Drugs To Treat Cancer Spread To Bone
If prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it almost always goes to the bones first. These areas of cancer spread can cause pain and weak bones that might break. Medicines that can help strengthen the bones and lower the chance of fracture are bisphosphonates and denosumab. Sometimes, radiation, radiopharmaceuticals, or pain medicines are given for pain control.
Side effects of bone medicines
A serious side effect of bisphosphonates and denosumab is damage to the jaw, also called osteonecrosis of the jaw . Most people will need to get approval from their dentist before starting one of these drugs.
Recommended Reading: Do Females Have Prostate Cancer
Do You Really Need An Annual Prostate Exam
Common knowledge used to hold that men over the age of 50 needed to get an annual digital prostate exam. Catching cancer early is important, but do men really need to get the uncomfortable procedure every year? Dr. Tom Miller has some good news for men about modern prostate screenings.
Interviewer: Your annual prostate exam. Is it still something that you should have done every year, or can you skip it? Well find out next on The Scope.
Announcer: Help information from experts supported by research from the University of Utah Health. This is the scoperadio.com.
Interviewer: Dr. Tom Miller, so, at one point, I know that every year that they said you should get a prostate exam if youre after over 50 years old. Do you have to still do that anymore, or is there a better way?
Interviewer: All right. So, just to clarify, because I mean this is a bit of a paradigm change for me. It feels a little weird like . . .
Dr. Miller: Well, most men would tell you that.
Interviewer: Yes, I dont mean in that way, but it feels a little strange that were saying now you dont need to do the rubber glove and the whole thing, that theres actually an alternative test youre talking about. Tell me more about that test.
Interviewer: Got you. So its just a blood draw that would start after the age of 50, earlier, if you have a family history?
Dr. Miller: Average comers starting at the age of 50.
Interviewer: Got you, and theres some symptoms or something going.
Dr. Miller: Correct.
What Do The Results Mean
PSA levels may be above the baseline for various reasons other than prostate cancer.
Other that can raise PSA levels include:
- older age
- an enlarged prostate â because of benign prostatic hyperplasia , for example
- prostatitis, which is inflammation and swelling of the prostate
Also, people with obesity may have lower PSA readings.
In addition, some medications may reduce PSA levels, including:
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which can help treat BPH
- aspirin, which some people take regularly as a blood thinner
- statins, which help manage cholesterol levels
- thiazide diuretics, a kind of water pill that can help reduce high blood pressure
Some herbal medicines and supplements can also lower PSA levels. Tell the doctor about any medications and supplements before undergoing the test.
High PSA levels alone do not indicate cancer. However, if a DRE also reveals changes, a doctor may recommend a biopsy for a more accurate result.
The PCA3 is another test for prostate cancer that doctors use in some circumstances. Find out more.
Read Also: Chemo Pills For Prostate Cancer
What Type Of Doctor Should I See If I Think I Have A Hernia
What kind of doctor do you see for a hernia? When you have a hernia, treatment will start with your primary care provider. If you need surgery to repair the hernia, youll be referred to a general surgeon. In fact, ventral hernia repairs are one of the most common operations U.S. general surgeons perform.
What Does My Prostate Do
It is a small gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It’s supposed to be about the shape and size of a walnut.
It rests below your bladder and in front of your rectum. It surrounds part of the urethra, the tube in your penis that carries pee from your bladder.
The prostate helps make some of the fluid in semen, which carries sperm from your testicles when you ejaculate.
You May Like: Perineural Invasion Prostate Cancer Treatment
What Are The Side Effects Of Treatments For Prostate Problems
The side effects of treating prostate problems may include the following:
- The medicines you take for prostatitis and BPH may make you feel sick or uncomfortable. Tell your doctor right away if you think the medicine is causing you to feel this way.
- Surgery for BPH may have a temporary effect on your ability to have sex. Most men recover their ability to have sex within a year of surgery. The exact length of time depends on the type of surgery and how long you had symptoms before surgery.
- You also may have bladder control problems after treatment for BPH. In most cases, these problems go away after several months.
If you have any problems after treatment for prostate problems, talk with your doctor. Chances are good that your doctor can help you.
If your doctor removes your prostate, youre more likely to have long-lasting problems with bladder control and having sex. Your doctor can recommend the best treatment options for these problems.
