An Overview of Prostate Cancer Alternative Treatments
In addition to medical treatment, for some people with
prostate cancer, alternative treatments offer another option to ease stress or to reduce side effects and symptoms. Some patients feel that these alternative treatments offer some benefit.
Prostate Cancer and Alternative Treatment Options
For people with prostate cancer, alternative treatment options may include:
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Herbal products
- Vitamins or special diets
- Nutritional supplements
- Visualization
- Meditation
- Spiritual healing
- Yoga
- Biofeedback.
Recommendations When Considering Alternative Treatments for Prostate Cancer
Before you try any alternative treatment for prostate cancer, you should discuss its possible value and side effects with your medical doctors. You should also let them know if you are using any such alternative treatments for prostate cancer. These alternative treatments should never be used instead of medical treatment. Be aware that these therapies may be expensive; some are not paid for by health insurance. You should consider asking the therapist for evidence of how the therapy has helped others, possibly by giving you references.
Before starting any alternative treatment, you may want to ask your doctor these questions:
- What benefits can I expect from this approach?
- What are its risks?
- Do the expected benefits outweigh the risks?
- What side effects should I watch for?
- Will this alternative treatment change the way my prostate cancer treatment works? Could this be harmful?
- Is this approach under study in a clinical trial? If so, who sponsors the trial?
- Will my health insurance pay for this approach?
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