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Pondering prostate problems The prostate place The prostate lies in front of the rectum, behind the pubic bone and just below the bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra, which is the tube connected to the bladder and carries urine out of the body. This intimate relationship with the urethra is what causes the urinary symptoms of prostate enlargement. Rectum Bladder Vas deferens Seminal vesicle Prostrate Urethra Testis
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Bladder Prostrate Urethra A Slice of Orange is a newsletter designed to help clarify basic health information and offer juicy tips on uplifting your health.
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What do you know about the prostate? If the most you know about the prostate is that women don’t have it, then you may want to know a bit more!
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he prostate is a gland around 3-4 cm long by 3-5 cm wide – about the size of a walnut. The prostate is mainly reproductive in nature. It makes a fluid that, together with the fluid from the two seminal vesicles, makes up most of the volume of semen (sperm accounts for the rest of it). Each tube (vas deferens) from the testis carries sperm to the prostate, where the sperm are mixed with the prostate and seminal vesicle fluid. During ejaculation, this fluid is released through a connection to the urethra called the ejaculatory duct. The prostate also contains some smooth muscles that help expel semen during ejaculation. The three main problems that can affect the prostate are prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.
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What’s a digital rectal exam?
Despite the seemingly electronic term “digital”, a digital rectal exam (DRE) has nothing to do with technology. To perform a DRE, your doctor puts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum. The prostate and any enlargement, lumps and irregularities on its surface are easily felt through the rectal wall. In BPH, the prostate feels larger than normal but is still smooth and rubbery; in prostate cancer, on the other hand, the gland feels hard and lumpy. You’ll feel the urge to urinate or some discomfort when the prostate is examined. A DRE is painful only when your prostate is swollen or irritated to begin with. Oh and “digital” simply refers to the fact that the exam is done using a finger (digit).
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Prostatitis Prostatitis, as you may have guessed, is inflammation of the prostate gland. It’s the most common prostate problem, and can be caused by bacteria. In some kinds of prostatitis, there is no evidence of an infecting organism. Prostatitis may cause: • Fever or chills • Pain in the lower back or in the genital area • Painful or burning urination Fortunately, prostatitis is not contagious. If your prostatitis is caused by bacteria, you will need antibiotics. However, if no specific cause is found, you may be given other kinds of treatment, such as pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) BPH means your prostate is enlarged but not due to cancer. Because the prostate surrounds the urethra, prostatic enlargement can press on the urethra and cause urinary problems. The prostate normally grows from birth to young adulthood, but most men have a second prostatic growth spurt in their 40s. Around half of men in their 60s will experience urinary symptoms. Symptoms occur only when the surrounding organs are affected. Common symptoms include: • A weak urine stream • A frequent or urgent need to urinate
• Not being able to completely empty the bladder • Difficulty starting urination • Stopping and starting again while urinating • Leaking or dribbling after urination • Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia) • Blood in the urine (hematuria) Your doctor can diagnose BPH through a simple digital rectal exam (DRE). A urinalysis will also help rule out infection, like prostatitis or other urinary tract infections. A blood test to measure prostatespecific antigen (PSA) levels may also be done; PSA is produced by the prostate and is elevated in BPH (higher levels are more indicative of prostate cancer though). Additional tests (ultrasound, special x-rays, urinary flow tests, etc) can determine the extent of prostate enlargement.
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• Avoid beverages with caffeine Drugs cannot treat BPH, but they can provide because they can irritate your bladder and aggravate your symptoms. relief. Some minimally invasive procedures can • Don’t let your bladder get full. Try to
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urinate as much as you can every time you go to the bathroom. • Limit your alcohol intake – it increases urine production. • Be more active. Inactivity may retain urine.
The most common surgery for BPH is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), wherein a tube is inserted up the urethra and pieces of the prostate are cut away. When the prostate is very large or severely obstructive, more major surgery can be done.
Like in BPH cases, your doctor will also conduct a DRE and check your blood PSA level. The other tests used to diagnose BPH are also used to diagnose prostate cancer. However, a biopsy of the prostate – microscopic examination of sample prostate tissue to check for cancer – is the most definitive diagnostic test.
Prostate cancer
Treatment of prostate cancer depends on how far it has spread. Some doctors opt for watchful waiting if the cancer is growing slowly and not causing symptoms. If the cancer is limited to the prostate, a radical prostatectomy may be done, wherein the whole prostate and some nearby
Prostate cancer means that the cells in your prostate start growing and multiplying at a rapid rate to form a tumor. Early cancer does not usually cause symptoms, but as the cancer grows, it may cause symptoms similar to those of BPH.
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An enlarged prostate doesn’t always mean cancer. Most men with BPH do not develop prostate cancer.
You can try controlling the symptoms of BPH:
Sometimes, after diagnosing BPH, doctors can recommend “watchful waiting,” which means not doing anything for your condition while your symptoms are not too bothersome. Of course, • Don’t drink after 7 pm so you don’t if your condition worsens, you will need some have to go to the bathroom at night. form of treatment.
remove parts of the prostate. They are usually done transurethral, which means to get to the prostate area, the device passes through the urethra (don’t worry: these involve anesthesia!). For instance, transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) uses microwaves to heat part of the prostate.
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Early detection is crucial! All men over 50 should have a DRE and PSA test done once a year to screen for prostate cancer. However, if you have relatives with prostate cancer, it’s best to begin screening earlier at age 40. tissues are surgically removed. Radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy may also be used. As with other cancers, early diagnosis and treatment improve a patient’s chances for survival.
A slice of trivia What antioxidant has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer? Hint: It begins with an L, gives tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables their color … and it was recently shown that this antioxidant doesn’t effectively prevent cancer after all! Freshen up on your researching skills, send us the answer at orange@activelink-consult. com and win a prize!
From those with the correct answer, 10 people will be randomly chosen to win a Gift Cheque for one session of Intense Diamond Peel from the Clarity Aesthetic and Laser Center. We’ll include the answer in the next issue of A Slice of Orange.
Answer to last issue’s question: What kind of juice may help prevent urinary tract infection (UTI)? There is some evidence to show that cranberry juice helps in the prevention – but not the treatment – of UTI. Research
Looking to enhance your corporate healthcare benefits? E-mail us at benefits@activelink-consult.com. The information in this newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult a doctor for all matters relating to your health, particularly for symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. © 2007 ActiveLink Employee Benefits Made Better
ActiveLink Insurance Brokers, Inc. 104 VA Rufino Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1229 Philippines T: +632 817 4606 / 817 7900 www.activelink-consult.com
suggests that cranberry prevents bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract, thus reducing the number of UTIs.
The Orang e wants to h ear from you!
Dying to ask us your health related questio ns? Itching to share your pe rsonal health tips? Want to sugg est topics for future issues? Feel fre e to contact us . You can e-mai l our team at orange@activ elink-consult.co m.