Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are willing to sacrifice survival odds for a reduction in side effects and an improvement in quality of life, according to research presented at the 2018 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference last week. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, with about 1 in 9 men diagnosed in their lifetime, but prostate cancer treatment may be a greater concern than the cancer itself.
The study sought to learn more about how men diagnosed with prostate cancer prioritize various aspects of treatment, and the extent to which they may accept lower survival rates in exchange for a better quality of life. The study evaluated 634 men in the UK, 74% of which were diagnosed with low- or intermediate-risk cancer, and 26% with high-risk cancer.
The men, all of whom completed the study within one week of being diagnosed and had not discussed specific treatment with their doctors, were presented with two hypothetical treatments options. Each treatment had a different impact on factors like survival, sexual function, urinary function, and additional future treatment.
Although survival was the most important factor, avoiding incontinence or additional treatment and maintaining sexual health were highly prioritized as well. In fact, the research found that men are willing to accept a lower chance of survival if it means reducing the side effects of prostate cancer treatment.
On average, the men were willing to trade:
- 0.68% chance of survival for a 1% chance of maintaining urinary function
- 0.41% chance of survival for a 1% chance of avoiding further treatment
- 0.28% chance of survival for a 1% increased chance of achieving erections.
Although prostate cancer affects millions of men each year, the long-term prognosis is excellent, even without treatment. Hashim Ahmed, Chair and Professor of Urology, Imperial College London and Chair of NCRI’s Prostate Cancer Clinical Studies Group, presented the research. He said:
Men with early prostate cancer have to choose between active surveillance, with regular check-ups, and more invasive therapy, such as removal of the prostate gland or radiotherapy. Previous research suggests that men with low-risk prostate cancer do not gain improvements in survival at ten years following treatment. Men with high-risk prostate cancer gain a five percent improvement in ten-year survival with treatment. In men with medium-risk disease there is uncertainty over whether treatment affects survival.”
In fact, it is far more likely that patients will experience negative side effects related to prostate cancer treatment than improved odds of survival. Reuters recently reported that men diagnosed with prostate cancer who undergo surgery and radiation are significantly more likely to be prescribed antidepressants, which come with a host of their own health risks. The negative effects of these treatments tends to propagate, resulting in a worse quality of life for patients.
Treatments often include radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) and radio therapy, the side effects of which include urinary incontinence and loss of sexual function. Recovery can take weeks or even months, and patients routinely require a second round of treatment. These treatments, often unnecessary and ineffective, significantly lower quality of life, with little to no tangible benefit.
Many men choose instead to rely on early detection and “watchful waiting” to monitor the progression of the cancer. And while getting your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels tested on a routine basis is considered the standard for early detection, the PSA test simply reveals how much of the prostate antigen a man has in his blood, which does not necessarily indicate cancer. Infections, benign swelling of the prostate, and over-the-counter drugs are all factors that can elevate PSA levels.
The problem is that high PSA levels often lead to biopsies and surgery that can cause an otherwise dormant cancer to spread and create compounding health issues for patients. As this research has shown, many men are willing to sacrifice survival odds for a commiserate reduction in these side effects. Even the creator of the PSA test, Richard Ablin, has spoken out against the test. In The New York Times, he wrote “The [PSA] test is hardly more effective than a coin toss. As I’ve been trying to make clear for many years now, PSA testing can’t detect prostate cancer…The test’s popularity has led to a hugely expensive public health disaster.”
The good news is that there are other ways to detect prostate cancer, including bladder and urinary problems, and that there are many ways to prevent and combat prostate cancer, many of which involve a more nutritious diet and active lifestyle. For more information on how nutrition can help protect against prostate cancer, check out our 2-part series here.
Remember: you do not have to rush into surgery upon diagnosis. Dr Mark Scholz, medical director of Prostate Oncology Specialists in Marina del Rey, California, and executive director of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, says “Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer have plenty of time to research all their options.”
My fiance had prostsate cancer 5 years ago and refused treatment because they basically wanted to gut and filet him. A friend introduced him to a line of products that reduce inflammation, heal the gut, and activate the immune system. Within 6 weeks, his PSA levels had dropped from 64 to 6.5. They’re now around 3. Recently, he got on a hormone balancing product that is all natural, non GMO, and doesn’t affect the hypothalamus so it just balances hormones without interfering with the body’s natural production of testosterone. He no longer gets up to use the bathroom 3-4 times a night. Most nights, he doesn’t even get up. He sleeps close up 8 hours where he was only sleeping for 3 or 4. He introduced this to a friend of his 4 years ago who had the same problem with his prostate. We spoke to him a month ago. The doctors can’t find ANY trace of his cancer!
Thanks for sharing your fiance’s story with us Shelly! We are glad to hear that he is doing well now!
It would be great if you could share the products your husband is using here.
Just FYI, I looked up Shelly Svee on FaceBook and found that she is associated with a company called “evolv”. They are promoting a product called Acemanan. It looks like it is an immune supporting product produced from Aloe Vera. There may be more to the story than that, but I quit researching anymore. Hope this helps if you want to pursue it.
What are these products Shelly. My husband struggles from elevated PSA and urination issues and swollen prostate from sitting. He is a pilot so the sitting can’t be changed and requires very long sits at times. Thanks for sharing!
