WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ENLARGED PROSTATE AND PROSTATE CANCER ?

 

What is a prostate?

People sometimes inquire as to the nature of the prostate. A prostate is part of a man’s sexual organs. The prostate is roughly the size of a walnut and is located directly below the bladder, folding over the urethra in the male body. Its principal work is to add fluid to your sperm during ejaculation. The prostate is a hidden interior organ, therefore, most men are unaware of their existence, but when they suffer from a disorder of the prostate, all men rapidly learn what and where their prostate is. After a certain age, every man is at risk to get either a benign or even cancerous prostate enlargement. It's unsettling, yet it's a proven fact of male aging. Malignant prostate disease is a well-known prostate condition. Amongst all the cancers that afflict men prostate cancer is perhaps at the top of the list that came out approximately as frequently as the malignant development of breast tumors in ladies. Normally, the media does not devote as much attention to prostate cancer as it does to breast cancer, maybe because most men prefer not to talk about their sexual organs and how hidden they might have been.

What people are most likely to experience prostate issues?

Not only older men are affected by prostate problems young men under the age of fifty can also have a disordered prostate like prostatitis and infection that is very excruciating. It is caused by an enlargement of the prostate gland, which can result in fever, tiredness, and an extremely hot sensation while peeing. An enlarged prostate or BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is the most common prostate illness in males over the age of fifty. This innocuous or harmless disease is more frequent as compared to cancer, and knowing about it in old age would be more reassuring and relieving for these men. Now what are the enlarged prostate symptoms vs prostate cancer symptoms? The symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) include leakage of urine, a feeble stream of urine, difficulty starting peeing, and, shockingly, the laboratory examination of the urine indicates a trace of blood. BPH is a less common disorder than prostate cancer however the two can co-exist side by side. In general, it doesn’t happen always and prostate enlargement does not transform into cancer, however, because their symptoms are nearly the same, one must take no chances and be very cautious.

 Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:

Malignant growth in the prostate is ordinarily a sluggishly developing malignancy and its indications normally don't emerge for a long time. In case this disease is discovered at an initial phase, there may be no remarkable symptoms. A few men may, however, encounter side effects that may be a signal of some malignant growth. These could include:  (@ chhanno blogspot com 22022022) 

A specific need for frequent night-time urination, 

Urination is difficult to begin without straining, 

A weak or intermittent urine flow, 

It feels like it burns when passing urine. 

Erectile function is causing problems, 

Feeling pain while discharging, 

The urine or semen contains blood on lab tests, 

Recurrent lower back pain and 

Recurrent discomfort of lower back and firmness of hips,

Occasionally the early symptoms will be pelvic pain or pain in the lower back or hip due to cancer which has proactively advanced to the next stage. The vital point is to be informed of the symptoms of one, harmless enlargement of the prostate organ (for example non-carcinogenic) and two the threatening growth or cancer of the prostate gland are identical and could comprise one or more accompanying symptoms like feeling it hard to urinate without straining, increased frequency of pee, particularly around evening time, painful urination and blood in the pee. More than fifty years old men sometimes have their prostate gland increased than normal size because of the non-carcinogenic state of hyperplasia or BPH i.e., benign or nontoxic hyperplasia. Therefore, if you notice even one of the above-quoted indications you actually should see your specialist physicians for an investigation. However, it may be noted that a vast majority of the enlarged prostates are non-carcinogenic and can consistently be dealt with quite effectively. 

 Benefits of Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

A blood test that measures how much PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is present in the blood may frequently detect a malignant growth during the initial stages. It can likewise be timely diagnosed by your primary care physician playing out Digital Rectal Examination (DRE). Since this gland is situated quite near the rectum, a specialized physician can accurately determine whether the prostate under inspection has any cancerous indications. Unfortunately, the PSA and DRE tests are not completely accurate and conclusive. A scenario like this might cause anxiety and disarray, giving a false impression that everything is well. Along these lines, the most crucial concerns to take into account are one’s well-being in general, way of life, and how old he is. 

In case a young person has prostate cancer, his life may be cut short if it is not detected early enough. However, due to its slow growth, this disease will not be a significant issue for anyone beyond the age of 50 years or in poor health. The American Cancer Society has long before announced its recommendations on this issue. They advise that a male person over the age of fifty begin getting PSA and DRE testing every year to detect malignant development early. African Americans, who are in more danger than other races, and persons who have a history of prostate cancer in their close relatives at a young age in the past, are advised to begin getting PSA and DRE tests every year after the age of 45. (@ chhanno blogspot com 22022022) 

Forecasting for victims of prostate cancer has recently progressed significantly. The general rate of survivability for nearly all stages of this malignant disease has enhanced from 67 percent to 97 percent in the past 20 years. As a result, more people are living for much longer periods after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Probably this is because of early diagnosis, a rise in the general perception of individuals concerned directly about the indicators of prostate disorders, and the acceptance of better ways of living.

Alright; that’s all and please take care everywhere and always. 

