September is National Prostate Health Month
September is National Prostate Health Month (NPHM), also known as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. While we encourage men to be in tune with any health abnormalities all throughout the year, September gives us a time to reflect on some of the startling statistics about prostate health and prostate cancer that many people may not know.
According to Men’s Health Network, this year alone, more than 174,600 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 31,600 die from the disease. And while prostate cancer is most often diagnosed in men 65+, it’s important for men of all ages to pay attention to their prostate health. Prostatitis the most common prostate problem for men under 50.
Some of the common symptoms that men with elevated benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) experience are:
- Difficulty or pain in passing urine
- Frequent visits to the toilet, especially at night
- Starting and stopping while urinating
- Having to rush to the toilet to pass urine
- Dribbling urine
- A feeling of not having fully emptied your bladder
It is important to note that these are not necessarily symptoms of prostate cancer, but rather signals to look out for and bring to your physician’s attention, should you experience them.
As noted in a previous blog post, while prostatectomy or radiation therapy are often the most recommended courses of treatment for prostate cancer, there is a newer, less invasive treatment option available to patients. Avant Concierge Urology offers a new prostate cancer treatment option called Tissue Sparing Prostate Ablation (TSPA). This in-office procedure uses an FDA-cleared device and has been developed with the specific goal of treating prostate cancer while protecting surrounding tissue.
Mentioned above, until recently, the two primary methods used to treat and remove prostate cancer were radiation therapy or a prostatectomy, which surgically removes part or all of the prostate gland. However, by going these routes, most men risk having to live with side effects such as erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and continual groin pain in the long-term that can truly impact their quality of life. TSPA offers an alternative to remove the cancer and leave the patient with far fewer side effects.
During a TSPA procedure, which can be accomplished in-office in less than an hour under light sedation, the medical team uses focal therapy, a technique that destroys any small cancerous tumors inside the prostate while leaving the remaining gland intact and sparing most of its normal tissue. The result is less downtime, fewer – if any – long-term side effects, and the ability to eradicate cancerous cells while affording the patient the ability to go back to living his normal life, cancer-free.
It’s important to know your individual risk. Reach out to the team at Avant Concierge Urology today to get your own personalized assessment and – if needed – treatment plan. The best gift you can give to those who care for you is taking control of your health and ensuring you’re around for years to come. This September, make a commitment to yourself, and to the ones you love.