PSA and supplements

My husband was diagnosed about 4 years ago with lowest grade cancer in 1 of 6 needle biopsies.  His PSA has been pretty stable, varying between about 7.5 to 8.5, up and down a bit.  He is taking a number of nutritional supplements, although I haven't been able to convince him to cut out the sugar.  My concern is that some of the supplements are reducing his psa levels, but that the cancer may be advancing anyway.  Anyone know if this is possible?

He just had another biopsy done, and will get the results later this week, so I guess we will know more at that point.

Roz

That is encouraging that he's doing the 'watch & wait' for 4 years.What supplements does he take?  He should get a bone-scan & MRI. Make sure it's not metasticising outside the prostate.

My results are similar to your husband's,I've been taking Essiac 4-herb tea, Beta Glucans & occasionally apricot kernels. I heard Aloe Vera juice or Aloe Vera DNA is good.

So many things, vitamin A,B,C, fish oil . . . .I heard positive & negative info on selenium. So much confusing info & now I'm about to decide between surgery or seeds, but in the back of my mind "do I really need it". This link has some info http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2008/08/psa-te

Learn more about biopsies, I had one but some folks say the biopsy can actually make the cancer spread. The doc who discovered PSA reportedly became concerned that he had removed so many healthy prostates.

Best Wishes 

On 8/16/2009 ttobba44 wrote:

My husband was diagnosed about 4 years ago with lowest grade cancer in 1 of 6 needle biopsies.  His PSA has been pretty stable, varying between about 7.5 to 8.5, up and down a bit.  He is taking a number of nutritional supplements, although I haven't been able to convince him to cut out the sugar.  My concern is that some of the supplements are reducing his psa levels, but that the cancer may be advancing anyway.  Anyone know if this is possible?

He just had another biopsy done, and will get the results later this week, so I guess we will know more at that point.

Roz

 

Roz you both on the right track  I have been taken supplenants since 2007  and they do work your also right about the no sugar to  have a look at these two links and you will see what I mean Im on watch and wating the only treatment I have is historic alternitive treatment be fore I went on this my psa was rising fast it went up to a PSA of 13.8 and I had uine retenion 9 month later on this historic alternitive  tretment it droped down to what it is now  its a PSA of 8 and I feel it will be even lower next time ans as I said  have a look at these two links and you will see what I mean  if you want to know about the holisic treatment let me know cheers Ray

http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v04n19.shtml

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/nutrition/sugar.htm

Roz,

Supplements and a good diet may slow the growth of PC. If your husband is doing Active Survelience make sure he has a doctor that is experience with it. As long as his PSA doubling time is greater than 3 years he should have no problems continuing. There is a PSA doubling time calculator on YANA that is very helpful.

The Prostate Cancer Research Institute web site has a section on AS that is very helpful. Also a section on diet and supplements.

JohnT

On 8/16/2009 ttobba44 wrote:

My husband was diagnosed about 4 years ago with lowest grade cancer in 1 of 6 needle biopsies.  His PSA has been pretty stable, varying between about 7.5 to 8.5, up and down a bit.  He is taking a number of nutritional supplements, although I haven't been able to convince him to cut out the sugar.  My concern is that some of the supplements are reducing his psa levels, but that the cancer may be advancing anyway.  Anyone know if this is possible?

He just had another biopsy done, and will get the results later this week, so I guess we will know more at that point.

Roz

 

A 6 sample biopsy doesn't provide  a meaningful indication: 12 samples are more usual.

Prostate size can influence PSA readings. For a PSA reading to have any meaning the prostate size needs to be factored into the equasion. As previously mentioned, it's change in PSA that's relevant.

 "My concern is that some of the supplements are reducing his psa levels, but that the cancer may be advancing anyway.  Anyone know if this is possible?"

No usually: PSA readings are the main indicator used.

Thanks, goods.....

He is taking curcumin, DIM, Bio Pectin, Zyflamend, Flaxmeal, IP6, Vit. D3, Resveratrol + Ellagic Acid, Selenim, Vit. K2, and a few others such as Omega 3-6-9, E, C, etc.  He was taking Essiac at first, but some things got dropped as others sounded more promising.

Yes, there is a lot of confusing, and some conflicting info.  You have to check a lot of sources, and even then it is a bit like Russian Roulette as to whether it will actually make a difference.  We felt that we had to try though, before agreeing to more radical solutions.  His dr. is fine with the watchful waiting to this point, at least, but that may change with the new biopsy results (12 needle this time).

I have had concerns about the biopsies also.  I will check out the web link soon.  And I have suggested he ask his dr. about MRI, bone scan.

Thanks Ray,

I will check out the links soon.Glad to hear you are having success with the alternative route.

Roz

John.....His psa started out at about 8, and has bounced up and down around that reading for 4 years.  Last one was about 8.5, so it has not changed much in that time period.

I will check out the info sources you suggested,   Thank you,   Roz

Johnw,

 I don't know why they just did a 6 needle biopsy the first time unless it was not available then.  The last one was a 12 needle one.

Do I understand you to say that the supplements won't affect psa readings?  His dr. told him not to take saw palmetto, because it could lower the levels artificially.

Thanks for the input,   Roz

That Ok Roz, you know since I posted that Im hearing of a few prostrate cancer patients are going OK, And there just  on! no sugary foods, low carb diets and high dose of the vitamin and mineral supplemants, so I think he may be right, in what he doing  with it. cheers Ray