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Treatments For Prostate Problems

The two most frequent problems males encounter when it comes to the prostate are benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer. The former is the enlargement of the prostate, which causes the urethra to constrict and produce difficult and painful urination, while the latter is the prostate becoming cancerous and possibly leading to a metastasis to other organs of the body if not treated early.

  1. Close Obserbvation of the Prostate

    • The first line of treatment is to monitor the prostate for growth over time, a condition known as BPH. If your physician can keep an eye on any abnormal growth, he can then take action to more aggressively treat the prostate to hinder its growth.

    Prescription Medication Treatments

    • An option that can be used to treat the abnormal growth of the prostate gland is the use of 5ARI (5-alpha-reductase inhibitors) medicines. It is believed that the prostate gland derives the substance dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from testosterone and is the reason for the growth of the prostate gland. The 5ARI medicine reduces the level of DHT in the prostate to try to inhibit its further growth.
      A second type of medicine that can be used to reduce painful urinary symptoms in men with BPH is alpha blockers. These medicines relax smooth muscle cells of the urinary bladder to try to facilitate smooth urine flow through the urinary bladder and out the urethra. This medicine does not shrink the prostate but simply tries to treat painful urination related to BPH.

    Surgical Treatment

    • If a patient is a surgical candidate for safe surgery, it is possible to alleviate symptoms associated with BPH and to treat prostate cancer via transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Yet another procedure that is finding wide popularity is the use of robotic assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy using a da Vinci system to accurately and precisely remove the prostate with a minimum amount of invasiveness and time required for convalescence.

    Summary

    • As men age, many are susceptible to prostate enlargement, and many are at risk for prostate cancer. It is important to keep an eye on the growth of the prostate, have regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests starting at age 40 to detect any high levels of the antigen--which is commonly associated with prostate enlargement and cancer--and to begin treating the enlargement with 5ARI or alpha blockers if painful urinary symptoms are present. With the use of a 5ARI, further observation is necessary to ensure the prostate is shrinking and the symptoms are alleviating. If symptoms persist, the prostate continues to enlarge or cancer develops, a definitive line of action in the form of a prostatectomy can alleviate further urinary problems successfully and cease any possible metastatic spread of cancerous cells if such are present in the prostate.

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