Welcome to Sessions From The Edge, where we meet the people whose lives have been reshaped by illness, caregiving, and the work of guiding others through complexity.
This week, I sit down with Dr. Keith Holden, an internal medicine physician, functional medicine practitioner, and someone navigating advanced prostate cancer firsthand. Our conversation blends clinical expertise with lived experience, a rare and invaluable perspective for anyone seeking clarity in their own cancer journey.
Dr. Holden doesn’t simply treat cancer; he studies the biological terrain that allows it to develop. His work, and his personal path, reveal why functional medicine offers such a powerful complementary lens for understanding prostate cancer.
What We Explore in This Episode
• How prostate cancer arises from chronic inflammation, immune disruption, and metabolic imbalance
• Why functional medicine focuses on the internal terrain rather than the tumour alone
• The roles of insulin resistance, oxidative stress, toxins, hormone metabolism, and gut dysfunction
• The impact of chronic stress on immunity, and why emotional regulation matters
• Nutritional strategies with evidence for prostate cancer, including plant-based interventions
• Targeted supplements such as curcumin, green tea extract, melatonin, and Modified Citrus Pectin
• How lifestyle, sleep, and environmental exposures influence cancer progression
• Keith’s personal experience navigating metastatic disease
• Paul’s reflections from his own prostate cancer journey
Together, these elements offer a clearer, more comprehensive framework for supporting the body during and beyond conventional treatment.
About Dr. Keith R. Holden, M.D.
Dr. Holden is an Internal Medicine physician trained in Functional Medicine, educator, and author of Power of the Mind in Health and Healing. He brings decades of clinical insight, and the perspective of someone actively navigating prostate cancer, to this conversation.
Why This Conversation Matters
Prostate cancer is often treated as a single event: a tumour to remove, radiate, or suppress. But as Dr. Holden shows, cancer reflects deeper systemic imbalances. When we understand the whole system, we open pathways for better outcomes, stronger resilience, and clearer decision-making.
This episode offers practical direction for patients, families, carers, and practitioners seeking more than a standard checklist. It is designed to bring clarity, reduce overwhelm, and empower informed conversations with your care team.
Trigger Warning
This episode includes discussion of cancer, metastasis, emotional overwhelm, and medical decision-making.
Please take care while listening.
Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only. It reflects professional opinion and personal experience and should not be interpreted as medical advice.
Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment plan.
You can contact me anytime at paul.cobbin@decodeyourdiagnosis.com
If this episode impacts you emotionally or raises concerns, please reach out to a trusted person or qualified professional.
