Heal Prostate Cancer Radiation Damage-

last year
/ side effects ID and prevention Survivors
/ By David Emerson
/ 9 COMMENTS

Radiation damage from prostate cancer therapy to small bowel tissue can cause acute or chronic radiation enteritis producing symptoms such as pain, bloating, nausea, faecal urgency, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding

Short, long term and late stage side effects from radiation are a fact of prostate cancer therapy. Your challenge is to both pre-habilitate as well as post-habilitate your collateral damage.

The articles/studies linked below outline therapies such as curcumin supplementation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and physical therapy that can reduce or eliminate these side effects.

First and foremost, all forms of radiation therapy can cause collateral damage in prostate cancer patients. However, the article below cites IMRT therapy causes more late stage collateral damage than regular radiation- “unappealing consequence of the more intensive hypofractionation — an increase in late toxicities, the authors note...”

Click now to learn more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy-

I am both a cancer survivor and cancer coach. Research and experience has taught me that cancer patients must utilize both conventional (FDA approved) and evidence-based non-conventional therapies to beat their cancer.

For more information about how to identify and treat collateral damage from prostate cancer therapy, scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply ASAP.

Thank you,

David Emerson

Cancer Survivor
Cancer Coach
Director PeopleBeatingCancer

Hypofractionated IMRT, Prostate Cancer, and Late Toxicities

“The appeal of hypofractionated treatment, which is mostly limited to use at major centers, is that it is “more convenient for patients, decreases the cost of treatment, and may increase patient access to treatment,” However, there are “limited” prospective data on an unappealing consequence of the more intensive hypofractionation — an increase in late toxicities, the authors note

RADIOPROTECTIVE-EFFECTS-OF-CURCUMIN-SUPPLEMENTATION-IN-PATIENTS-WITH-PROSTATE-CANCER-1948-5956

“Radiation therapy by itself or along with surgery and hormone therapy are the main treatments for prostate cancer [4]. However ionizing radiation can also have a harmful effect on healthy body tissues. Patients with prostate cancer who accede to radiation therapy usually experience some degrees of sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorders and urinary tract problems [5]. These toxicities are known to be dose-limiting, [6] and because higher radiation doses for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer are now considered standard of care [7], finding ways to decrease symptoms burden is crucial…

The present clinical trial has shown that curcumin can confer radioprotective effect in patients with prostate cancer who undergo radiation therapy through reducing the severity of radiotherapy related urinary symptoms which are of the most common side effects of radiation therapy [5]. However supplementation with 3 g/day curcumin could not reduce the severity of bowel symptoms or other treatment related symptoms. Further studies with larger sample sizes and higher doses of curcumin are required to further confirm radioprotective effects of curcumin on different organs.”

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy effectively treats long-term damage from radiation therapy

“Depending on the patient’s sensitivity to radiotherapy, the type and dose of treatment and location of the cancer, patients may experience scarring and narrowing of the blood vessels (intimal proliferation in the arterioles) within the treatment area. This can lead to inadequate blood supply and result in chronic, long-term side effects including death or damage to soft tissues or bones (necrosis, radionecrosis or osteoradionecrosis), poor wound healing and related problems such as life-threatening infections. As many as 10 to 15 percent of patients receiving high doses of radiotherapy will experience these late side effects from radiotherapy, which may be delayed for several months or years after treatment has ended…

HBOT has emerged as an effective treatment for some patients who previously had little hope of recovering from late side effects of radiotherapy. HBOT increases the amount of oxygen in the blood by exposing patients to pure oxygen within a sealed chamber set at pressures greater than the ambient atmosphere, with results that can be measured using a transcutaneous partial pressure oxygen (TCPO2) monitor before and after treatment. Experts believe HBOT helps patients by stimulating growth of new blood vessels following radiation-induced damage…”

Kegel Exercises: Treating Male Urinary Incontinence

“In men, urinary incontinence can be caused by a weak urinary sphincter that may result from surgery for prostate cancer, an overactive bladder, or a bladder that doesn’t contract. Kegel exercises can help you improve — or in some cases completely regain — bladder control…”

Radiation-Induced Small Bowel Disease

“Ionizing radiation is commonly used to treat a number of malignancies. Although highly effective and now more targeted, many patients suffer side effects. The number of cancer survivors has increased and so there are more patients presenting with symptoms that have arisen as a result of radiotherapy. Radiation damage to small bowel tissue can cause acute or chronic radiation enteritis producing symptoms such as pain, bloating, nausea, faecal urgency, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding which can have a significant impact on patient’s quality of life…”

It also covers the treatment of both acute and chronic radiation enteritis via a variety of medical (including hyperbaric oxygen), dietetic, endoscopic and surgical therapies.”

