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Prostate Health
from Better Health magazine, Fall, 2002
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Douglas Kozlowski, MD, is a urologist
with Danville Urologic Clinic. He specializes in
the treatment of conditions of the prostate. |
| Q |
What is the prostate
gland and what does it do? |
| A |
The prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ located
under the bladder through which the male urethra
passes. Its primary purpose is to provide seminal
fluid during ejaculation. |
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| Q |
What
are some diseases affecting the prostate? |
| A |
The most common condition of the prostate is non-cancerous
enlargement, or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
About half of all men over age 50 have this condition,
which can result in difficulty urinating or frequent
urination especially at night. Another important
disease is cancer of the prostate which is unrelated
to BPH. |
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| Q |
What are the symptoms
of prostate cancer? |
| A |
Unfortunately, there often are none. A biopsy
is required for a definitive diagnosis, but tests
such as a PSA can help detect a potential problem. |
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| Q |
What is a PSA? |
| A |
PSA, or prostate specific antigen, is a blood
test for men that can assist in detecting prostate
cancer. It should be done for all men after the
age of 50 or earlier if you have a family history
of prostate cancer or are African-American. |
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| Q |
How is prostate
cancer treated? |
| A |
Because prostate cancer in older men is often
slow growing, your doctor may recommend conservative
treatment, including simply waiting. Faster growing
cancers may require surgery or radiation including
implantation of radioactive seeds. All of these
treatments are available at Danville Regional Medical
Center. |
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| Q |
What are some treatments
for benign prostate enlargement? |
| A |
BPH can be treated with medicine, surgery, or
a non-invasive outpatient treatment called TUNA
(TransUrethral Needle Ablation). This is a relatively
new procedure which uses radio frequency energy
to shrink the prostate tissue, allowing urine to
flow more freely through the urethra. Your physician
can determine the right method for you. |
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| Q |
How does TUNA work? |
| A |
The TUNA system uses specialized probes inserted
through the urethra to deliver low-level radio frequency
energy directly into the prostatic tissue. The heat
generated from the energy causes the tissue to contract
and scar, permanently shrinking the areas treated
and relieving pressure on the urethra. |
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