WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROSTATE
ENLARGEMENT
The prostate gland lies
just below the bladder in males. It surrounds the top part the urinary passage
that drains from the bladder, known as urethra. The gland produces the bulk of
the fluid in semen (the fluid that transports and nourishes sperm). The tissue
enlargement, known as prostate enlargement, often compresses the urethra,
blocking the urinary flow to some degree. It also causes erectile dysfunction,
and spread of cancer to the lungs, bones, and lymph nodes, if cancerous.
WHO
IT MAY AFFECT
+Men in their 40’s and
above
( +50%
of men in their 40’s and 50’s
( +70%
of men in their 60’s
+90% of men in their 70’s and 80’s
SYMPTOMS
+Urinary
frequency (with or without burning sensation)
+Stopping
and starting during urination
+Inability to completely empty the bladder
+Pains around the groin
+Impotency
+Difficulty starting urination
+Urgency in leaking or dribbling
+Blood
in the urine
+Reduce sexual activity
+Discomfort during intercourse
+Weak urinary stream
+ Noctumia (increases frequency at night)
+Urinary tract infections
+Painful
orgasm
Note:
That this varies on an
individual basis and only about 50% of men with this problem have symptoms
significant enough to seek medical attention.
Risk
factors
+ The
main risk factor is ageing.
+Other
risk factors include heredity, as the likelihood increases if there is a family
history.
+Marital
status, as married men are more likely to develop this condition than single
men, for unknown reasons.
. + Natural
origin, as some races have a higher incidence.
Diagnosis
This is based on history
and medical examination. The prostate specific Antigent (PSA) test should be done
(higher than normal levels (0-4ng/1) may indicate enlargement, prostatitis or
cancer of the prostate). PAS is normally produced by the prostate to liquefy
semen and is usually present in the blood at low levels. Digital Rectum
Examination (DRE) is also a must. During DRE, the doctor inserts a lubricated
gloved hand into the rectum, feels the prostate gland and check for any lumps
or firmness in the prostate.
Control
of symptoms
1. Empty the bladder
regularly to avoid it getting full. This will help alleviate discomfort. Some men
are better able to achieve this by sitting on the toilet rather than standing.
2. Limit alcohol and caffeinated
beverages as they irritate the bladder and increase urine production.
3. Avoid decongestants as
they encourage tightening of the sphincter, making urination more difficult.
4. Avoid drinking water
and beverages after 7 pm to reduce nocturnia
Prostate Conditions
Prostatitis
- Inflammation of the prostate, sometimes caused by infection. In some cases,
it is treated with antibiotics.
Enlarged
prostate - Called benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH, prostate growth affects
virtually all men over 50. Symptoms of difficult urination tend to increase
with age. Medicines or surgery can treat BPH
Prostate
cancer - It’s the most common form of cancer in men (besides skin cancer), but
only one in 35 men die from prostate cancer. Surgery, radiation, hormone
therapy, and chemotherapy can be used to treat prostate cancer. Some men choose
to delay treatment, which is called watchful waiting.
Prostate
Cancer Treatment
Prostatectomy -Surgery for prostate cancer,
called a prostatectomy, removes the prostate with the goal of removing all the
cancer
Radiation therapy - Radiation kills prostate
cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells
Radioactive seed implant - Instead of
radiation pointed at the prostate from outside the body, radioactive seeds can
be implanted into the prostate to kill cancer cells
Cryotherapy - Cryotherapy
involves killing prostate cancer cells by freezing them
Hormone therapy - Prostate cancer cells grow
in response to hormones Hormone therapy helps block that effect
Chemo therapy - When prostate cancer is
advanced, chemotherapy may help reduce the cancer’s spread
Watchful waiting-Since prostate cancer is
often slow growing, some older men and their doctors hold off on treatment and
wait to see if the cancer appears to be growing.
Clinical trials - Through prostate cancer
clinical trials, researchers test the effects of new medications on a group of
volunteers with prostate cancer.














