Helping husband understand there is no natural cure

Posted by sradeb @sradeb, Apr 9 9:36am

My husband, 65, has been diagnosed with Stage 3c prostate cancer. He has informed me he doesn't want radiation or surgery due to the side effects (he currently has none of the normal effects of prostate issues). He is convinced that there is a natural remedy out there that will CURE the cancer and I'm supposed to find it. How do I explain to him that all of my research shows there isn't a natural CURE? Or is there a natural cure that I can't find? Can anyone recommend a treatment, even experimental, that doesn't have the traditional side effects?

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I believe that he has given you an impossible task. While you and he can certainly find many people who believe there is a natural cure, there is no evidence. Most importantly, depending upon his specific prostate cancer details, it is possible that he can be cured with minimal side effects. Treatments for Prostate Cancer have improved substantially in recent years and many people in this forum can help you and he become more knowledgeable of real treatments. Knowledge can help. I recommend that you show him the books (Dr. Patrick Walsh " Surviving Prostate Cancer") and online content of PCF.org and PCRI.org. I also recommend that he meet with a prostate cancer specialist at a treatment center of excellence such as Mayo Clinic, so that he can directly hear from an expert about his treatment options. Depending upon the information he has now, there may be more tests that he will want to take before deciding upon a treatment option. Ultimately, he will need to move forward with the best treatment for his specific condition. I also recommend that he participate in online communities such as Mayo Clinic Connect, so that he can get advice directly from people who have gone through this journey.

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sradeb, sweet how he depends on you. I suspect he is not going to read anything. jsh327's suggestion that you let the doctors tell him has value. Convincing him of no natural cures is too heavy a burden for you. There is value in beginning treatment sooner than later is significant with 3C. Can we assume he is diagnosed by biopsy. I would begin scheduling PSMA/PET and decipher, if he hasn't yet. And then begin scheduling zoom appointments because they are easy. You can sit across the table from him and record the appointments. His eagerness for a natural cure may be part of natural process of denial. Recognition can be gradual, but I'd rather he didn't focus on you as the messenger. It doesn't hurt to pursue lesser unproven treatments unless it delays conventional treatments.
You could start him on metformin and statins. It would be best to start orgovyx to slow the spread right away. It is ADT but the loss of interest in sex is gradual.
Even if there were natural treatments without side effects they would be too slow. He risks metastisis by waiting. Bless your task.

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My two cents, I'm stage4 from diagnosis. I had really bad pain in my leg , finally couldn't stand it anymore and went to the doctor. I had no warning until that pain. Yes side effects from treatment suck but I do not want to experience that pain again. It's a trade off I'm willing to make, and yes on a bad day I have to remind myself of this. Best to your hubby.

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Greetings:
I am in a similar situation, but for a different reason.
I was diagnosed last February with a Gleason 9, and psa of 25, and has a RP on 07/05 with no apparent cancer left. The operation was a complete success. I was out and about 3-4 days latter. However the psa has been slowly rising since then. I did extensive research and found there is a vast body of credible evidence to support natural remedies such as broccoli sprouts, turmeric, etc., which I have been taking and will know the results on 04/26. In my opinion your husband should go ahead and "debulk" the tumor via an operation or radiation and mop up any remaining left overs using natural methods. It seems that the natural route has great potential for a cure, it is not yet ready for prime time.
All in all I would go with the conventional treatments, because, while the side effects "can be" but not always rough they are manageable, and then use the natural methods as an supplement.
Hope this was useful.

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Just to be sure, I'd suggest you both consult with an Integrative Oncologist, or Naturopathic Oncologist in your decision making process.

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That is excellent advice, thank you. It would keep both of us happy.

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@sradeb

That is excellent advice, thank you. It would keep both of us happy.

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Tell your husband that I thought the same thing. I used Ginger, Turmeric, DIM, special diet, etc. Nothing worked and I wasted valuable time. If his biopsy showed that result - he'd better get moving on some DEFINITIVE treatment. Tell him, also, that 85% of cancer patients who've tried alternative medicine in lieu of traditional cures have died as a result of their cancer. Sure, the 15% have all these blogs telling you how bad mainstream medicine is, how greedy, etc....if he likes those odds, there's not much you can do.

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I think the biggest part of the problem is he has no symptoms currently. We found the cancer totally by accident. If his body was telling him it was in there then it might feel real and he might get treated. But when that happens it might be to late.

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I don't really have anything to add other than echo what jsh327 said.

I've been on this journey just over ten years, attached is my clinical history. Of those ten years, only three have been actively on treatment. I'm off again now.

I've peaked behind the door of death by prostate cancer, no thank you!

While fundamentally treatment options reman in the categories of slash, poison and burn, much has changed since 2014 when I got the fateful news.

Treatment has never really interfered with living. While on ADT, I have done the Ring Road in Iceland, with my wife skied with my friends in Colorado, travelled gto Washington DC to see the Cherry Blossomscelebrated anniversaries, birthdays, attended my daughters graduations from college, gone on more than a few father daughter nights out...you get the idea.

Side effects from radiation, my chart shows three times, 69 individual treatments, 150 Gya, not a single side effect. While on ADT, I've travelled, ridden my bike with my daughter and sister in the Garmin Unbound, a 50+ mile gravel bike ride in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Side effects from surgery, mine was nerve sparing, still capable of erections, no incontinence.

Chemotherapy, my hair grew back,,,

What's the harm in consulting a urologist, radiologist and oncologist, no decision is required but information can be gained.

He may be in a curative state, then again he may be able to live with this as a chronic disease as I have been able to. Every time it reappears, we throw treatment at it for defined periods, it goes away, I go on living. He's 65, so let's say life expectancy is 83, he can reach that with treatment, without, hmmm.

Kevin

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Men who think there is a 'natural' cure for prostate cancer suffer from cognitive dissonance - they probably know there is no natural cure but they are terrified to face the reality. Prostate cancer treatments range from complete cure to many years of good quality life. If you can persuade him to read some very good material in these forums he may change his mind. Keep talking to him and good luck.

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