Please share products
Yes, Shelly F. Svee……it was encouraging to read your reply and about your husbands results with this prostate problem..There are several hormone balancing supplements out there. but I wonder what line of products he was introduced to? Personally. myself a 6 or 7 years back I started having to get up 2 to 3 times a night to urinate, I thought to myself, oh no, prostate trouble ahead. I found out about beta-sitosterol and shortly after taking this my frequent night time trips went away. I then found a good inexpensive source and have been taking this along with various other vitamin mineral and other supplements. Beta sitosterol is found phytosterols contained in most vegetables but most of us do not eat enough of them and even the ones that we do eat are grown on deficient soil. Many double blind studies have confirmed the value of beta-sitosterol. and it is found in a lot of prostate formulas on the market. In closing it would be nice , Shelly to know about the line your fiancee started taking. We need all the help we can get and are all in this life together….
I’m so glad to hear about the success of your fiancé and prostate cancer. I have been diagnosed with the same. Would like to get the same supplements he has.
Can you Email this to me.
This is another request to please share the products you used Shelly.
Or is THE TRUTH ABOUT CANCER blocking your replies?
Dear Shelley,
I am so very happy for you and your finace! Are you able to share the products that he took to help his healing?
Thank you so much!!!!!
Rosanna
So impressed with all of Ty’s efforts in the Cancer field —would like to share my experiences in Ecuador with Dr. Robert Wickman and his clinic in Quito to ad to his wealth of research —please feel free to e-mail me and we can dialogue on this subject …keep up the awesome work Ty and Charlene , and blessings for your sincere efforts !
We would love to have information about Dr. Robert Wickman. My husband has prostate cancer
Hi Ron!
Thanks for sharing. Please feel free to share your testimony with us by emailing our team at support@thetruthaboutcancer.com. 🙂
Thanks, once again, for your love and support! God bless you!
Those % if correct, show the options that the Medical industry offers. Death by Cancer or Death by treatment. The better option, treatment that Works, is off the table. And when you adjust the numbers to reflect the damage caused by Chemo, you find that the Medical options increases your chance of dying. Most people would rather be continent than use a catheter in exchange for a 1 in a thousand increase in survival potential. When you add in the rest of the evidence, you see that the poisonous Medical route is usually a lose/lose proposition…PS Barry Anderson posted the photo of you two on Phuket Island. I Immediately posted, “Guess which one is the omnivore” and he segued me…
Please do not share this with anyone. It is personal to you and your family so please remove my previous letter from the comments.
Hi Brian –
Thanks for reaching out to us. We’ve removed your previous comment as requested.
If you’d like to have a private message sent to Ty and his family, please reach out to our support team at support@thetruthaboutcancer.com and they would be happy to forward your message.
Love and blessings!
As a prostate cancer survivor, I take a great interest in TTAC’s flow of information on alternative cancer treatments. Last January, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 aggressive prostate cancer. My PSA peaked at 14.5 and recently has plunged to 0.66. I had adopted a nutritional protocol about a year ago which included juicing, apricot kernels. Last fall, with sharp rise in PSA, I elected have multi-parametric MRI of prostate, hoping to avoid biopsy and the side effects (I would encourage this non-invasive step rather than rush into a biopsy). Sadly MRI confirmed malignancy. Decided to do High Intensity Focused Ultrasound treatment which destroys tumour through focused high heat. Fortunately my malignancy was localized/this treatment
Problems finishing comment. Treatment was suitable for this localized/encapsulated tumour. Have had no side effects. Still early days to prove cancer-free but current PSA encouraging. This treatment widely used with success in Germany. Why did it take so long to get approved in the U.S? I’m Canadian, and had it done in Toronto. Canada approved ten years ago. I believe this is viable option for candidates with aggressive prostate cancer. Nutrition must support it though. I would welcome feedback
I do think High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, albeit a medical treatment, deserves a special status as a less invasive, minimal side-effects approach to treating prostate cancer. The late and slow adoption of it in the U.S. I’m sure relates to its’ success elsewhere, i.e. a true competitive threat to traditional (and lucrative) procedures. Hoping to hear from you!
One of the most beneficial products we have people using are the Non-Transdermal Glutathione patches that are now available in many countries. There are over 90,000 studies on the benefits of raising Glutathione levels and a very prominent benefit is the easing of issues associated with cancer.
Considering these patches can raise the Glutathione level higher, safer and more effectively than any other known method today, even far more effective than IV Infusions of Glutathione that can cost thousands of dollars over a few weeks; the patches costing just a few dollars each week are a serious alternative to any other treatments.
The patches are proving safe for any age, have no harmful side effects, will not interfere with medication or other treatments but will more likely enhance any current procedures and are simple and easy for anyone to use. The patches are not promoted for the Cure, Treatment or Prevention of any named disease but are used toward the resulting conditions and this is where the patches are proving such a benefit on giving people back a wonderful quality of life.
We would consider anyone having any health issues to consider raising their Glutathione levels. Find out all you can about the benefits, work with any treating medical professions to incorporate these patches in your treatment/s and you will quickly realise the benefits. Should require further information please ask? wellnessplus@adam.com.au
This article says:
Hashim Ahmed, Chair and Professor of Urology, Imperial College London and Chair of NCRI’s Prostate Cancer Clinical Studies Group, presented the research. He said:
Men with early prostate cancer have to choose between active surveillance, with regular check-ups, and more invasive therapy, such as removal of the prostate gland or radiotherapy. Previous research suggests that men with low-risk prostate cancer do not gain improvements in survival at ten years following treatment. Men with high-risk prostate cancer gain a five percent improvement in ten-year survival with treatment. In men with medium-risk disease there is uncertainty over whether treatment affects survival.”
In fact, it is far more likely that patients will experience negative side effects related to prostate cancer treatment than improved odds of survival.
Where exactly can this very specific information be found in the resources provided? If not provided here, where can I find this information?