This forum is for the discussion of anything to do with Prostate Cancer. There are only four rules:
No fundraisers, no commercials (although it is OK to recommend choices of treatment or medical people based on your personal research; invitations to participate in third-party surveys are also acceptable, provided there is no compensation to YANA);
No harvesting e-mail addresses for Spam;
No insults or flaming - be polite and respectful at all times and understand that there may be a variety of points of view, all of which may have some validity;
Opinions are OK, but please provide as much factual evidence as possible for any assertions that you are making
Failure to abide by these simple rules will result in the immediate and permanent suspension of your posting privileges.
Since this is an International Forum, please specify your location in your post.
I did not have ebert or hormone only brachytherapy. Prior to it I went on a program set up by a friend who is a well thought of nutitionist in my area (Ft Lauderdale, FL) He recommended CoQ10, IP6 and Inositol (a cancer fighter), a good multiple, Beta Glucan. My energy level was phenomenal, my mood depite the worries about my pc was steady and good. I felt great. Still take the IP6 and inositol. Phred's humor post is right on. You can go on with a number of things that will empty your wallet. My beleif is that a good nutition program with some help from supplements is key. There is a great book I recommend " Beating Cancer with Nutrition" by Patrick Quillin. It is full of facts and recommendations.
I couldn't bump the original post I made about Beta Glucan's in the past, but I assure you I am a 43 year old daughter with a widowed father and am looking out for his best interest as he is experiencing a biochemical return of his prostate cancer after 7 years from EBRT/IMRT therapy. With a bone scan and CT scan not showing involvement of the lymph nodes or bones, knowing his diet has dramatically changed since my mom and his wife of 53 years passed just over a year ago, and knowing his PSA numbers are increasing, not quite at a 12 month doubling rate, but getting close, I'm here just like any loved one trying to help the best I can.
Immediate Lupron shots didn't seem like the answer for dad, although he may need them in the future if metastasis occurs. But 2 doctors said "shots now"... responses from this board said "slow down and research". 2 of his friends who are prostate cancer survivors (one like him with minimal problems after RP at the same time he had the ERBT with re-occurrence a year ago - 5+ years past), said whatever you do, take some time and given where you are with relapse DON'T DO THE SHOTS.
My undergraduate degree is in Risk Management with concentration in Actuarial Science so I can interpret the statistical studies. My "aunt" casually referenced in the prior post on Beta Glucan as an immunomodulator... she was an engineer who worked for a time with NASA.
I stand behind the statement I made in 2011. Should my Dad's cancer come back, I will seriously consider Beta Glucan as a supplement we add.
This was the only other post I could find referencing Beta Glucan as a supplement ... outside of mainstream Cheerio's advertising they contain Beta Glucan.
It will be one of the supplements we consider after doing full research as suggested before. Since my Dad's PSA levels picked up after his diet dramatically changed after my mom passed (think green smoothies once a week, broccoli 3 times a week, lentils once a week, salmon once a week... she was on it!). I will be glad to share if dietary changes slow down the PSA progression, as they definitely seem to have picked the PSA progression up.
Terry always looked out for this board, and he has my utmost respect. Every story and protocol and situation posted here I appreciate and cherish for what it is... another man, wife, daughter, son, or family trying to navigate this thing called Prostate Cancer. Prayers and good wishes!
Thanks for the replies.
The "Cure du Joure" is funny and I always get a kick out of it.
However, rest assured that my post wasn't about some magical cure.
I never thought of any dietary supplement as cure but rather something that might help to increase the effectiveness of my treatments.
I thought some of them they may confer some benefit and certainly couldn't hurt.
No this wasn't about imaginary cures.
This was me bemoaning the fact that I can't seem to take anything I read seriously.
I am the type of person that likes to be proactive.
When I am faced with a problem I learn as much as I can and then formulate a strategy to deal with it.
However, my efforts in this regard are complicated by too little documented fact and way too much theory and opinion.
What can you do when the best minds and most respected doctors contradict each other at every turn?
Worse, from time to time they seem to contradict themselves.
I suppose I am going to have to start conducting my own clinical trials.
I may start by investigating whether a quart of Tequila each day will lower your PSA.
My Radiation Oncologist requested during a group information session prior to our treatment regimen that we cease taking antioxidants such as licopene at least 24 hours before each session.
He stated that the licopene works by buffering the cancer cells from the healthy cells. Then it actually interferes with the radiation beam hitting the cancer cells.
Sounds as reasonable an explanation as any other to me.
That would also suggest to me to continue to consume antioxidants as a limitive rather than a preventative or curative. I take licopene caps and keep the green tea growers very busy....
Does anyone have more references for this?
I don't take supplements, but drink a glass of pomegranate juice, eat broccoli sprouts and drink a glass of red wine every day...
Scheduled for ext radiation in another month- would like to be clear on this by then...
I have done some research and questioned my oncologist about this.
It is theoretically possible that antioxydants can interfere with the mechanism that radiation uses to kill cancer.
However, it should be stressed that this is only a theory and there have been no studies to prove or disprove this.
There are plenty of doc lining up on both sides of the argument.
In the absence of any proof one way or another, some doctors advise their patients to stay away from antioxydants during radiation, just to err on the side of caution.
My oncologist says he wouldn't worry about what you get in a normal diet.
However, he would not want me to take mega doses of it.
5 - 8 weeks. Antioxidants to reverse a whole lifetime of exposure to nasty chemicals and your genetics. Not enough time to make any difference. Try and plan your "new life" after the RT. RT doesn't last forever and after RT you can make changes that definitely will affect your well being. Then diet, lifestyle, and eating habits might have some long term effects.
Well... just color me frustrated...
Appreciate your responses.
Diagnosed some 3 months ago, and as the bad results have been coming in, one after another, spent some effort improving my diet. Couldn't stop smoking or eating meat... since I didn't do that before... so started concentrating on adding natural anti-oxidants (don't take supplements either...).
Just started to feel that something was improving (to offset the feeling of something being destroyed by the hormone block)... when I read Tony's post...
Guess I'm not built to sit by passively while being attacked.
Maybe I can be healthy by the time radition starts...