Urologists Treat Conditions Ranging From Infertility And Prostate Issues To Cancer
General doctors focus on conditions that occur in the general population. For example, you might see a GP if you have a severe flu or ear infection. Urologists, however, focus on specific conditions that affect genitourinary health, including kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, infertility and enlarged prostate, incontinence. We also treat serious health conditions such as bladder, kidney, prostate and testicular cancer.
You May Like: How To Shrink Prostate Mayo Clinic
What Does The Psa Test Involve
The PSA test involves taking a blood sample and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. The results indicate:
Normal levels: Most healthy adult males have PSA levels below 4 nanograms per milliliter .
Borderline levels: PSA levels of 4â10 ng/ml are borderline. There is a 1 in 4 chance that cancer is present.
High levels: If PSA levels are over 10 ng/ml, there is a 50% chance that the person has prostate cancer. The specialist will likely recommend more testing, including a prostate biopsy.
It is important to note that PSA levels can naturally vary from person to person. A person with high levels may not have prostate cancer. On the other hand, about 15% of people who test positive for prostate cancer after a biopsy have PSA levels below 4 ng/ml.
Prostate cancer is not the only cause of high PSA levels. Find out more about the other causes here.
What Tests Might I Have At The Hospital
If youre given an appointment with a hospital specialist, they may do some of the tests you had at the GP surgery again. You may also have other tests, including the following.
Symptom questionnaire
You might be asked to fill in a short questionnaire about your symptoms. This is called the International Prostate Symptom Score and is used to see how bad your symptoms are and how much they are bothering you.
Urine flow test
Youll be asked to urinate into a machine that measures the speed of your urine flow. Men with an enlarged prostate usually have a slower flow than other men. Youll need a full bladder for the test. The doctor or nurse will tell you how much to drink before you have the test. They may also ask you not to urinate for two to three hours before the test.
Ultrasound scan
This shows how much urine your bladder can hold, and if it is emptying properly. You may have the scan straight after the urine flow test to see how much urine is left in your bladder after you urinate. You may also have an ultrasound scan to look at your kidneys.
You May Like: Do Female Have Prostate
What Is A Hemorrhoid Specialist
A hemorrhoid specialist is a physician who specializes in treating, managing, and preventing hemorrhoids, inflammations around the anus and rectum. General practitioners, internal medicine specialists, gastroenterologists, and proctologists can all choose to pursue careers as hemorrhoid specialists. People who experience recurrent hemorrhoids may find it helpful to see a hemorrhoid specialist for more in-depth care than a regular doctor can provide.
These specialists usually handle other medical issues as well, but have received some special training in hemorrhoids and pursue continuing education to keep up with the latest advances in treatment and management. When a patient goes to a hemorrhoid specialist, the doctor will take a complete patient history, review the patients chart for more information, and conduct a physical exam. This will be used to develop a treatment plan.
An Alternative Treatment Method
Another option for men looking to relieve their BPH symptoms without undergoing major surgery or taking long-term BPH medications is the UroLift System treatment, a minimally invasive procedure that takes less than an hour and doesnt require any cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue.
A urologist uses the device to lift and move the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way so it no longer blocks the urethra . Tiny implants are then used to hold the tissue in place, leaving an unobstructed pathway for urine to flow through normally.
Most common side effects are mild-to-moderate and include pain or burning with urination, blood in urine, pelvic pain, urgent need to urinate or the inability to control the urge. The procedure has a low catheter rate and most symptoms resolve within 2-4 weeks after the procedure.
Don’t Miss: Finding Prostate Externally
Should I Consider Participating In Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials
Cancer clinical trials usually involve testing new dosages or new combinations of drugs that have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration . There are many potential benefits of cancer clinical trials. You could have access to effective treatments before theyre available to the public. And, youll receive extra medical care because clinical trial participants must see an oncologist or research nurses more frequently.
Because Maryland Oncology Hematology participates in US Oncology Research, our patients have access to a large number of clinical trials in and around Maryland and Washington, D.C. Currently, we have openings for prostate cancer patients who are interested in participating in targeted clinical trials Make sure to talk to your oncologist about the pros and cons of participating in a cancer clinical trial.
Wednesday 4 October 2017
Hey guys, we know that talking about your prostate can be a little uncomfortable. You might not know where or what it is, or you might have only heard about it in stories about older men having difficulty peeing or the doctor sticking their finger up you know where to check on it.
Below, weve got all the details about what your prostate is, where it is and what it does. Well also discuss how it might change as you age, and any changes or symptoms you should keep an eye on and tell your doctor about.