The Most BioAvailable Curcumin Formulas

“Based on a review of these studies, it is evident that better bioavailability of formulated curcumin (CU) products is mostly attributed to improved solubility, stability, and possibly low first-pass metabolism”

A search of the Pubmed database for the word curcumin yields 601 studies spaning health topics from multiple myeloma and colorectal cancer, to chemotherapies that synergizes with CU, to Alzheimer’s Disease, arthritis and more. Based on years of reading studies and personal accounts, I think it is safe to say that CU supplementation is safe and relatively inexpensive.

I have read about myeloma patients taking daily doses of CU from 400 milligrams to 8 grams (1000 milligrams = 1 gram). By almost any measure, CU is a safe, inexpensive wonder drug.

The only challenge is that CU is famously difficult to absorb in the body. In other words, a person has to mix curcumin with some sort of fat (coconut oil, chocolate, etc.) or take a brand of curcumin capsule that is already formulated to be more “bioavailable” in order to derive the full benefit of CU.

The study linked and exerpted below reviews different formulations of CU. The study itself lists the three most bioavailable formulation/brand of CU and I’ve added an excerpt from a further review from Consumerlab.com that lists four additional bioavailable brands of CU.

Curcumin

“CU is a bright yellow chemical produced by some plants. It is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is sold as an herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, food flavoring, and food coloring.^[1]“

Bioavailable curcumin formulations: A review of pharmacokinetic studies in healthy volunteers.

“Curcumin is a widely studied natural compound which has shown tremendous in vitro therapeutic potential. Despite that, the clinical efficacy of the native CU is weak due to its low bioavailability and high metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract. During the last decade, researchers have come up with different formulations with a focus on improving the bioavailability of curcumin. As a result, a significant number of bioavailable curcumin-based formulations were introduced with the varying range of enhanced bioavailability.

The purpose of this review is to collate the published clinical studies of CU products with improved bioavailability over conventional (unformulated) CU. Based on the literature search, 11 curcumin formulations with available human bioavailability and pharmacokinetics data were included in this review. Further, the data on clinical study design, analytical method, pharmacokinetic parameters and other relevant details of each formulation were extracted.

Based on a review of these studies, it is evident that better bioavailability of formulated curcumin products is mostly attributed to improved solubility, stability, and possibly low first-pass metabolism. The review hopes to provide a quick reference guide for anyone looking information on these bioavailable curcumin formulations.

Based on the published reports,

NovaSol® (185 x),
CurcuWin® (136 x ) and
LongVida® (100 x )

exhibited over 100-fold higher bioavailability relative to reference unformulated CU. Suggested mechanisms accounting for improved bioavailability of the formulations and details on the bioanalysis methods are also discussed.”

According to Consumerlab.com:

“Novasol has the highest bioavailability (185 x compared to unforumulated CU), followed by Curcuwin (136 x), Longvida (100 x), Meriva (48 x), BCM-95 (27 x), Curcumin C3 Complex + Bioperene (20 x), and then Theracumin (16 x).”

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Maggie says 4 years ago

My father had radiation treatment for prostate cancer and his bladder wall essentially melted along with his urethra. He has tons of necrotic tissue now sitting inside him that is infected. The doctor say there’s not much he can do but take antibiotics until he gets a strain that is resistant. At some point they’d like to operate and clean out the necrotic tissue but they also think this is too dangerous for him now. Is there anything we can do to help him survive? Would HBOT help at this point? Is it possible the body could heal itself or learn to live like this. I am so desperate to help him. He is only 67 and just retired. Any ideas at all are appreciated. He was in ICU for 4 weeks but is now at home with a home health nurse. We don’t know what to do it expect.

