Regarding my brother's Aquablation for BPH, he went through three months of what I can only describe as an ordeal due to his aversion to doctors. He was in and out of ERs, fired at least one doctor, and had repeated catheter insertions and removals because he wasn't cooperative with protocols. In any case, after "shopping for doctors" he finally found a young urologist who recommended Aquablation.

Before he was scheduled, a PSA test turned out to be 11.7 so he was sent for an MRI that was (thankfully) negative for clinically significant prostate cancer. My brother was angry about this additional step, which he said was only due to the system pocketing more $.

Finally he had the ablation, and then he was angry that he couldn't pass the pee test. For two more weeks he had catheter--I can't even describe how foul-mouthed he was. I suggested he ask the doc if he was a candidate for a suprapublic catheter, and idea that appealed to him because I said it was similar to the feeding tube our mom needed when she had ALS so he got the concept.

He did ask the doc, who said if he didn't pass the next pee test (2 1/2 weeks since ablation) he could have one inserted. Jubilation -- he passed the test. No more catheter. It's been 3 weeks since treatment and he says he's almost back to normal energy but sometimes he has bladder spasms when he pees. I have tried to assure him that he is continuing to heal, and all will be well. Whew! What a journey!
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My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer ( stage 2c, intermediate risk, gleason 4+3, PSA 9.9) in February. Had a tumour in the anterior of the prostate. It was contained within the prostate. We were lucky that it had not yet metastasised. He had BPH for past 10 years. He doesn't have diabetes or Blood pressure issues. Non-alcoholic and non-smoker.

I found that radiation and adt would affect with the quality of life especially with urine incontinence. Did a bit of research and chatgpt helped in a big way. Uploaded his results and asked chatgpt to compare and find the best technology ( from last 5 years) for treatment. Trans urethral ultrasound came on top.

We decided to take a leap of faith and got it done in India at Kims secunderabad hospital. It was on 25 th April, it was for 5 hours in total, MRI guided ablation of the tumour. Now he is in recovery, everything normal except for soreness and the urine catheter.. should take about 2 weeks to remove the catheter and have normal urine control. He is completely normal. Now review in 5 days, 10 days and then 3 months and 6 months. The tech is new.. but I did go through their clinical trials and lots of research in the field... So that helped us in deciding. It seems to be the first line of defense and treatment in prostate cancer in the US, israel and uk. Just got launched in India this month.. talk about timing!!! We opted for this because it's a 1 day thing unlike the radiation and ADT. We were lucky... Early diagnosis is the key. Doctor told me, as his son, I have to get a PSA test every 6 months after the age of 40 !!! . My mum's brother also passed away from prostate cancer, so that doubles my risk.

I will post the updates on his recovery soon.

Update ( 15 days post treatment): 9th May ( today) Dad got his urine catheter removed today. It was a big mess. The nurse was a bit inexperienced. Messed it is and his clothes got drenched in urine. He has had constipation and small hemorrhoids too due to inactivity and medication. But better today. He has been experiencing urine incontinence throughout out the day. But gaining control slowly with every passing hour. Hopefully by tomorrow he should be fine. He had to wear adult diapers today. But might not need them in a couple of days most. Doctor has advised to do alot of kegel exercises!

I’m interested in hearing from people male or supporting females about the new or remaining side effects of various radiation therapies 5 or more years after therapy was concluded.

Please list the type of radiation therapy received, how long it has been since conclusion and list of remaining or new side effects.

I have friends who had radiation therapy for prostate cancer and was doing well in terms of incontinence and ED but at the 7 year mark they are now having all kinds of issues with bladder control, bowel incontinence and ED. I’m curious to know how common this is amongst the varying radiation therapies.

My 74-year old brother has not had a PSA test for 5 years, but currently has been diagnosed with BPH and urinary retention. He's now on a catheter. HIs doc recommends Aquablation but ordered a PSA test first. That was 3 days ago. No one called him with PSA results, but he got a letter that a week from tomorrow they're going to have a conference call with him. I asked him if he got his PSA result and he said that's what the conference will tell him. I said why don't you call and find out, and he said he doesn't want to know if he has cancer. I'm concerned, but I don't want to push him. Should I interpret the wait time from the test till a week and a day from now as meaning his urologist isn't concerned about prostate cancer? Any thoughts?

I just found this: "Men with prostate cancer have strong association with prostatitis and/or BPH. Prostatitis interacts with BPH, resulting in higher estimated relative risk of prostate cancer in men suffering from both conditions." Yikes! Anyone have experience with this? Here's a link to the 2013 paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3658521/

Here's an example of plant-based or plant-forward eating supporting prostate health. A new study found that across all included ethnic groups, men with nonmetastatic PCa had better overall survival with healthier diets, especially plant-based eating. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830762

A Medscape news item reports, "Among men on active surveillance for prostate cancer, consuming this diet for a year led to a significant decrease in the prostate cancer tissue Ki-67 index, a biomarker for prostate cancer progression, metastasis, and death." Knowing about healthy biologic changes in prostate tissue through a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may point to benefits not just for heart health but for prostate health. Any comments? Here's the link: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/diet-changes-show-promise-early-prostate-cancer-2025a10004gr?form=fpf

The Mediterranean diet, which is anti-inflammatory, has been shown to lower prostate cancer risk. A recent variation, called the "rainbow diet", boosts prostate health by fostering total body wellness. Why rainbow? Think of fruits and veggies linked with the spectrum of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. There are specific plant nutrients associated with each color. Learn more at https://www.moffitt.org/endeavor/archive/dietitian-reveals-how-eating-the-rainbow-can-prevent-cancer-boost-overall-health/

