Many patients are unaware that the symptoms of prostate disease often appear when the disease is already advanced, so it is important to spread the message of not waiting for symptoms to appear. Periodic check-ups allow a more feasible and less invasive cure, with a consequent better quality of life for the patient.
When we refer to prostate diseases, we must know what type of symptoms we are referring to: the signs of urological disease in men are usually associated with problems in urination, such as difficulty in urinating, urine leakage, recurrent infections, frequent urination or pain in emptying the bladder. It is essential to study these symptoms and their origin in order to treat them and avoid the development of a possible serious prostatic pathology.
Sudden urination problems are a symptom of disease.
Urinary problems such as burning or frequency, appearing suddenly, may be due to prostatic infection, and can therefore be found in men of any age, from childhood, youth, adulthood or old age.
On the other hand, chronic and progressive symptoms of voiding difficulty, frequency, voiding urgency or nocturnal urination, should lead us to think of prostate disease in men over 50 years of age and with advanced prostate pathology.
Urodynamic studies to detect the origin of the problem
The urodynamic study is a diagnostic tool that allows us to study these bladder problems, find their origin and thus be able to establish the best diagnosis. Of course, these studies help in the diagnosis of related pathologies such as benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Prostate hyperplasia can be solved in a single day.
Advances in urology techniques have managed to develop a surgical technique for prostate hyperplasia that is more effective, much less invasive and with far fewer risks and complications.
It is important to note that benign prostatic hyperplasia affects half of all men over the age of 50 and more than 80% of men over the age of 80. It is a disease with a very high incidence that has a direct impact on the quality of life with difficulty urinating, frequency/urgency of urination or urine leakage.
Using the laser technique, the prostate is treated with maximum precision in a single session and with a hospital stay of no more than 48 hours, allowing the patient to recover quickly and painlessly.
3 fundamental steps to rule out prostate cancer
For the diagnosis of prostate cancer we have three instruments.
- The first and fundamental, for the reasons previously stated, is a visit to the urologist after the age of 50. It is advisable to do so after the age of 40 if you have first-degree relatives (fathers, brothers, uncles, etc.) affected by prostate cancer.
- Secondly, a blood test to determine the PSA (prostate specific antigen), a marker that is not only for tumors (it is also altered in benign prostate processes), and which helps us to rule out the possibility of prostate cancer.
- Thirdly, we have the digital rectal exam, a simple examination that is performed in the same consultation room and helps us to rule out prostate cancer, especially in cases of prostate tumors that have the particularity of not altering the PSA.
Performing this simple annual control helps us to rule out prostate cancer with a probability close to 100%.
The least invasive treatment for prostate cancer
Radical prostatectomy is the best surgical treatment to combat prostate cancer: it only requires three to five days of hospitalization when performed laparoscopically, and the return to normal activity is usually very rapid, since the postoperative period is normally not complicated or painful.
On the other hand, the complementary treatment with external radiotherapy is performed on an outpatient basis, in about 30 sessions of approximately 10 minutes. These sessions are usually daily, with a weekly rest day. By means of these techniques, the patient can return to his or her normal activity shortly after the end of the treatment.
The importance of putting yourself in the best hands
Having an experienced team in constant training and updating is essential to access the latest advances in Urology in expert hands. The advice and care of experienced specialists makes the difference in a safe, effective treatment with the best outcome.
Our team has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate diseases.
In reference to the laser treatment of prostate hyperplasia, we perform approximately 100 cases per year under this technique, being one of the few teams in Europe that use a diode laser for the technique of prostate vapoenucleation. This technology has allowed us to obtain optimal functional results, with minimal risks, since we have minimized the risk of blood loss compared to other techniques currently in use.
Laparoscopic surgery is our first option whenever indicated. Thus, today we perform with this technique all renal surgeries and for the surgical treatment of prostate cancer, among others.
We apply techniques to minimize risks, preserve erectile function as much as possible in the case of prostate cancer, always assessing the possibility of renal cancer surgery with organ preservation (partial surgery) and always offering a personalized treatment aimed at the best prognosis for the patient.