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Prostate Cancer Coaching- Gleason 3/3, PSA of 5.3, Considering Proton Therapy
“Proton beam therapy for prostate cancer has become a source of controversy in the urologic community, and the rapid dissemination and marketing of this technology has led to many patients inquiring about this therapy”
Dear Cancer Coach- I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Gleason score of 3/3, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) of 5.3.
2 of 26 Transrectal biopsy sites showing cancer cells (in area where my urologist detected some abnormality during rectal exam). I am considering pencil-beam proton therapy. What is your opinion of this procedure? Tom
Hi Tom- I am sorry to read of your prostate cancer diagnosis. Did your urologist stage your cancer? An accurate stage is needed to think through your therapy options. Based on your post I’m guessing that your prostate cancer is stage 2.
To be clear, I am not a medical doctor, I am a long-term cancer survivor and cancer coach. While I have learned a great deal over the years I cannot “prescribe” therapies.
Having said this I will give you my opinion based on evidence-based research.
Your Gleason score, PSA and biopsy results all sound to me as though your cancer is relatively early stage. While pencil-beam radiation is lower risk than many other prostate cancer therapies, there are side-effects. Please read the first study linked below about the pros and cons of proton beam therapy for prostate cancer.
Further, the second study linked and excerpted below talks about non-toxic lifestyle changes that helped early stage prostate cancer survivors. In addition to the lifestyle changes listed in the above article, also consider supplementation such as curcumin, green tea extract, and resveritrol. Each of these supplements have been shown to be cytotoxic to prostate cancer.
Whatever therapy plan you choose my goal as a cancer survivor and cancer coach is to help you understand your risks and range of options.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
Proton Beam Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer 101: Basics, Controversies, and Facts
“Proton beam therapy for prostate cancer has become a source of controversy in the urologic community, and the rapid dissemination and marketing of this technology has led to many patients inquiring about this therapy. Yet the complexity of the technology, the cost, and the conflicting messages in the literature have left many urologists ill equipped to counsel their patients regarding this option…
Healthy lifestyle triggers genetic changes: study
“In a small study, the researchers tracked 30 men with low-risk prostate cancer who decided against conventional medical treatment such as surgery and radiation or hormone therapy…
The men underwent three months of major lifestyle changes, including eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation…
After the three months, the men had changes in activity in about 500 genes — including 48 that were turned on and 453 genes that were turned off.
The activity of disease-preventing genes increased while a number of disease-promoting genes, including those involved in prostate cancer and breast cancer, shut down, according to the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences….”