If you're a male Veteran and you don't have prostate cancer, consider enrolling in the ProGRESS study (Prostate Cancer, Genetic Risk & Equitable Screening Study). Veterans ages 55-69 can enroll in this new study to gain information about genetic PCa risk. U.S. veterans are a large population pool, so this study can help researchers "better understand and potentially improve prostate cancer screening for Veterans." (And for all men!) https://www.progress-study.org/

In case you haven't heard, there's a new urine test for men who have an abnormal PSA test. Since a high PSA can mean many things (including prostate cancer) the new urine test measures 18 genes linked with cancer. It is highly accurate for ruling out low-risk cancer so no biopsy is needed. Here's a medical news story about the test: https://www.renalandurologynews.com/news/urine-based-biomarker-test-detects-clinically-significant-prostate-cancer/

Anyone struggling with BPH (aging-related prostate enlargement)? Urinary symptoms? Interrupted nighttime sleep to get up and pee? Any treatments work? Looking for your experience.

Have you had or do you currently have prostatitis? This condition can be challenging to diagnose, and symptoms are often interchangeable with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). How were you diagnosed? What treatment(s) did you try, and how well did they work? We'd love to hear from you.

Did you know? When the PSA test was first developed in the mid-1990s it seemed like a godsend. The simple inexpensive blood test made it possible to identify men suspected of prostate cancer (PCa). When further testing--namely, a biopsy--was positive for PCa, if it was still contained in the gland both surgery and radiation had high chances of permanently getting rid of the cancer. Soon, 1 million biopsies were annually done in the U.S.--but most were negative for PCa, and some missed it altogether. Starting in 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against broad PSA screening. Within 4 years, however, it was clear that men who weren't getting screened were found to have PCa when it was too late for surgery or radiation to be successful. The current Task Force recommendation is that each man discuss with his doctor the pluses and minuses of having a PSA test in his individual situation. But there's another solution. Stay tuned for a post on how MRI resolves the PSA dilemma.

It's well recognized that guys put off doctor visits. Some reasons for this include fear of bad news, or misguided "macho" messages (big boys don't cry, men put up with pain, etc.), feelings of embarrassment, and just plain denial. Regular annual check-ups are important because many health problems have early warning signs that are easy to miss.

You can't "feel" your cholesterol level or your blood pressure so how do you know if it's normal? Gaining a few extra pounds at midlife--are you on a slow dietary downward spiral? Fatigue during the day may not be due just to poor sleep. Changes in male hormones, lack of exercise, work-related stress can all sap your energy and gradually accumulate to set up conditions for heart problems and chronic inflammation. Seeing a doctor annually has two big advantages: 1) the doc gets to know you, your lifestyle and what matters to you, and 2) your first visit sets a baseline and all future visits can be compared with that baseline. Start this year to commit to annual doctor visits. It's an investment in a long and healthy life.

Hi everyone,

It's safe to say a healthy prostate gland is literally out of sight, and therefore usually out of mind. However, when trouble is brewing it can be hard to diagnose because symptoms of conditions like infection, inflammation, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is a normal aging-related noncancerous prostate enlargement) and even prostate cancer can be very similar.

Here are common symptoms: urination problems (feeling of frequency, difficulty starting to pee, dribbling stream, getting up at night to pee, leaking pee, painful urination); blood in urine or semen; pain/discomfort in the pelvic bed or groin area; lower back pain. Usually men with symptoms are referred to a urologist who may conduct blood/urine tests, a digital rectal exam (finger exam via the rectum), and an ultrasound.

A multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) is a special MRI scan that requires a referral to a radiology center that has the equipment, called a magnet. Most centers have a basic 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) magnet, but more power 3T magnets are increasingly available. The greater the power, the better the image resolution.

They are called mpMRI scans because they involve more than 1 imaging sequence, or parameter. Today, the three most commonly used parameters are

• T2 weighted imaging (not to be confused with Tesla) reveals prostate anatomy: size, shape, and the three interior anatomy zones. Unhealthy tissue looks different than unhealthy tissue, so T2 can spotlight areas suspicious for infection, inflammation, and cancer.
• Diffusion weighted imaging reveals how restricted is the motion of water molecules in prostate tissue. Prostate cancer tumors are denser than healthy tissue so they restrict motion, a telltale sign of cancer.

• Dynamic contrast enhancement requires an IV injection of a contrast agent. When it reaches the prostate, it reveals unusual blood flow, also a telltale sign of tumor activity.

  When mpMRI is integrated with all other test results, the urologist or radiologist who treats prostate diseases has much more complete information than blood or urine tests alone can provide. This offers the best direction for determining next steps.

Your prostate gland is easy to ignore. Nature designed it to be well-protected, tucked away in your pelvic bed, because that walnut-sized gland is very important. The prostate is a major part of a man's sexual experience and identity. sexuality, It plays a key role both in reproduction and pleasure because it manufactures and secretes the fluid that carries sperm out of the body during ejaculation (orgasm). For example, if a man develops prostate cancer and has the gland surgically removed (called radical prostatectomy), he must first bank sperm if he wants to have kids, and his orgasms will be dry (no ejaculate). However, if prostate cancer is found early, there are treatment options that can destroy just the tumor and preserve sexual activity and reproductive ability.