The Role of Integrative Naturopathic Medicine in Managing Prostate Cancer

Navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you don't have to choose between conventional treatments and natural support. Integrative medicine offers a way to balance physical, emotional, and spiritual needs by combining standard care with evidence-based naturopathic strategies.[cite: 16, 23]

Dr. Jessica Beatty, ND, highlights how targeted natural interventions can support patients across key stages: Active Surveillance, Surgery, Hormone Therapy, Radiation, and Chemotherapy.[cite: 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

1. Active Surveillance: Proactive Prevention

For men with low-risk disease, specific lifestyle changes can significantly impact progression:

• Green Tea Catechins: These significantly reduced prostate cancer incidence in high-risk patients with HGPIN.¹[cite: 34]
• The Power of Plants: Vegan diets showed a statistically significant protective association with lower prostate cancer risk.²[cite: 49]
• Omega Balance: A diet low in omega-6 and high in omega-3 (with fish oil) demonstrated a 15% decrease in cancer cell proliferation.³[cite: 40, 41]
• Lifestyle Shifts: 150 minutes of weekly moderate-to-vigorous exercise resulted in significant weight loss and improvements in glucose-regulation biomarkers associated with cancer progression.⁴[cite: 54, 55]

2. Preparing for Surgery (Prehabilitation)

"Prehabilitation" strengthens the body before a prostatectomy. Patients with good nutritional habits and mindfulness practices often see improved surgical outcomes.[cite: 73, 74]

• Flaxseed: Supplementing with 30 g/day before surgery significantly reduced tumor proliferation rates.⁵[cite: 82]
• Cranberry Powder: 1500 mg daily prior to surgery resulted in a 22.5% reduction in serum PSA levels.⁶[cite: 101, 102]

3. Supporting Hormone and Radiation Therapy

Standard treatments like Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) and radiation can cause side effects like bone loss or inflammation.

• Bone Health: Weight-bearing and impact exercise improves bone density and prevents muscle wasting during ADT.⁷[cite: 126]
• Sleep: Melatonin improves sleep quality in men undergoing hormone therapy.⁸[cite: 130]
• Radiation Support: Curcumin supplementation significantly increased total antioxidant capacity during radiotherapy.⁹[cite: 145]
• Urinary Symptoms: Standardized cranberry extract reduced the risk of UTIs and symptoms like nocturia during radiation.¹⁰[cite: 158]

4. Enhancing Chemotherapy & Palliative Care

Integrative medicine can also work alongside chemotherapy to improve efficacy and well-being:

• Lycopene: Combining Docetaxel with 30 mg of lycopene daily resulted in a 76.9% PSA response rate.¹¹[cite: 185, 186]
• Mistletoe: Mistletoe therapy was associated with improved Quality of Life and reduced side effects of chemotherapy.¹²[cite: 193]
• Oxygen-Ozone Therapy: 70% of cancer patients in a fatigue study experienced significant improvement in symptoms.¹³[cite: 212]