Dr. Chris Steele answers questions all about the prostate gland, enlarged prostate gland problems, symptoms, and treatment

Dr. Chris Steele answers questions the prostate gland and enlarged prostate gland problems


Q.What is the prostate gland?

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It lies beneath the bladder, surrounding the tube (the urethra) that carries urine out of the bladder to the penis. During sexual intercourse the prostate adds nutrients to the seminal fluid on ejaculation, to help the tiny sperm cells survive.

Not many people know about the prostate gland and yet 75% of all men over the age of 50 have some symptoms arising from their prostate gland becoming enlarged. Most people have heard about cancer of the cervix, which kills 1,800 women each year yet cancer of the prostate kills 8,100 men annually!

Q. What problems occur?

As men get older their prostate gland tends to enlarge and can cause problems with their `waterworks', such as:
  1. Urgency the feeling of `having to go' immediately
  2. Passing water frequently day and night!
  3. Incontinence loss of control, wetting yourself
  4. Passing a poor stream of urine
  5. Dribbling at the end of urination

These problems are obviously very embarrasing and many men will not tell their doctor because they think it is just part of getting older. However, any man with any of these symtoms must tell his GP because enlargement of the prostate could be caused by cancer, though most cases are due to a non-cancerous condition called benign enlargement of the prostate, which is easily treatable.

Treatments

Some men ignore these `waterwork' symptoms, and the prostate continues to increase in size, to such an extent that it totally blocks the bladder outlet, with the unfortunate patient `dying to go', but being totally unable to pass any water at all. Their bladder is so full and distended that they are in extreme pain, and have to be admitted into hospital to have the urine drained off by having a rubber tube or catheter passed along their penis into the bladder! Brings tears to your eyes, but what a relief!!

If the swelling of the prostate is not due to cancer, i.e. benign enlargment, the patient is usually operated on by a surgeon specialised in removing the prostate tissue through the urethra, which passes through the penis, what you could call `key hole' surgery, so no cutting of the patient's abdomen is involved! This type of operation is now the second most commonly performed major operation, and the results are generally excellent.

`Microwave' therapy

A new technique is becoming popular where you can now have your swollen prostate `microwaved' away!! This microwave therapy is quick and painless. Heating the prostate kills and shrinks the cells so that the obstruction is cleared, allowing urine to flow freely again. This new technology has allowed some patients to be in and out of hospital in a single day. However, Microwave therapy is not suitable for cancer of the prostate. Cancer of the prostate can spread very rapidly to other parts of the body, especially to bones. Early detection is of extreme importance, so any man having any of the `waterwork' symptoms mentioned earlier should report to his doctor at once. Various treatments are used for prostate cancer, including total removal of the gland, radiation therapy and hormone tablets or injections. The secret to beating cancer of the prostate is as with all cancers, see your doctor as soon as you notice any change occurring in your body.


IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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