Dr. Geo Espinosa, ND, LAc, IFMCP, CNS, clinical assistant professor of integrative and functional urology at New York University and author of Thrive—Don’t Survive: Dr. Geo’s Guide to Living Your Best Life Before & After Prostate Cancer, discusses treating prostate cancer with external beam radiation. With this treatment, the entire pelvic area is targeted with radiation to kill prostate cancer cells. External beam therapy requires 40 sessions and often is combined with Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), in which chemicals are used to block from the production of testosterone and further stop the spread of the cancer. Combining external beam radiation with ADT results in a lower mortality rate than with treatment with radiation alone. Once ADT is discontinued, the body begins to produce testosterone again. However, there are risks associated with this type of therapy including erectile dysfunction, low libido, bone loss, metabolic syndrome and even an increased mortality rate.

For more valuable information from Dr. Geo, check out his newest book Bottom Line’s 1,000 Cures for 200 Ailments: Integrative Medicine for the Most Common Illnesses 

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