Looking for advice and experience with Naturopathic Doctors.
First of all my eternal gratitude to @proftom2 for suggesting Naturopathic medicine to me in my previous request for help with my husband refusing treatment and expecting me to find his cure. We're still going down that path but at least he's agreed to go to a Naturopathic Doctor in MN and I've talked to 2 of them. So now I'm asking all of you for experiences and opinions on what I'm looking for in a doctor, what kinds of treatments and supplements work and what you would and wouldn't do again. Thank you in advance. This group has truly helped me keep my sanity during this journey.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
This is like refusing a Covid vaccine. You shall reap what you sow. Anyway I eat mushrooms to keep PSA down. Look it up- it does something to help out the prostate.
Seeing by the limited responses you probably recognize most of the group follow the most updated conventional science for this incendiary disease. However there are alternatives which are being used. If you research mushrooms like ecurb suggests there is significant science backing a mushroom root AHCC which helps prevent cancer growth for PC. It's heavily used for cancer in Japan. I have had a PS, (Prostatectomy) in 2017. My PSA was negligible 3 years then began to register. It double 3 readings in row which is very concerning. I began taking AHCC 3g/day for 3 weeks and tapered off to 1g/day maintenance. PSA slowed dramatically. From 2020 to late 2023 PSA remained stable. Then it started registering more aggressive & is now .39. That is double what they recommend for Radiation + hormone treatments. So in collaboration with my doc he ordered a PET PMSA which recognizes C spreading. It registered totally negative. Now that doesn't mean there aren't some individual cancer cells residing in prostate bed however it does indicate that everybody is different and react differently to all treatments. I finish with I'm back on my AHCC aggressive routine with PSA much less aggressive.
Vaccine is to prevent a disease that you may or may not get it. But if someone has a clinically significant cancer from MRI and refuses to have a biopsy, it is a different matter.
A good naturopathic doctor may convince him that he needs treatment in addition to lifestyle changes!
In fact, I have an appointment next week with a naturopathic doctor at UCI Integrative center after Radiation treatment!
ava11, I feel sure you'll give us a full report. You really get around. Thanks.
Once again, naturopathy complements traditional treatment - it shouldn’t replace it.
As someone already stated, perhaps a naturopath can show your husband the limits to his healing abilities and convince him to work with both modalities.
If any MD tells your husband he can cure his prostate cancer with herbs, diet or supplements - RUN from his office!
I'm a firm believer in exploring all options towards a cure and beyond exploring naturopathy as a complimentary course of action, I traveled to see HIFU experts at UCLA before settling on RP. At 26 months post RP and cancer free as of now, I wouldn't do anything different in my research leading up to the decision to have the surgery. That said, I've watched two friends die as they chose naturopathy over traditional western medicine in an effort to cure their prostate cancer.
@sradeb, I know from your first post here and the resulting conversation -
- Helping husband understand there is no natural cure https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/helping-husband-understand-there-is-no-natural-cure/
- that you are doing due diligence in exploring naturopathic options as requested by your husband who is reluctant to follow standard protocols or integrative medicine. I agree with other members to beware of charletans professing to have a "cure".
When considering complementary or alternative treatments, be open-minded yet skeptical. Learn about the potential benefits and risks. I'm particularly skeptical about websites that are not from a trusted medical authority and websites that also sell the product they promote.
Here are my favorite, evidence-based, trusted websites to verify or dispute the claims of some supplementary, herbal or alternative therapies you may encounter:
From Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)
– Search About Herbs (cancer specific) https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/symptom-management/integrative-medicine/herbs/search
National Center for complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
– Homepage https://www.nccih.nih.gov/
– Health Topics A-Z https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/atoz
– Herbs At A Glance https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance
– Know the Science https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/know-science
Integrative and Complimentary are very good ideas. I had Tulsa on my PCa which is still new, but here are supplement articles since some may be helpful. Obviously you have to decide if any may help for you as complimentary or integrative. Hopefully some of the links work....
Boron
Nothing Boring About Boron
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4712861/
"has demonstrated preventive and therapeutic effects in a number of cancers, such as prostate, cervical, and lung cancers, and multiple and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma"
Dietary boron intake and prostate cancer risk
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15010890/
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Neem, Ginger
Ginger
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3426621/
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jbt.22611
Neem
Neem components as potential agents for cancer prevention and treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4734358/
Consumption of a bioactive compound from Neem plant could significantly suppress development of prostate cancer
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160929082202.htm
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Crinum Latifolium
Crinum Latifolium Leave Extracts Suppress Immune Activation Cascades in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Proliferation of Prostate Tumor Cells:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3134856/
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CLA and modified citrus pectin
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14976130/
Both discussed:
https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/1999/10/report4
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Boswellia Serrata / Frankincense
https://aacrjournals.org/cancerres/article/68/4/1180/542608/Acetyl-Keto-Boswellic-Acid-Induces-Apoptosis
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Broccoli/Sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS)
Broccoli Sprouts Delay Prostate Cancer Formation and Decrease Prostate Cancer Severity with a Concurrent Decrease in HDAC3 Protein Expression in Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) Mice
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6041877/
Sulforaphane in broccoli: The green chemoprevention!! Role in cancer prevention and therapy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7802872/
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Lycopene
The Potential Role of Lycopene for the Prevention and Therapy of Prostate Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Evidence
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3742263/
Lycopene effects contributing to prostate health
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20155615/
Is there a benefit from lycopene supplementation in men with prostate cancer? A systematic review
https://www.nature.com/articles/pcan200938
Same shitake and Lion's Mane...
Might I suggest Dr. Geo Espinosa at NYU's Langone Center. He is focused on naturopathic medicine regarding prostate cancer.
I don't agree with all of what he says but he's a smart person.
https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/geovanni-espinosa