A Reasonable and Natural Approach to Prostate Cancer

by Ron Schmid, N.D.

    Tens of thousands of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Many thousands of others die, usually after a long course of illness. But considerable evidence exists that overtreatment is rampant, and that there are more reasonable and more successful treatments than surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and conventional hormone suppression.

     Autopsies of thousands of men who died from non-cancer-related causes showed that about 15% of men in their fifties have some cancerous cells in their prostates (Skerrett, P.J. "Screening for Prostate Cancer." Technology Review 8-9, 1994, 16-17). The number jumps to 40% for men in their seventies, and to 50% for men 80 and older (American Cancer Society. Prostate Cancer Information, Atlanta, GA: ACS, 1995). This translates into about twelve million American men walking around today with microscopic signs of prostate cancer.

     For most of these men, the PSA test may cause unnecessary worry and premature treatment because it picks up prostate tumors that are likely to remain inactive for life (Baran, G,W. et al. "Biological Aggressiveness of Palpable and Nonpalpable Prostate Cancer: Assessment with Endosonography." Radiology 178, 1991, 201-206). Men with this latent form of the disease eventually die with prostate cancer, rather than from it. By picking up tumors that are likely to remain inactive for the rest of the man's life, the PSA leads to premature treatment with its attendant problems-impotence and incontinence for many, undue anxiety for all. "Only about 1% of the cancer cells ever develop into full-blown prostate cancer, and only about 3 in 1,000 prostate tumors have been shown to cause death." (Skerrett, P.J. "Screening for Prostate Cancer." Technology Review 8-9, 1994, 16-17.)

     The medical establishment believes that "there is no cure for prostate cancer once it has spread beyond the gland." (Editorial: "The PSA Debate Continues." John Hopkins Medical Letter, Feb. 1995, 2.) This helps explain why most doctors zealously overtreat so many of these men with early stage, slow-growing, latent prostate cancers.

     Watchful Waiting: Published studies in medical journals have indicated the benefits of "watchful waiting." The journals have for several years been far ahead of doctors in the field in describing the limitations of conventional cancer treatments. Relatively few physicians counsel "watchful waiting," which involves the use of careful observation and monitoring to assure that small, slow-growing tumors remain so. Watchful waiting is considered particularly appropriate for men in their upper 60s and older, who have a high PSA or positive results on the digital rectal exam. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, watchful waiting (compared to treatment) has lowered the death rate from prostate cancer among men with non-metastasized prostate tumors (Catalona, W,J. "Management of Cancer of the Prostate." NEJM 331:15, 1994, 996-1003).

     The Push For Conventional Treatments: Ingrained belief systems and ignorance of recent research help explain the push for conventional treatment. Economics undoubtedly plays a large role as well; surgery and radiation generate enormous fees. The fact is that despite the excellent data supporting watchful waiting (not to mention alternative, natural therapies), fewer than 10% of all doctors who recommend surgical removal of the prostate (prostatectomy) even discuss watchful waiting as a viable option with their patients. (Fowler, F.J. "Prostate Conditions, Treatment Decisions, and Patient Preferences." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 43: 9, 1995, 1058-1060.)

     If you have an elevated PSA, the AMAS test (anti-malignin antibody in serum) is a better choice than a biopsy. This blood test is proven to be over 99% accurate in determining if cancer is present. Biopsies are best avoided; besides the problem of known frequent side effects from prostate biopsies, cutting into a tumor and thus piercing its protective shell may be the best way to allow cancer cells to spread freely into the circulation and throughout the body.

     Natural Therapies: A wealth of data exists about the value of nutritional regimes and various natural medicines in the treatment of cancer, including prostate cancer. Viable prostate-cancer-specific natural treatments such as PC-Spes have been successfully used for many years (PC-Spes is now being tested even at leading conventional medical centers). Many of my prostate cancer patients have successfully controlled their cancer for many years using natural therapies as part of an overall treatment plan that may or may not include conventional hormone-suppressing drugs. While every individual's plan is different, depending on his needs and circumstances, the principles I've detailed elsewhere on this web site apply to people with prostate cancer and are invariably helpful in combating the disease.