Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Take back control of your health

The Maharaj Institute of Immune Regenerative Medicine (Maharaj Institute) helps patients make informed decisions about their health by utilizing the latest developments in cancer treatment. Natural killer cells play a major role in your body’s fight against cancer.

The most common cancer risk men face today is prostate cancer. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of early cancer detection to save lives. Worldwide, in 2022, around 1.4 million men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024 nearly 300,000 men in the US will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and so it is imperative that the men affected, and their loved ones are kept informed about the treatments available. They deserve to feel confident that the treatment they are receiving is right for them and they are in control of their health.

The Maharaj Institute pioneers the importance and use of the body’s natural killer cells in the fight against prostate cancer. Using an immune panel, which is a test that measures the levels of immune cells, antibodies and proteins in your blood, you can observe the strength of your immune system. It is important to measure your natural killer cells and their strength, as they not only kill cancer cells but also viruses, bacteria and fungi in your blood (hence the killer name!). Cancer can evade natural killer cells by forming collagen and elastin in your tissue which switches off the ‘killer’ part of the cell. Natural killer cells are the paramedic responders in the first line of your body’s immune system. The Maharaj Institute seeks to utilize their ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells as an option for prostate cancer treatment.

Prostate cancer can have life-changing effects for men. It can lie lurking for many years, with some cancers being benign and carrying no risks. However, some types of prostate cancer can grow quickly and aggressively. Today, there are a range of treatments available, but they depend on the stage and risk of the cancer. It is important to carefully consider what options are best for each individual and their optimal health.

Surgery is the most invasive option, which can be a stressful and potentially life-altering treatment with worrying side effects. Testimonials from patients present the varying experiences that men suffering from prostate cancer and living with the aftermath of surgery. They highlight post surgery’s impact on men’s sex lives; suffering from incontinence and urine leakage, affecting marriages, relationships and overall confidence.

Early detection is vital. If prostate cancer is discovered in its early stages, doctors can monitor it closely, only starting treatment when the cancer begins to grow. This option is commonly known as ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’.

For many men suffering from prostate cancer or the gloom its potential casts, these options are a hard pill to swallow. Prescribed ‘watchful waiting’ is akin to watching a ticking time bomb, leaving the patient stressed, feeling out of control, and negatively impacting their overall health.

The Maharaj Institute understands these challenges and has been working to improve the experiences of prostate cancer patients, helping them take back control when it comes to monitoring their health and indicating when it is the right time to take action.

The Maharaj Institute helps cancer patients daily. Highlighted here are two examples of men concerned about their prostate and the treatment options. By measuring their immune systems and natural killer cell function they have received additional information about the efficacy of their treatment.

In men with an elevated PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen – a blood protein used to screen and monitor prostate cancer) a prostate biopsy is often recommended to confirm the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Studies have found that men with positive prostate biopsy had low numbers of circulating natural killer (NK) cells compared to biopsy negative men and a more recent 2019 study of veterans showed that men with a low natural killer cell function value had 5 times higher odds of prostate cancer at biopsy.

A 53-year-old teacher, Tony* contacted Dr Maharaj after he was found to have a persistently elevated PSA and was placed in a ‘watch and wait’ holding mode by his doctors. As there are an increasing number of incidences of cancer in the under 55 age range, Tony was unsure what to do next to protect his own health. In that following period of uncertainty, he was able to travel to the Maharaj Institute. His natural killer function was normal and genetic screening of his blood for genes associated with cancer were negative. He was reassured by these results, but at the insistence of his urologist, he subsequently had a prostate biopsy which was negative. He remains cancer free.

The tests done at the Maharaj Institute corroborated that although there was a chance of the cancer developing in his prostate, his immune system was strong enough to handle it at any potential early stages. This meant he had enough strong natural killer cells to deal with any burgeoning prostate cancer. Tony was able to have peace of mind that the treatment path he was taking was the best option for his continued health. ‘Watchful waiting’ was the right option for him to take in this case, assured by the strength of his immune system, only possible to observe with the tests offered by the Maharaj Institute.

Natural killer cell function and immune cell testing can also be useful after a prostate cancer biopsy diagnosis is made. Many men have a low grade form of cancer which does not impact on their overall survival. Natural killer cell function may be helpful in differentiating those patients.

After receiving the news of a positive prostate cancer biopsy, a 65-year-old CEO came to the Maharaj Institute to have his Natural Killer cell function and immune panel test done as well as a blood biopsy to look for cancer genes in his blood. He wanted to understand if the cancer was likely to spread to other parts of his body. The blood biopsy is a less invasive test than taking a tissue sample, by taking a small amount of blood to check for cancer in the blood.

In this case, his immune system was shown to be strong with a high natural killer cell function and there were no cancer genes detected in his blood, indicating that the cancer was not spreading in his blood. After exploring all his options, including traditional surgery, this patient chose a noninvasive high intensity focused ultrasonic wave treatment as a way of destroying the cancer in his prostate. The patient was very pleased with the outcome because it has few side effects compared to surgery. This patient remains well and plans to return to the Institute on a regular basis, to monitor his immune system and gene testing of his blood. Having these tests done has meant that at every step in his treatment journey, he has been able to have the confidence and clarity of mind that the options he is personally choosing are correct for his diagnosis and health.

The key takeaway from these two cases is that the patients received the essential information they needed to make informed decisions about the next steps in their treatment journey.

These tests offered by the Maharaj Institute can be accessed by patients at any stage of diagnosis. Knowing where you stand regarding your health and cancer can help you take back control of your mind and body. Too often cancer patients have felt powerless in the face of the ‘C’ word, but Dr. Maharaj seeks to change that by offering treatment alternative options to those who need and want them.

If you’re concerned about your prostate health or have received a diagnosis that leaves you feeling uncertain or anxious, don’t wait any longer. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Maharaj at the Maharaj Institute. This simple step could bring you the peace of mind you’re looking for and help you take back control of your health.

Please call Dr. Maharaj at 561-752-5522. https://maharajinstitute.com/ to see how he and his team can help you measure and maintain your healthy immune system as well as to test and measure your inflammation. These are non-invasive tests that will provide a clear picture of where your immune health lies, and should it reflect abnormalities, we have the resources to help correct them. We look forward to hearing from you at the Maharaj Institute in Boynton Beach, Florida at 561-752-5522 or info@bmscti.org. Visit us at https://maharajinstitute.com

*Name changed for anonymity.

Written by Annie Bowles and Rayna Carruthers.

Sources

World Cancer Research Fund

NCBI

The American Cancer Society

American Association for Cancer Research

Cancer rates rising in under 50s – Cancer Research UK

Prostate Cancer UK

Study reveals how to activate the immune system’s natural killer cells to protect against cancer and other diseases – Science Daily

Dos Reis, Filipa D., Carmen Jerónimo, and Margareta P. Correia. “Epigenetic modulation and prostate cancer: Paving the way for NK cell anti-tumor immunity.” Frontiers in Immunology 14 (2023): 1152572.

Ye, Zhipeng, et al. “Causal relationship between immune cells and prostate cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.” Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 12 (2024): 1381920.

Zorko, Nicholas A., et al. “Natural Killer Cell Infiltration in Prostate Cancers Predict Improved Patient Outcomes.” Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases (2024): 1-9.

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