels, prostate cancer cells can seed into virtually any other part of the body.
Prostate cancer is known to have a particular affinity for spreading or metastasizing to the bones especially the lower spine, pelvis, and femur. Other organs such as the liver, brain, or lungs can also be the sites of spread, but these are much rarer.
Also Check: Characteristics Of Prostate Cancer
The Grade Group And Psa Level Are Used To Stage Prostate Cancer
The stage of the cancer is based on the results of the staging and diagnostic tests, including the prostate-specific antigen test and the Grade Group. The tissue samples removed during the biopsy are used to find out the Gleason score. The Gleason score ranges from 2 to 10 and describes how different the cancer cells look from normal cells under a microscope and how likely it is that the tumor will spread. The lower the number, the more cancer cells look like normal cells and are likely to grow and spread slowly.
The Grade Group depends on the Gleason score. See the General Information section for more information about the Gleason score.
- Grade Group 1 is a Gleason score of 6 or less.
- Grade Group 2 or 3 is a Gleason score of 7.
- Grade Group 4 is a Gleason score 8.
- Grade Group 5 is a Gleason score of 9 or 10.
The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate that may be found in an increased amount in the blood of men who have prostate cancer.
Proton Therapy For Prostate Cancer
Proton therapy is a highly accurate and much less invasive form of radiation treatment. Protons are subatomic particles with a positive charge that can be manipulated and controlled to deliver the maximum dose directly at a tumor. Radiation stops precisely at the tumor wall to spare healthy tissues and surrounding organs. Proton therapy also uses intensity modulated radiation therapy , a computer-driven machine that moves around you to shape the beam and adjust the dose at different angles. Similar to standard X-ray radiation, your team of doctors will map out a detailed radiation plan and possibly create a plastic mold to keep you in the optimal position during your treatment session.
Often Recommended for:
- Lower chances of secondary cancers
- May allow retreatment for those with secondary or recurrent cancer
Cons:
- Higher chance of developing long-term side effects
- May not cure the cancer
You May Like: Prostate Gland Definition And Function
What Causes Prostate Cancer
Experts arent sure why some cells in the prostate gland become cancerous . Genetics appear to play a role. For example:
- Youre two to three times more likely to get prostate cancer if your father, brother or son has the disease.
- Inherited mutated breast cancer genes and other gene mutations contribute to a small number of prostate cancers.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have prostate cancer, you may want to ask your healthcare provider:
- Why did I get prostate cancer?
- What is my Gleason score? What is my Grade Group? What do these numbers mean for me?
- Has the cancer spread outside of the prostate gland?
- What is the best treatment for the stage of prostate cancer I have?
- If I choose active surveillance, what can I expect? What signs of cancer should I look out for?
- What are the treatment risks and side effects?
- Is my family at risk for developing prostate cancer? If so, should we get genetic tests?
- Am I at risk for other types of cancer?
- What type of follow-up care do I need after treatment?
- Should I look out for signs of complications?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Prostate cancer is a common cancer that affects males. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and remain in the prostate gland. For a small number, the disease can be aggressive and spread quickly to other parts of the body. Men with slow-growing prostate cancers may choose active surveillance. With this approach, you can postpone, and sometimes completely forego, treatments. Your healthcare provider can discuss the best treatment option for you based on your Gleason score and Group Grade.
Recommended Reading: Is Zinc Good For Prostate
What Are Some Of The Treatments For Prostate Cancer
These resources cover some of the most common treatments and what you can expect from them.
To help with making decisions about treatment, patients can be placed into high, intermediate or low risk groups with respect to likely cancer outcome. This is done using a combination of factors.
External Beam Radiotherapy Radiotherapy is a suitable treatment for men of any age and is as effective at treating localised prostate cancer as surgery to remove the prostate .
Hormone Therapy Hormone therapy works by stopping the hormone testosterone from reaching the prostate cancer cells.
Second-Line Hormone Therapy If you are on hormone therapy and your PSA starts to rise, this may mean that your hormone therapy is no longer working as well as it was. You may be offered another type of hormone therapy, which is sometimes called second-line hormone therapy.
Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is a treatment option that may be suitable for men who have prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and is no longer responding to hormone therapy. Chemotherapy is used to help control symptoms and not to cure prostate cancer.
Clinical Trials A clinical trial is a type of medical research study that aims to find new and improved ways of preventing, diagnosing, treating and controlling illnesses.
Busting the prostate cancer myths Tackling 9 common myths about prostate cancer
Links made with the kind permission of Prostate Cancer UK and PAndrology Australia.
Baking Soda And Molasses
There was a man who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and given up for dead by doctors. His name was Vernon Johnston. The cancer had metastasized into his bones so things were looking pretty bleak for him. But you know what? He beat the disease and did it using baking soda.
Another guy who did the same is Jim Kelmun. Today, he helps others to do the same. One of the things that make baking soda among my favorite natural cures for prostate cancer is, that it works quickly and effectively and is very easy to prepare.
Heres what to do:
Simply mix up thoroughly 1 teaspoon of aluminium free baking soda with 1½ to 2 teaspoons of black-strap molasses or Manuka honey on a dessert spoon or tablespoon. Take on an empty stomach with one glass of filtered water . Do this twice a day for the first week then increase to three times a day thereafter.
Continue doing this for 4-6 weeks before stopping. After a 4 week rest period, you may then repeat the protocol once again. Avoid all physical activity for at least 40 minutes after taking the mixture, because you dont want your body to be using up the sugars in the syrup for energy. You want the cancer cells to be sucking in the sugar along with the baking soda.
Read Also: What Is Perineural Invasion In Prostate Cancer
Also Check: Does Enlarged Prostate Affect Ejaculation
Side Effects And Nutrition
Cancer treatment often causes side effects, such as nausea, mouth sores, and taste changes that may make it difficult to eat or drink. Follow these tips to help you get the nutrition you need:
- If water tastes unpleasant to you, take in more liquid though items such as soup, tea, milk or milk substitutes such as almond milk, or a sports drink. Or, flavor your water by adding fresh cut fruit.
- If food tastes bland, try seasoning it with flavorful spices such as garlic, cayenne, dill, and rosemary.
- Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of trying to eat large amounts of food at one time.
- Enhance your protein intake with protein from foods such as fish, egg whites, cheese, beans, or high protein smoothies.
- Suck on mints, chew on gum, or try fresh citrus fruits if you have a metallic taste in your mouth. Brushing your teeth before eating, using plastic utensils, and cooking in glassware can also help.
- If you have mouth sores or a gum infection, use a blender to make vegetables and meats smooth. Try juicing or making smoothies.Some side effects are often treated with medication, so talk with your doctor or another member of your health care team for more information.
Donât Miss: Is Masturbation Good For Your Prostate