Blog - Prostate Healh

Prostate Health

Prostate Health awareness and knowledge a crucial subjects important for our well-being. Only then can we control future problems associated with prostate health. Its location virtually guarantees a problem if something little goes wrong. The prostate gland is positioned beneath the bladder, in front of the rectum. It surrounds the upper section of the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder to be eliminated from the body. Hence, any problem associated with the Prostate will affect both urination as well as sexual health.

WHAT CAUSES PROSTATE PROBLEMS:-

The prostate is prone to 3 main conditions -

Prostatitis - Infection and Inflammation of the Prostate

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - Prostate gland enlargement happens as a result of the Age factor

Prostate Cancer - Cancerous cells that affect the prostate gland may break out of the gland and affect nearby tissues, lymph nodes and then spread to other parts of the body.

Bacterial infection is the major reason for acute prostatitis. But the exact cause of chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain often remains a mystery and undiagnosed. The immune system may mistakenly attack the prostate region, blasting the gland with inflammatory compounds and another possibility is that bacterial or fungal infections go unnoticed by standard diagnostic tests. Certain foods, as well as stress, depression, chronic pain, trauma to the genitourinary region, and repeated biopsies, can also exacerbate symptoms. Age is the primary risk factor for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. Additional factors linked to prostatitis include a sedentary lifestyle, body weight, high blood pressure, and diabetes. A diet high in sugar, red meat, and refined grains can also contribute to prostate health issues. Specific organs are more susceptible to certain types of cancer, with prostate cancer commonly spreading to the bones.

Unfortunately, Prostate Cancer is the most frequently diagnosed male cancer in the 21st Century and the leading cause of male cancer death.

Prostate cancer symptoms are associated with erectile dysfunction, blood in the semen, pain in the lower back, hips and upper thighs, urinary problems or enlargement of the prostate. Enlargement of the prostate can lead to obstruction with reduced flow, bleeding, infections, urinary irritation and other disorders arising in other parts of the Urinary system.

Hence, timely and appropriate diagnosis is very crucial for Prostate Health. Due to many awareness programs, early diagnosis is possible nowadays and people are getting treated with different options of highly advanced as well as safe treatment procedures. Many men have successfully been treated for Prostate Cancer and are living their happy lives.

Some of the latest technologies used for Prostate Cancer Treatment are -

High Frequency Focused Ultrasound
Cryotherapy
Radiotherapy

High-frequency focused ultrasound - This process is a minimally invasive technique, a high-intensity focused ultrasound procedure that uses high-energy sound

waves, MRI-controlled and Robotically driven. It's a radiation-free treatment of the prostate glands. The technique dates back to 1940, but it only became used for prostate cancer treatment in the mid-1990s. As a safety measure adopted, this technique is mainly suitable for organ-confined disease as well as low-risk patients.

Cryotherapy - This treatment technique, similar to HIFU, uses imaging to target and destroy cancerous tissue without relying on radiation. During the procedure, doctors insert needles into the prostate, which are then cooled with liquid nitrogen. After a specific period, the needles are allowed to thaw, causing cellular damage. This process is closely monitored with an ultrasound probe, while a urinary catheter filled with warm saline helps shield the urethra from thermal harm.

Radiotherapy - Prostate cancer is often treated with two main types of radiotherapy: External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) and Brachytherapy.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): This approach involves targeting the prostate with high-energy radiation from outside the body. The patient typically lies on a treatment table, while a machine called a linear accelerator directs precise radiation beams at the prostate. EBRT is commonly used when the cancer is localized within the prostate or has spread to nearby tissues. It can serve as an initial treatment, a follow-up after surgery, or as a palliative option to relieve symptoms.
Brachytherapy: In brachytherapy, small radioactive seeds are placed directly into or near the prostate tumor. These seeds slowly release radiation, specifically targeting the cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.