David Emerson says 4 years ago

Hi Maggie-

I am sorry to read of your father’s situation. I will start by saying that his situation is unique and therefore not well studied. That being the case, I think HBOT, resveratrol, antioxidant nutrition and supplementation, exercise, in short, therapies shown to reduce inflammation, enhance immune function, and heal are all good.

For the record, I don’t agree with your doctor’s therapy plan. Take antibiotics until something goes wrong…I am not telling you not to take antibiotics, I am saying that this conventional plan can be supported with non-conventional therapies in hopes of reducing the infection, reducing the need for antibiotics.

Your dad is relatively young at the age of 67. I, myself, have sustained damage to my bladder (from chemotherapy regimens). While I am the first person to tell you that my bladder is a ways from 100% healthy, I will say that I live a fairly normal life.

Let me know if you have any questions. Hang in there,

David Emerson

Kevin OLeary says 4 years ago

I had a prostatectomy in Jan ’06. The cancer had gotten outside of the prostate so I had broad-spectrum radiation treatments. Three years ago I had the typical urinary problems(hematuria, uti, etc) Two years ago I began getting some erectile function. It has improved minutely since where I can achieve a partial erection being about the same size as before but not as hard. Is there anything I can do to get the hardness back? I am currently 61 years old. I’m wondering if I’m having false hopes or if there is something more I can do. Thank you for any information you may be able to provide

David Emerson says 4 years ago

Hi Kevin,

I can only relate anecdotal evidence about your question but I have been told (by prostate cancer survivors) that ED therapies help and can make the difference.

Good luck,

David Emerson

Androgen Deprivation Therapy Slows Prostate Cancer but Causes Heart Disease says 5 years ago

[…] Identify, Heal Prostate Cancer Radiation Damage- […]

Brad says 6 years ago

David, I’m going to start radiation treatment after having had a prostatectomy. My origanal diagnosis after a needle biopsy was a Gleason 9 score, and PSA of 13 at the time of surgery. I’m at a .5 PSA now. My questions relate to trying to limit the damage of the radiation. My oncologist doesn’t want me to use antioxidants during the radiation treatment, buy says a daily multi-vitamin is ok. I already take curcumin daily but the oncologist is a little concerned about taking too much of it during the radiation period, as it may conflict with the radiation treatment. I’ve taken 5 high dose vit C IV’s (75 grams each treatment) combined with first taking an ozone IV prior to taking the vit C over the past 4 weeks. I have now stopped this in advance of the radiation therapy. I’m already doing the kegels post surgery. What would you suggest I do during radiation and post radiation? -Brad, 10-22-2017.

David Emerson says 6 years ago

Hi Brad-

I am sorry to read of your PCa diagnosis and treatment but impressed that you are already working on therapies such as supplementation, Kegal exercises, IVC therapy.

Please consider taking resveritrol during radiation therapy. Please read the study linked below. According to the study Resveritrol will enhance the radiation while reducing toxicity.

Resveritrol, Radiation Therapy

Further, please consider HBOT immediately following radiation therapy. Radiation will cause damage aka necrosis to the surrounding tissues. HBOT has been shown to reduce this damage.

Last but not least, please consider evidence-based anti-PCa supplementation post radiation. Your PSA of .5 may indicate a few PCa cells running around inside you. IVC, exercise, curcumin, resveritrol, others can reduce your risk of relapse.

The above therapies, both conventional and non-conventional, is a pretty complete list of anti-PCa therapies.

Good luck

David Emerson

Papa Leto says 9 years ago

unsure what treatment to take

David Emerson says 9 years ago

Hi Sam- I can offer suggestions based on your diagnosis and stage. I assume you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer? If so, what stage, PSA and Gleason score do you have? Have you had a needle biopsy? What, if any, symptoms do you have? Has your oncologist recommended any treatments?

Let me know and I will offer treatment suggestions to you.

David Emerson

Diagnosed with Cancer? Your two greatest challenges are understanding cancer and understanding possible side effects from chemo and radiation. Knowledge is Power!

Heal Prostate Cancer Radiation Damage-

Radiation damage from prostate cancer therapy to small bowel tissue can cause acute or chronic radiation enteritis producing symptoms such as pain, bloating, nausea, faecal urgency, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding

The Most BioAvailable Curcumin Formulas

Recommended Reading:

Curcumin

Bioavailable curcumin formulations: A review of pharmacokinetic studies in healthy volunteers.

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