Help us to stop prostate diseases ruining lives

Prostate clinic - Contents

How you can help yourself
Seeing your doctor            
Lifestyle Diet Exercise Smoking      
Maintaining prostate health Minerals Antioxidants Cranberry juice Saw palmetto Other therapies  
   • Selenium  • Vitamin E        
   • Zinc  • Tomatoes        
 
Prostate awareness
What is the prostate  
Function of the prostate  
Common diseases  
When to see your doctor  
Frequently asked questions Prostate cancer FAQs BPH FAQs Prostatitis FAQs  
Ignorance isn't bliss
(a campaign aimed at women)
 
 
PSA test
What is PSA?  
Basis of the test Free to total PSA ratios          
Issues surrounding the test Over detection of clinically insignificant cancers 'False–positive' results Anxiety before results become available Exposure of those undergoing biopsy to the risk of complications    
Pros and cons            
 
Raised or rising PSA - what happens next?
Finding a good urologist            
Tests Blood tests Urine tests Physical examination and digital rectal examination Urination questionnaire    
If cancer is suspected Grade Stage        
Grading and staging tests Ultrasound Ultrasound–guided biopsy Bone scans MRI CT scanning Why scans are not always necessary
Outcomes Partin's tables Receiving bad news        
 
Prostate cancer
What is prostate cancer – and what causes it? Stages of cancer Why do some men get it and others do not? Can it be prevented?      
Treatment for cancer that has not spread Active surveillance Radiotherapy Radical prostatectomy Surgery or radiotherapy? The long–term picture  
     • External beam
    radiotherapy
 • Lapiroscopic and
    robotic radical
    prostatectomy
 • How do I make the
    choice?
 • Active surveillance  
     • Brachytherapy  • PSA level after surgery    • Radical prostatectomy  
           • Radiotherapy  
Treatment for cancer that has spread or recurred Locally advanced disease Metastatic disease Recurrence      
   • Active surveillance  • Orchidectomy  • Bisphosphonates      
   • Hormone therapy  • Hormone therapy  • Cytotoxic therapy      
   • Intermittent Hormone
    therapy
 • Maximal androgen
    blockade
 • Hormone treatment      
   • Hormone therapy
    followed by radical
    prostatectomy
   • Other treatment      
   • Hormone therapy
    followed by radical
    radiotherapy
   • Palliative care      
   • Anti–androgen
    monotherapy
         
The future Chemoprevention Better diagnosis New treatments      
       • Cryotherapy      
       • HIFU      
       • Drug treatments      
       • Immunotherapy      
       • Gene therapy      
 
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
What is BPH? Why do some men suffer more than others?          
How is BPH diagnosed? Physical examination and digital rectal examination Urine test Blood test Urine flow tests Ultrasound to measure urine left in the bladder Less common tests
             • Urodynamic
    measurements
             • Transrectal ultra-
    sonography (TRUS)
Treatment Drug treatment Surgery Active surveillance Newer minimally invasive treatments Plant extracts (Phytotherapy)  
   • Alpha blockers  • TURP    • Transurethral
    microwave
    thermotherapy
   
   • 5–alpha–reductase
    inhibitors
 • TUIP    • Laser therapy    
   • Combination therapy  • Open prostatectomy        
   • Other medical
    strategies
 • The long–term picture
    following surgery
       
Prevention            
 
Prostatitis
What is Prostatitis? Risk factors          
Tests Obtaining a sample of prostatic secretions Other tests        
Treatment            
Prostatic abscess            
Preventing prostatitis            
Pain but no inflammation: Prostatodynia            
 
Medications commonly prescribed
Alpha-blockers  
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors  
LHRH analogues  
Anti-androgens  
Anticholinergics and antispasmodics  
Vasopressin analogues  
Other drugs  
 
Some practical advice
Emergency - when to call your doctor  
Having an operation Consent Talking to the anaesthetist  
Physical appearance  
Eating and drinking  
Looking after a catheter The catheter itself The leg bag The night bag Leakage Blood in the urine Infections
Regaining continence  
Self-catheterization  
Radiotherapy for prostate cancer  
Sexual problems after treatment  
Other considerations  
 
Further information and support
General health and lifestyle  
Prostate disorders  
Treatment  
Emotional support  
Continence  
Sexuality  
Practical support  
Support groups  
 
Source of this information
Since this website was first published, the medical information has consisted of largely unaltered text from the handbook "Small gland - BIG problem" written by Professor Roger Kirby and donated to the Charity.  There have so far been three editions of this handbook, at three yearly intervals, and the text in the current website has been taken from Edition 3 published in the autumn of 2006.  It is intended that the handbook will continue to be updated at approximately three year intervals.  In addition, the medical pages in this website will be reviewed in the light of latest practice mid-way between the new editions of the handbook at approximately eighteen month intervals.

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