L
ately, you’ve been leaving the bathroom light on when you go
to bed. You’re hardly afraid of the dark. It’s just that you’re pretty
sure you’ll be headed to the bathroom—yet again—sometime
in the night.
✦
Or perhaps you’re having other problems when
you urinate or have noticed some rather
uncomfortable feelings in your very per-
sonal zone.
Could it be your prostate?
In fact, urinary symptoms—and many
other signs and symptoms you shouldn’t
ignore—often do signal a prostate prob-
lem. Since such problems can be bother-
some, it’s good to know treatments are
available. And because a prostate condi-
tion can also be quite serious, it’s always
important to let your doctor know about
your symptoms.
Enlarged prostate
In his early years,
a man’s prostate is about the size of a wal-
nut. But by the time he reaches 60, the
gland may be nearly the size of a lemon,
reports the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). As it grows, the prostate can push
against the bladder and urethra, slowing
or stopping urine flow—a condition called
benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.
You might have BPH if you:
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Have trouble starting a urine stream or
only dribble when you do go.
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Urinate a lot, often at night.
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Feel as though your bladder hasn’t
quite emptied after you urinate.
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Have a strong, sudden urge to go.
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Have a weak or slow urine stream.
If your BPH symptoms are only mild,
you and your doctor might decide that
regular checkups are enough for right
now—that you don’t need to treat the
condition yet.
However, if your symptoms are particu-
larly bothersome or they’re severe enough
to cause bladder damage or other compli-
cations, medicines and surgery can help.
You and your doctor should discuss
treatment options.
Prostatitis
This condition, an inflam-
mation of the prostate, can affect men of
all ages.
Sometimes bacteria are to blame,
but usually there’s no obvious cause.
Three types of prostatitis can cause
urinary symptoms or pain:
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Acute bacterial prostatitis is the least
common form and the easiest to diagnose
and treat. It comes on suddenly, often
causing chills, a high fever and blood in
the urine.
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Chronic bacterial prostatitis triggers
urinary tract infections that go away and
return, possibly due to a defect in the
prostate that allows bacteria to thrive.
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Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain
syndrome is the most common type of
prostatitis and the least understood. Of-
ten, infection-fighting cells are present in
urine and other fluids, yet no bacteria are
found, notes the NIH. Symptoms—such as
pain in your lower back, groin or penis—
come and go.
Bacterial prostatitis is treated with an-
tibiotics, which may need to be taken for
several months if you have the chronic
form. For nonbacterial forms, you need to
work closely with your doctor to figure out
the best treatment for you. Medicines to
relieve pain or to relax the prostate, along
with warm baths and dietary changes, may
help you feel better.
Prostate cancer
Aside from skin
cancer, this is the most common cancer
in American men. Being older than 50
increases your risk, as does being African
American or having a father or brother
who was diagnosed with the disease.
Prostate cancer often grows slowly and
may not cause symptoms for years. When
symptoms do occur, they can include:
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A frequent urge to urinate, espe-
cially at night.
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A weak or interrupted
urine stream.
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Painful urination or
ejaculation.
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Blood in the urine or semen.
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Lingering back, hip or pelvic pain.
It’s important to remember that these
symptoms are much like those of BPH and
prostatitis. Still, if you’re having symptoms,
it’s time to see your doctor. Perhaps the
latest in prostate removal surgery might
be in order.
What if it’s cancer?
Most prostate
changes aren’t cancer. When men are di-
agnosed with the disease, deciding how
to treat it is complex and involves many
factors, including the stage of the cancer
and a man’s age and overall health. Op-
tions include:
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Watchful waiting—monitoring but not
treating a slow-growing cancer unless it
starts to cause problems.
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Radiation therapy aimed from outside
the body or in tiny seeds placed in the
body near the prostate.
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Hormone therapy—drugs used to help
control the cancer or prevent its return.
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Surgery to remove the prostate along
with nearby tissue.
Da Vinci Surgical System
There’s
now a surgery for the removal of the
prostate, known as a prostatectomy, that
recent studies suggest may reduce the risk
of urinary incontinence and impotence.
The da Vinci Surgical System is ideal for
delicate urological surgeries such as a
prostatectomy.
The multifaceted equipment allows the
surgeon to perform surgery with excep-
tional accuracy and precision. Its minimally
invasive approach to the surgery results in
smaller incisions, which helps the patient
recover and return to normal daily activi-
ties sooner.
Don’t keep quiet
Remember, if you
have any of the problems discussed here—
or other concerns about your prostate—let
your doctor know.
Prostate problems are
common and usually treatable. The first
step is to find out what’s going on down
there.
Additional sources: National Cancer Institute; National Institute on Aging
To find a surgeon who performs
prostate surgery using the da Vinci
system, call 877-888-5746.
a guy’s
guide to
common
problems
Prostate
health:
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H E A L T H
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