Is Laparoscopic Prostatectomy the Best Choice?

In the United States, there are approximately 2 million men who have experienced and survived prostate cancer. This group includes African Americans, agricultural workers and those exposed to asbestos and cadmium

Prostate cancer occurs in a gland the size of a walnut located in the male reproduction system. The prostate gland coils around the urethra leading the the male bladder. Prostate cancer ranks as the 3rd highest cause of death due to cancer in men. While this condition most often effects men aged 75 and older, it can in rare instances as age 40.

When the prostrate gland becomes enlarged, the condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. While the actual cause is yet to be determined there are certain contributing factors such as high fat content in the diet and elevated testosterone levels in the blood stream.

In most cases, treatment first begins with testing and monitoring with or without medications. One of the first tests is a PSA (prostate specific antigen). If further testing rules out PSA, a biopsy is performed to confirm the condition and to monitor the possibility of the cancer spreading to other nearby organs.

There are various treatments recommended and pursued to combat prostate cancer. The first consideration is not prostate cancer surgery. Traditional surgery requires an incision which can result in the risk of nerve damage. During a laparoscopic prostatectomy several small incisions are made using special laser tools which can result in very few risks and often a same day surgery situation.

The Prostate Clinic, treatment and complete care for all the diseases and conditions which affect the prostate, urinary and reproductive system. Please visit our website at http://www.theprostateclinic.com/

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Prostate Health: BHP, Cancer and Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

While no one knows for certain what causes benign prostatic hyperplasia several million men are treated by physicians for it every year. There are no known risk factors and no known thing that can increase or decrease the chances of getting it. BHP is enlargement of the prostate gland, and is believed to be caused by aging. The number of men who suffer from BHP rises steadily along with the average male life expectancy. Symptoms of BHP include weak urine stream and frequent urination. Some men may experience visible swelling of the prostate area. In any case, a doctor should be consulted for the corrected treatment and to rule out more severe diseases, such as cancer.

Cancer of the prostate is a life threatening disease with requires treatment as well as prostate cancer surgery. While prostate cancer can be treated successfully it's treated easiest in it's early stages. As the name suggests, the cancer begins in the prostate glad. Though some studies have pointed to high fat or over production of testosterone intake as potential causes of prostate cancer, there is no definite data to prove these theories. Prostate cancer is the third most terminal cancer to men of any age, and like BHP, the chances of being diagnosed with cancer of the prostate increase with age. Farmers and men who have been exposed to certain chemicals such as cadmium are at a higher risk for developing prostate cancer.

Cancer of the prostate can be treated by laparoscopic prostatectomy. This new and innovative form of surgery is significantly less invasive than open surgery.

The Prostate Clinic, treatment and complete care for all the diseases and conditions which affect the prostate, urinary and reproductive system. Please visit our website at http://www.theprostateclinic.com/

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Benefits of Laparoscopic Prostatectomy Surgery

Benign prostatic hyperplasia may or may not require surgery. When a doctor comes back to a patient with a diagnosis, a patient may ask what the diagnosis means and what he can do about it. The answer will not be prostate cancer surgery because the patient does not have cancer. The patient simply has an enlarged gland. Medical professionals will avoid recommending surgery unless it is absolutely necessary. A good doctor will seek for non-surgical procedures first.

Patients who come back with a different diagnosis may not fare so well. Doctors will prescribe chemotherapy, non-invasive procedures or prostate cancer surgery depending on how far the cancer has spread and the size of the tumor. He may recommend a laparoscopic prostatectomy. The patient may take some time to digest the news. No one ever wants to hear the first diagnosis, and the second suggestion often causes a person to experience a deeper level of shock.

The laparoscopic prostatectomy may sound scary but hundreds of men each year undergo the procedure. It does not necessarily require the entire removal of the prostate gland. The side effects remain the same for other types of treatment for prostate cancer. A man may become impotent, incontinent or suffer increased sexual desire after undergoing the surgery. All three may happen. Other side effects include prolonged pain.

The advantages of this type of surgery over the more traditional radical prostectomy is that it does not require removal of the entire glans. The goal is to remove the tumor. Additional advantages include a reduced amount of blood loss and an increased recovery time. The cancer recovery rites from either type of surgery are comparable. The survival rate with any type of cancer relies on early detection in the patient.

No one wants to hear his doctor says he has cancer. Even benign prostatic hyperplasia does not bode well for most men. Both conditions often start with increased urination, particularly during the night. Taking care of both problems will usually solve the first symptom. Malignant cells cause many more problems if they are left unchecked. Even if they are not left unchecked, the process of chemotherapy causes many problems.

If the patient can find little comfort in the situation, it is the fact that the surgery is unlikely to cause fatal complications. Doctors will understand a desire to seek a second opinion, but they may recommend not to take too long on getting the second opinion.

The Prostate Clinic, treatment and complete care for all the diseases and conditions which affect the prostate, urinary and reproductive system. Please visit our website at http://www.theprostateclinic.com/

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