Some people living with prostate cancer use complementary therapies alongside their medical care to support wellbeing, relaxation or help with particular symptoms. Complementary therapies should not be used as a substitute for cancer diagnosis, monitoring or treatment recommended by your healthcare team.
An alternative therapy is used instead of conventional medical treatment. There is no scientific evidence that alternative therapies can cure prostate cancer, and delaying or stopping effective cancer treatment can be harmful.
What are complementary therapies?
Complementary therapies are used alongside standard medical care. Depending on the therapy and your circumstances, people may use approaches such as relaxation, mindfulness, massage or acupuncture to help with wellbeing or particular symptoms.
Evidence varies considerably between therapies. A therapy that helps with relaxation or a symptom should not be assumed to treat the cancer itself.
Acupuncture
Some members of Leeds Prostate Cancer Support Group have found acupuncture helpful for managing hot flushes associated with hormone therapy. Research has investigated acupuncture for this purpose, although the evidence remains limited and it may not help everyone. If you are considering acupuncture, discuss it with your healthcare team and use a suitably qualified practitioner.
Acupuncture in Leeds
Some LPCSG members have received acupuncture at Phoenix Health and Wellbeing Centre in Leeds. If you would like to find out more about the centre and the therapies it provides, visit the Phoenix Health and Wellbeing Centre website.
LPCSG members discuss acupuncture at the Phoenix Centre
Listen to a short recording about acupuncture at the Phoenix Health and Wellbeing Centre, including comments from LPCSG members about their experiences of using it to help manage hot flushes during hormone therapy.
This recording shares personal experiences. Acupuncture may not help everyone and should be used alongside, not instead of, advice and treatment from your healthcare team.
Talk to your healthcare team
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, clinical nurse specialist or other member of your cancer team about any complementary therapy, herbal medicine or supplement you use or are considering.
Some products and therapies can cause side effects or interact with prescribed medicines and cancer treatments. Do not stop or delay prescribed treatment in favour of an alternative therapy without discussing this with your specialist team.
Read NHS information about herbal medicines and complementary therapies.
Read Cancer Research UK information about complementary and alternative therapies.
Choosing a complementary therapist
If you are considering a therapist, ask your healthcare team whether the therapy is appropriate for you. Check the practitioner’s qualifications, professional registration or accreditation where relevant, and make sure they know about your prostate cancer and any treatment or medicines you are receiving.
Be cautious about anyone who claims they can cure cancer, asks you to stop medical treatment, guarantees results, or sells expensive products as an alternative to evidence-based care.
Lifestyle and wellbeing
Healthy eating, appropriate physical activity, relaxation and emotional support can all contribute to general wellbeing, but they are not substitutes for prostate cancer treatment.
See our Lifestyle & Cancer, Nutrition and Exercise pages for more information.
Questions to consider
- What is this therapy intended to help with?
- Is there reliable evidence that it helps with that problem?
- Could it interfere with my cancer treatment or medicines?
- Is the practitioner appropriately trained or registered?
- What does my specialist team think about using it?
This information is intended to help people make informed decisions about complementary therapies and does not replace advice from their healthcare team.