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(Updated on 23-03-2023)

HOW DOES A UROLOGIST EXAMINE A UROLOGY PATIENT?

 

This article is all about men who go see a urologist for one reason or the other, what they think they are going to face in a urologist’s office, and whether they are embarrassed facing him or otherwise. 

Why should you consult a Urologist:

There are many reasons why men have to consult urologists, like urinary problems, some testicular issues, kidneys stones, infections and other ailments, prostate enlargement or malignant prostate, malfunction of erection including various sexual issues or they just need his opinion about their already diagnosed cancerous growth in their genitals, kidneys, bladder, and prostate which a urologist is the most suitable person to elaborate the condition. Blood detected in urine is also a reason why many men consult a urologist to get his opinion and confirm whether anything risky is there. 

Why Feel Awkward Seeing a Urologist:

While consulting a urologist the patient explains what the symptoms of his problem are and how he sees it. Now it’s not a woman who experiences periods, maternity, and all such like things since the days she entered adolescence. For a man, it’s perhaps the first time in his life that he is talking to a doctor about his private parts or sexual life and all that. So men sometimes feel quite awkward talking to a urologist and share their genital and sexual problems quite freely with him. However, you may be inspired to know that it’s the job of urologists to handle such cases daily and they feel entirely at ease while conversing and exchanging their views concerning some of your possible disorders. So have confidence in your physicians since they are eager to assist you as far as possible or as far as in their capacity. (@ chhanno blogspot com 31102021). 

Physical Examination by a Urologist:

Following a conversation with you, the urologist will examine you physically for the basic assessment. He will evaluate for some problem or pain in the kidneys by touching and pressing your back. He will press and explore your abdomen to find out any unusual lump of hard flesh and an exceptionally full bladder. Also, he will examine your genitals to assess whether anything unusual is there like plaques, lumps, injuries and any other thing ignored by you or not noticed by you or you may feel awkward and humiliated to talk about. He will check out the urinary meatus and stroke the shaft to find out any problems or disorders. He will also check the testicles and scrotum to find out any lump or unusual things therein. 

Another thing to do ordinarily is the digital rectal test. Through this test, the urologist evaluates the size, any lumps, injuries, or softness of the prostate which might be an indication of some infectious disease, and is done basically by way of the rectum by tapping and feeling the prostate gland. There are some other clinical examinations that a urologist might do but considering the purpose for which you came to him certain specific checkups are incorporated while some others are excluded from the urological examination. However, these are the main examinations mentioned above that are done by a urologist.  (@ chhanno blogspot com 31102021). 

Diagnosis and Treatment by a Urologist:

When all the necessary and important tests are completed the patient is informed about the diagnosis of the problem and in view, thereof the matter is discussed with him about what may be the choices of its treatment. So you should visit the urologist with clarity of mind about the objectives of the visit. In case your main objective is just screening and checkup that’s quite simple and obvious. However, in case you want to consult the urologist for certain issues relating to your kidneys, bladder, or prostate or things like that concerning urology and need regular treatment and it’s your main objective to get it treated; for instance, your objective is to get treatment for your nocturia, which means frequently waking up at night to urinate please ensure to intimate your urologist about it since it can be troublesome for him if he is not aware of your objective of the visit. Occasionally there can be many distinct issues to be addressed and the urologist intends to be certain that he is treating the problem which is your priority and for which you have paid a visit to him. 

That’s it for now. God bless you and take care everywhere and always. 

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(Updated on 19-01-2023)

SYMPTOMS OF ENLARGED PROSTATE | PROSTATE CANCER

 

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate or symptoms of the lower urinary tract are unfortunately normal events for men of sixty or more. These symptoms fall into various categories like low storage of urine or experiencing issues keeping pee in the bladder; bladder pressure or rushing to the toilet when it feels to urinate; going to pee more often than usual; urinary incontinence that is not able to hold pee and wet one’s pants. The issues concerning draining the bladder are known as voiding dysfunction. That means having a slow, discontinuous, or irregular urine stream, straining to pee to void the bladder completely, and terminal dribble. It likewise includes waking up at night two or three times to pee. Whenever someone gets up at night more than once to urinate it is viewed as unusual. It may be due to various reasons like hyperactive bladder and BPH or prostate enlargement.

Amongst others, the following two are the most usually seen causes of these symptoms. A malignant prostate may be a reason for these symptoms that we evaluate first when screening out a patient with symptoms of the lower urinary tract. There are both advantages and disadvantages of the blood examination of the prostate called the PSA test which stands for Prostate Specific Antigen test. This test determines a specific antigen level in the blood and helps evaluate the chances of prostate cancer. In case of a high level of PSA, a biopsy of the prostate is suggested. However, it isn’t the case with a large number of patients. Most of the patients have just hyperactive bladder which is harmless. After getting treated for prostate cancer the most usual side effects are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Not each patient has to face these side effects since that is subject to how much cancer had spread, how it has been treated, and in case there was a medical procedure, the size of the organ that could have been saved. (@ chhanno blogspot com 12102021)

Sadly, urinary incontinence makes many people incapacitated. For example, it makes them remain indoors needing constantly a washroom close by; it makes them avoid cinemas; it makes them avoid journey by bus or car for a long time or if they are traveling by plane or train they avoid leaving it somewhere for the frequent need of a washroom, etc. That’s only one aspect of this situation and sadly a countless number of individuals need to overcome such a situation. Fortunately, we do have medicines and surgeries that can help. So in case, anyone is having these symptoms and if it's not too much trouble, kindly consult your specialist doctor.

