The prostate is a gland that surrounds the urinary tract under the bladder in every man. After the age of 40, this gland gradually grows in every man due to the male hormone. In some men, the growth occurs by blocking the urinary tract, and in some men, the growth becomes cancerous.
Every man after the age of 40 should go to a urologist and have his prostate enlargement checked and get a blood test (PSA) to screen for prostate cancer. Prostate biopsy should be performed in those whose PSA test is high compared to age and prostate volume. You can read my other article for prostate biopsy details.
If men whose prostate enlargement is not cancerous require catheterization, that is, if they cannot urinate at all, the only treatment method is surgery. Endoscopic prostate surgery can be performed with a laser method, namely greenlight, with a success rate of over 95%, with a 1-night stay. It is necessary to remain catheterized for 1-3 days after the surgery. However, this surgical treatment requires anesthesia. If your patient has a condition that prevents them from receiving anesthesia, there are methods that can be performed without anesthesia. The most important of these is burning the prostate with a microwave without anesthesia. The procedure takes approximately 45 minutes. However, the patient's catheter stay may last up to 3 weeks. Success rates vary depending on prostate size and range from 50% to 90%.
For men who do not complain of prostate enlargement severe enough to undergo surgery, there are medications that shrink and loosen the prostate. However, these medications must be taken regularly and for a long time, that is, as long as the person lives. What needs to be noted here is that in patients who have had prostate treatment or surgery, the risk of developing cancer still continues because only the obstructing part of the prostate is removed and its shell is left. All men should continue regular prostate cancer screening.
The next step for men with prostate cancer is to check whether this cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland and whether it has spread to other organs. If it has spread to another organ, the treatment should be to suppress the male hormone as soon as possible. This is a removal of the testosterone-producing area inside the testicles or an injection every 3 months. This injection must be given for life. Also take it every day You may also be given a pill to take.
If prostate cancer has spread only to the area around the organ, the treatment is to remove the prostate along with the surrounding tissues and if there is still cancerous tissue left behind, it is dried with radiotherapy (radiation therapy). In patients who cannot tolerate prostate cancer surgery, radiation therapy can be given together with drug therapy.
If prostate cancer is only within the organ, that is, if it is detected early, the prostate gland can be removed with the help of a robot or open surgery. Generally, a hospital stay of 2-7 days is required. It may take 1-3 weeks for the catheter to clear in the urinary tract. The operation may take between 2-5 hours. If there is no cancerous tissue left behind, there is no need for additional treatment. The most common side effects of this operation are decreased erectile strength and sometimes urinary incontinence.
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