OBJECTIVE: Little has been reported on the frequency of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments among prostate cancer (PCa) patients despite growing use in other conditions. This research reports on utilization of CAM treatments among a group of recently diagnosed PCa patients. METHODS: We identified a cohort of 995 newly diagnosed PCa patients enrolled in CaPSURE, a longitudinal observational database. Patients report on the use of CAM treatments in quarterly, self-administered questionnaires. Patients indicate whether or not they have used CAM and then indicate the specific treatment. Chiropractic visits are not considered an alternative therapy in this database. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 75.9 years. Patients were 71% Caucasian and 11% African-American, 44% had some college, median income was $30,000. Median follow-up was 12 months. CAM treatment was reported by 36.4% of patients. The most frequently reported CAM treatments were: 1) Herbal Medicine (including Chinese herbs, other herbs, saw palmetto, and St. John’s Wort) – 19.2%; 2) Diet, nutrition and lifestyle modification (such as smoking cessation or exercise) – 9.7%; 3) Vitamins/Minerals –8.3%; 4) Acupuncture - 4.9%; 5) Homeopathic Remedies – 3.1%, 6) Meditation and Biofeedback – 1.8%. Other treatments included: massage/bodywork, immune enhancers, hypnotherapy and miscellaneous items such as pet adoption. CONCLUSIONS: We found that a significant proportion of newly diagnosed PCa patients (36%) reported use of CAM treatments. These results are similar to data reported for other chronic conditions, such as arthritis, HIV-infection, and other cancers where 30-60% of patients report use of CAM therapies. Further research into the benefit of these therapies in terms of improved patient functioning is needed.