You May Like: Is Zinc Good For Prostate
Seek An Experienced Specialist
While you want a specialist who works with the most cutting-edge treatments, you also want someone who has the experience to know what will work based on the details of your specific case. According to the American Board of Surgery, this is not a general practitioner. General practitioners may only see a few cases a year, and general surgeons may only see a few hemorrhoidectomies, fistulotomies, and other similar procedures each year. Without regularly handling these conditions, the rate of misdiagnosis or improper treatment is much higher.
This again highlights the benefits of choosing a specialist, and one who has extensive colorectal surgical experience such as that required to obtain board certification. This experience improves the outcome every step of the way, from routine screenings, to prescribing the right medical treatments, to performing surgery when necessary.
Prostate Exam In Concord Mint Hill And Charlotte
Some men are hesitant about getting tested, but a skilled urologist will give you confidence and knowledge about maintaining your prostate health. Dr. Richard Natale is here to help you maintain optimum sexual health and overall health as well.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Natale, contact our friendly staff at Carolina Urology today by calling 786-5131 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to serving you.
Also Check: Ejaculation Problems With Tamsulosin
Urologists Deal With Reproductive Health
Urologists specialize in urinary tract diseases and male reproductive health. Our training includes 5-6 years of residency and an optional 1-2 years of specialized fellowship training. Though primary care doctors have deep medical knowledge, urologists have special expertise in issues that impact male fertility and sexual health. We are equipped to not only diagnose urological conditions, but also to perform surgery to treat diseases that affect the bladder, kidneys, prostate, testes and other organs that are part of the urinary system.
Deciding If You Need A Prostate Screening
You May Like: Describe The Effect Of An Enlarged Prostate Gland On The Urinary Function Of A Male
Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer
Some risk factors have been linked to prostate cancer. A risk factor is something that can raise your chance of developing a disease. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you will get prostate cancer. It just means that your risk of the disease is greater.
- Age. Men who are 50 or older have a higher risk of prostate cancer.
- Race. African-American men have the highest risk of prostate cancerâthe disease tends to start at younger ages and grows faster than in men of other races. After African-American men, prostate cancer is most common among white men, followed by Hispanic and Native American men. Asian-American men have the lowest rates of prostate cancer.
- Family history. Men whose fathers or brothers have had prostate cancer have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of prostate cancer than men who do not have a family history of the disease. A man who has 3 immediate family members with prostate cancer has about 10 times the risk of a man who does not have a family history of prostate cancer. The younger a man’s relatives are when they have prostate cancer, the greater his risk for developing the disease. Prostate cancer risk also appears to be slightly higher for men from families with a history of breast cancer.
- Diet. The risk of prostate cancer may be higher for men who eat high-fat diets.
Bladder And Prostate Cancer
If youre like most men, when you hear urologist, you think prostate exam.
This is not necessarily untrue well want to check on your prostate health, says Dr. Gill. Believe it or not, the prostate exam is not your urologists favorite part of the visit, either.
In the current era of PSA testing, cancer is found less often on prostate exams than it once was.
But the exam remains an important part of your visit with regard to your overall prostate health not to mention it can also help us plan treatment for many prostate conditions, he says.
Should cancer be found in your prostate or bladder, urologists can offer lifesaving care. So its important to follow through when youre referred to one.
A urologist can help make sure you dont have a disease that could take away from the time you have left with loved ones, says Dr. Gill.
Robotic surgery has helped reduce the nearly week-long hospital stay for kidney, bladder or prostate cancer surgery in the past to just a few days, or even one day, today.
We use technology to help care for men in a number of ways. The field of urology is dynamic its always changing, he says.
Also Check: How Long Can You Stay On Lupron For Prostate Cancer
Who Might Get An Enlarged Prostate
BPH is common and cannot be prevented. Age and a family history of BPH are two things that increase the chances you might get it. A few stats on that:
- Some 8 out of every 10 men eventually develop an enlarged prostate.
- About 90% of men over the age of 85 will have BPH.
- About 30% of men will find their symptoms bothersome.
So What Causes Prostate Cancer
The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown. Most prostate cancers happen by chance, or due to shared environmental and common genetic factors. But what we do know is that prostate cancer happens when some prostate cells become abnormal.
Abnormal cells grow and multiply more quickly than normal cells. And as abnormal cells continue to accumulate, normal cells die and a tumor forms. That tumor can grow and spread to nearby tissue, and those abnormal cells can also spread to other parts of the body.
Also Check: Viagra And Enlarged Prostate