Prostate Cancer
Benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
1. What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
2. What are the symptoms of BPH?
3. How is BPH diagnosed?
4. Does BPH lead to cancer?
5. Will BPH interfere with sexual functioning?
6. How does BPH affect urination?
7. When should BPH be treated?
8. How is BPH treated?
9. What are the side effects of BPH treatment?
1.
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?
BPH is the enlargement of the prostate, frequently occurring
in men over the age of 50. The enlargement can result in
a gradual squeezing of the urethra, sometimes causing difficulty
in urinating.
2.
What are the symptoms of BPH?
Many men may not have any symptoms of BPH. If you do have
symptoms, they may include:
* A weak urinary stream
* Difficulty starting urination
* Frequent urination
* Frequently awakening at night to urinate
Blockage
of the urethra from BPH may lead to repeated urinary tract
infections, a sudden inability to urinate, or gradual bladder
and/or kidney damage.
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3.
How is BPH diagnosed?
Since the prostate lies in front of the rectum, your doctor
will most likely perform a digital rectal examination (DRE)
by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum.
By doing this, he or she will be able to feel the prostate
and determine if it is enlarged or if it has lumps or other
abnormalities.
Many
doctors perform a prostate exam for men over the age of
50, or over the age of 45 for those with risk factors for
prostate cancer, such as family history or African-American
ethnicity.
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4.
Does BPH lead to cancer?
No, BPH is not cancer and has not been shown to increase
the risk of prostate cancer. However, both conditions can
exist together. Check with your doctor about your concerns.
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5.
Will BPH interfere with sexual functioning?
BPH generally does not interfere with sexual functioning.
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6.
How does BPH affect urination?
The urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder
out through the tip of the penis, also runs through the
prostate. The enlargement of the prostate can result in
squeezing of the urethra, sometimes causing difficulty in
urinating.
Effects
of BPH on urination include:
* A weak urinary stream
* Difficulty starting urination
* Frequent urination
* Frequently awakening at night to urinate
It
can also cause other urinary problems, such as urinary tract
infections.
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7.
When should BPH be treated?
An enlarged prostate is not reason enough to consider treatment.
You and your doctor may decide on "watchful waiting,"
in which you are examined periodically to check the status
of your prostate. Sometimes symptoms may lessen without
active treatment. However, if symptoms from BPH are bothering
you or are severely affecting the urinary tract, treatment
may be required.
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8.
How is BPH treated?
BPH can be treated with medications, nonsurgical procedures
that use heat to destroy excess tissue, or surgery.
Medications
work to relax the muscle tissue in the prostate or by reducing
the amount of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Most
doctors recommend the removal of the enlarged part of the
prostate as the best long-term solution for patients with
BPH.
With
surgery for BPH, the enlarged tissue that is pressing against
the urethra is removed. The rest of the prostate tissue
and the outside capsule are left intact.
For
a man whose symptoms are not severe enough to be bothersome,
he and his physician may choose watchful waiting. This involves
an exam by the physician to carefully monitor the progression
of symptoms and possible complications.
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9.
What are the side effects of surgical treatment of BPH?
Surgery may initially result in a worsening of urinary symptoms
or a loss of sexual function. However, these symptoms are
usually temporary. Talk with your doctor about your concerns.
For
more information on BPH, visit our Resources section to
learn about the American Foundation for Urologic Disease
or the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases. Be sure to discuss with your physician
any symptoms you may be experiencing and any questions you
may have on treating BPH.
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The information on this page has been extracted from http://www.prostate.com/BPH/BPH.asp
