Author: Dr. Frank L. Simoncini

By the time men turn 60 years old, 50% of them have developed the condition benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It is not cancerous, but it does have significant symptoms and side effects. Treating BPH in older men: what you should know.

Some Facts About BPH

Benign prostatic hyperplasia means an enlarged prostate gland. This tiny walnut size gland sits near the urethra and doubles its size during puberty. It has a second growth spurt around age 25 and continues to slowly grow.

If it grows too large, it squeezes the urethra, plus the bladder wall thickens and can become weaker leading to urine remaining in the bladder.

Primary Symptoms Of BPH

If the bladder does not empty as it should, there are a number of symptoms which develop as a result.

They include the following:

• Incomplete emptying
• Feeling that your bladder is full even after urinating
• Frequency of urination, typically every one to two hours
• Intermittent urination, urine starting and stopping
• Urgency
• Weak stream
• Straining to pass urine
• Developing Nocturia, waking up more than twice to urinate
• These symptoms can lead to kidney infections, bladder stones, and a reduction in kidney function. Without proper treatment for BPH, a man can experience medical emergencies including kidney damage, frequent UTI, and the inability to urinate.

What You Should Know About Treatments for BPH

There are a wide variety of treatment options for an enlarged prostate. They depend upon the size of the prostate, your age, the symptoms, and your overall health. If your symptoms are mild, you and Dr. Simoncini or Dr. Shaba may decide to wait and monitor them.

Other treatment options include medications, minimally invasive procedures, or more invasive surgery which cause other unwanted side effects.

One of the newer promising therapy treatments is known as the UroLift System. Once you are screened to be a candidate, this Medicare covered treatment uses tiny implants to lift and hold the prostate away from the urethra so urine can flow again. This is performed in a 10 minute outpatient procedure without cutting or removing any part of the prostate.

Additional benefits of UroLift include preserving sexual function and having fewer side effects like incontinence.

One other new treatment is still under development known as Aquablation. This is a robot-assisted technique which uses ultrasound and water jets to remove parts of the prostate.

You no longer have to live with the limiting side effects of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

HIFU, or high-intensity focused ultrasound, is exactly as its name implies. It is an FDA-approved innovative treatment for prostate cancer that uses soundwaves to precisely focus cancer cells and destroy them while leaving the surrounding tissue intact.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s time to explore the benefits of HIFU. Schedule a consultation today with Dr. Simoncini and Dr. Shaba, experts in the field of HIFU treatments. They can answer all your questions, provide personalized advice, and guide you towards the best course of action.

Call (480) 924-7333 to book your appointment at our urology clinic in Gilbert, AZ and learn how HIFU can help you or your loved one overcome prostate cancer.

Benefits of HIFU for Prostate Cancer

The greatest benefits of HIFU for prostate cancer are dramatically reduced incidences of both urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction compared to other types of surgery or radiation. Many men avoid treatment for prostate cancer due to these particularly unpleasant side effects associated with other treatments.

How HIFU Works

This minimally invasive procedure uses sound waves that are transmitted through the wall of the rectum to the cancerous tumor in the prostate. These heated waves are able to kill cancer cells within seconds. Southeast Valley Urology also uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound imaging during the procedure to determine exactly where the tumor is located.

Short bursts of energy can kill cancer cells about the size of a grain of rice in only 3 seconds. The entire procedure takes approximately 2-4 hours, and patients are typically able to return home the very same day.

Who Are the Best Candidates for HIFU?

In order to be a good candidate for this procedure, patients must be in the early stages of prostate cancer, meaning the cancer must be localized to the prostate and has not spread outside to other tissues or organs.

Those who have experienced a recurrence of prostate cancer after radiation therapy can be good candidates. Men who face serious risks posed by other common treatments for prostate cancer can be considered for HIFU treatments.

Any person looking to avoid the side effects and complications of surgery or radiation should devote some of their time to thoroughly evaluating HIFU as a safe and effective option to treating their prostate cancer.

Age, overall health, and the size of the prostate are among the other criteria that will be influential in determining a man’s candidacy for HIFU. If you are considering a HIFU procedure, contact Southeast Valley Urology today and discover your potential outlook and quality of life after treatment.

When is it time to consider a penile implant for erectile dysfunction? If you are tired of taking medications and waiting for them to work, frustrated that they limit your spontaneity, and you want something that is a more permanent solution to erectile dysfunction, you may have your answer. It might be now.

Continue reading “When Is It Time To Consider A Penile Implant For Erectile Dysfunction” →

What’s the difference between BPH and prostate cancer? The most important difference is that BPH, or an enlarged prostate gland, is not cancerous. It doesn’t mean you won’t ever get prostate cancer, but an enlarged prostate is a common condition as men get older. Let’s explain further.

Continue reading “What’s The Difference Between BPH And Prostate Cancer?” →

A vasectomy may seem like a permanent fix to most men as it shuts the door on having any or more children. The truth is, that is not the whole story. Half a million men decide to have a vasectomy each year in the US. The decision begins with when is the right time to get a vasectomy and more importantly, is it right for you?

Continue reading “When Is The Right Time To Get A Vasectomy?” →

Women who have a family history of pelvic organ prolapse or have had a vaginal birth are more vulnerable to this condition. It can be treated if it does occur, but more importantly, there are ways women can prevent pelvic organ prolapse before it happens.

Continue reading “Ways Women Can Prevent Pelvic Organ Prolapse” →

According to the urology care foundation, approximately 40 percent of men over 45 years of age have low testosterone. When people think of testosterone, they often assume it only is used for building muscle and fueling sex drive. While testosterone plays a crucial role in these functions, low T can have an impact on several other areas of a man’s health.  Continue reading “6 Signs of Low Testosterone” →

Many people don’t think of healthy urinary function as interesting, at least not until they have an issue. But urinary problems from BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia can be annoying, uncomfortable, and embarrassing. BPH is an enlarged prostate gland. BPH occurs in almost all men as they age. BPH is usually not a serious problem, but it can affect your health and your mood. Learn about the symptoms of BPH and the cause. Lifestyle changes, such as cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, can sometimes be enough to reduce your symptoms. Get more tips on treating BPH here.
Contact expert urologists Dr. Shaba or Dr. Simoncini if you are experiencing urinary problems. Call (480) 924-7333 to schedule an appointment at our urology  office in Gilbert, AZ today!

Prostate cancer is common in men older than 65, but it grows slowly and can take years to cause symptoms. Most men don’t even know they have it until it’s found during a regular medical exam. Trouble urinating can be one sign, but this can also be a symptom of other problems, like an enlarged prostate. Read more to learn about treatment options and to decide whether the blood test is right for you.

Contact expert urologists Dr. Shaba or Dr. Simoncini for prostate cancer testing and treatment. Call (480) 924-7333 to schedule an appointment at our urology clinic in Gilbert, AZ today!