Integrative medicine helps prostate cancer survivor heal

James Martin came to UT MD Anderson in 2023 for prostate cancer treatment. While doctors were treating the cancer, James was also introduced to another aspect of treatment – one that focused on his emotional well-being.

“There’s more to healing than just treating the cancer itself,” he says. “You really need a holistic approach. The services UT MD Anderson offers through its Integrative Medicine Center do just that.”   

Prostate cancer symptoms and diagnosis

James saw a doctor locally in New York after he began having frequent urination and a weakened urine stream. He was prescribed medicine that helped for a while, but the symptoms returned.

He’d had a history of high PSA levels and a prostate biopsy several years earlier that was negative.

James moved to Mexico in 2021, and after a couple of years, he wanted to start seeing a doctor a little closer to where he lived.

“I knew of UT MD Anderson’s reputation, so I decided to make an appointment,” he says. “I was hoping that since my previous biopsy had been negative, it wasn’t cancer now, and some sort of surgical treatment might help my urinary symptoms.”

At UT MD Anderson, James met urologic oncologist Louis Pisters, M.D. After an MRI, Pisters ordered a prostate biopsy.

Urologic oncologist Justin Gregg, M.D., performed the biopsy on Dec. 5, 2023. Results showed a Gleason score of 8, and James was diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer.

“I’m in the medical field, and my husband, Paul, is a psychiatrist,” says James, who was 77 at the time. “I approached my diagnosis with the mindset of, ‘This is what I have to do,’ and I felt that I was in the right place for treatment.”   

Prostate cancer treatment at UT MD Anderson

Pisters ordered a PET PSMA scan, a type of PET scan that looks for a specific protein found in prostate cancer cells. It showed that the cancer had not spread outside of James’ prostate. His care team developed a treatment plan that included radiation therapy and 18 months of hormone therapy.

He started hormone therapy in December 2023. It caused hot flashes that went away after six months but returned toward the end of treatment.

“I was hoping the hot flashes would not become a permanent part of my life, but my care team reassured me that it’s normal for them to return briefly near the end of the treatment,” he recalls.

James stayed in Houston while undergoing radiation therapy. He completed six weeks of treatment on May 16, 2024.

“Fatigue was my biggest side effect, so I’d take naps in the afternoons,” he says. “Basically, I just listened to whatever my body told me to do.”

When James wasn’t receiving treatment, he and Paul spent time with one of James’ friends from Houston, who also lived in Mexico. They went to dinner together, attended concerts, visited museums and went to the beach.

Finding success with integrative medicine  

Toward the end of treatment, James began to realize the emotional toll cancer had taken on him. A friend who was also treated at UT MD Anderson told him about the Integrative Medicine Center and the programs it offers to help patients improve their physical, psycho-spiritual and social health. James sent a message to his care team through MyChart requesting a referral.

He started meditation, which helped him quite a bit.

“I had begun to process the eventuality of my death because I am almost 80, and I’m not going to live forever,” he says. “Meditation helped with that, so I didn’t start ruminating over negative thoughts.”

James also started yoga therapy led by senior mind-body intervention specialist Smitha Mallaiah. He was attending online group classes three times a week and now attends eight days each month.

“I learned that a lot of the anxiety that comes from your mind affects your body. If you can calm down your body, it’ll calm down your mind,” he says. “The breathing you do during yoga helps calm your body, so you can concentrate on something other than your own thoughts. And I really like the people in my classes.”

Enjoying life

James flies from Mexico to Houston for follow-ups with genitourinary medical oncologist Patrick Pilié, M.D., every six months. His PSA levels remain low.

“My energy level is not what it used to be, but it’s coming back,” he says. “It takes time for the body to heal itself.”

He’s found a supportive expat community in Mexico and enjoys playing bridge, doing crossword puzzles, and attending plays and concerts.

He credits UT MD Anderson for treating the whole person, not just the cancer.

“I felt secure that I was getting the best treatment at UT MD Anderson,” he says. “I’d encourage anyone facing cancer to go where they feel comfortable and confident in the care they’re getting. Allow the medicine, your body and your mind to work together, so you have the best outcome.”   

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