There are many bladder irritant foods like coffee, liquor, fiery food varieties, sour food varieties, and artificial sugars. They make the bladder highly sensitive but can be controlled to restrict bladder dysfunction. Some people may believe to be the one in particular who gets the desire to go to pee urgently the time they hear the sound of water or reach the entrance of the washroom. However, it's termed a keyhole urgency and is quite normal. This term is used because whenever someone does proceed to place the key in the entryway door he or she instantly feels the desire to reach the toilet to pee. A similar situation arises when you hear trickling water or running water in the washroom.

After the passage of time and reaching a specific age the prostate cells turn bigger due to which nodules are created in the prostate. It becomes a hindrance for the urine to pass through the urethra to void the bladder which makes it difficult to pass urine. This is an illness called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. This obstacle can cause capacity indications for instance high frequency of passing urine, waking up at night to pee, and urinary incontinence. Amongst others, slow or irregular urine streams are likewise caused by this obstacle. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is quite an ordinary symptom nowadays. Seventy to eighty percent of men above the age of sixty years have to face BPH in their life. However, they do not have to face all the bladder symptoms. As soon as you notice a BPH symptom and go to your specialist doctor he takes many medical examinations which include urine examination with the purpose to preclude infection or UTI. Then there is the digital rectal test which is done to determine the prostate dimensions and presence of nodules and other defects concerning possible malignant growth in the prostate. The next possible test is the PSA test that’s a blood examination that determines prostate malignancy. Similarly, there can be a uroflow test in which the patient pees on a dish-like apparatus that evaluates the speed of the pee stream. Your bladder might also be scanned to assess the draining ability of the bladder. This scan determines the quantity of urine that might have remained in the bladder after you have completed urinating. The data collected through these large numbers of tests assist your physician to conclude what is the reason for the bladder dysfunction that you face. (@ chhanno blogspot com 12102021) 

The drugs that are used for BPH include alpha-blockers, for example, Tamsulosin or Flomax. These drugs assist loosen up urethral muscles and permit pee to pass somewhat easily. Another drug namely Finasteride can also be taken which shrinks the prostate size. Anyway, nearly 6 to 9 months are required for the above-mentioned drugs to produce results. In case the above-mentioned medicines do not suit you and you are not ready to take them due to certain arguments like these are not producing results or due to recurring UTI or there are some kidney issues then the next option to consider is surgical choices. The choices are numerous. Some of these can be done in your doctor’s room while others need complete sedation and somewhat greater intervention for say Resection of the Prostate through the urethra. In this procedure, a camera instrument called Resectoscope is inserted through the urethra while the patient is snoozing under anesthesia and then excess prostate tissues blocking the urethra are cut to improve urine flow. The patient remains unaware of what happens to him during the procedure. The patient can go home within one or two days of surgery. A catheter is also used for a day or so to ensure the healing of the cuts and avoid abnormal bleeding. It’s a well-known most popular surgery performed presently for enlarged prostate. A number of other choices are there for prostate enlargement treatment like a Prostatic Urethral Lift treatment which is an innovative approach to treating BPH. The UroLift device delivers tiny stainless-steel implants that lift or hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way and it no longer blocks the urethra. Then there is Water Vapor Treatment.  It is performed by going up through the urethra and using an instrument that turns water into steam. The steam delivery lasts for just 9 seconds. This procedure may be done in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia. Similarly, there is Aquablation Laser Vaporization of the Prostate and Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate or Prostate Laser Surgery. Thus, anyone who goes to see a specialist for his treatment can discuss every choice like what are the advantages or disadvantages explicitly in respect of his treatment results.

There is a multiplicity of various sorts of malignant growth with different growth rates like slower or faster growth yet a biopsy is done basically to search for a thing that's known as a Gleason grade which lets us know how forceful the disease is or how safe, halfway dangerous or very dangerous kind of malignant growth is? So characterizing the malignant growth into classes according to these grades is quite helpful. Evaluating prostate cancer is, however, somewhat more concerning in the light of the fact that the screening itself has both advantages and disadvantages as every once in a while we encounter incorrect negative or positive results of screening tests which conclude and get finalized in biopsies. Biopsy of the prostate again is a matter of high concern because it affects plenty of your prospects of life. To proceed with a prostate biopsy is somewhat a conversation of greater elaboration than this article. So check your PSA however, notwithstanding it is something that we suggest to everyone, particularly if you have any kind of urinary symptoms. 

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(Updated on 29-12-2022)

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