Understanding Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
- King Charles has revealed he has an enlarged prostate, something that happens to almost all men as they get older. He is set to undergo a surgical procedure next week to minimize the size of his prostate and wanted to informed to the public about his health issue to spread awareness.
- According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic obstruction, is “a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous.”
- Men with the following symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia are urged to seek immediate medical care: the inability to urinate, painful or urgent need to urinate associated with fever and chills, blood in the urine, and major discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen and urinary tract.
- PSA tests are the screening method used to screen for prostate cancer. These tests look for PSA in the bloodstream, which could indicate the presence of prostate cancer.
- People with a family history of prostate cancer or other cancers should begin screening for prostate cancer earlier than the average person. The current recommendation is to begin screening at age 50 if you have an average risk of prostate cancer.
A Buckingham Palace source informed NBC News in a statement on Wednesday that Britain’s King will have the surgical procedure done next week in the hospital.
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“Public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation,” the royal source added.
Additionally, the Buckingham Palace source said King Charles was “was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked, in line with public health advice.”
Although it’s unclear the exact type of surgery King Charles will undergo, it’s helpful to know that several treatment options exist for men with this health issue.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, lifestyle changes, medications, minimally invasive procedures, and surgery can be done for someone with an enlarged prostate like the King, which is also dubbed a benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The NIDDKD explains, “A health care provider treats benign prostatic hyperplasia based on the severity of symptoms, how much the symptoms affect a man’s daily life, and a man’s preferences.
“Men may not need treatment for a mildly enlarged prostate unless their symptoms are bothersome and affecting their quality of life. In these cases, instead of treatment, a urologist may recommend regular checkups. If benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms become bothersome or present a health risk, a urologist most often recommends treatment.”
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News of King Charles’ upcoming procedure comes as Kate Middleton is recovering from surgery.
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a statement from the Kensington Palace this week, informing the public that Middleton, The Princess of Wales (Catherine Elizabeth Middleton) who is married Prince William, underwent planned abdominal surgeru.
The statement read, “The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.”
“Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share,” the statement concluded.
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Understand Prostate Enlargement
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic obstruction, is “a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous,” which is the case for Prince Charles.
The NIDDKD explains, “The prostate goes through two main growth periods as a man ages. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. The second phase of growth begins around age 25 and continues during most of a man’s life. Benign prostatic hyperplasia often occurs with the second growth phase.
“As the prostate enlarges, the gland presses against and pinches the urethra. The bladder wall becomes thicker. Eventually, the bladder may weaken and lose the ability to empty completely, leaving some urine in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and urinary retention, the inability to empty the bladder completely, cause many of the problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.”
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia is often an issue with men over 50 years old, the NHDDKD also notes, adding the men with the following factors or more likely to get benign prostatic hyperplasia:
- Age 40 years and older
- Family history of benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity, heart and circulatory disease, and type 2 diabetes
- Erectile dysfunction
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Symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia include:
- Urinating eight or more times a day
- Urgency to urinate
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- Weak or interrupted urine stream
- Urinary incontinence
- Urine that looks discolored or smells unusual
Complications of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
The following complications, according to the NIDDKD are possible for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia may:
- Acute urinary retention
- Chronic, or long lasting, urinary retention
- Blood in the urine
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Bladder damage
- Kidney damage
- Bladder stones
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“Most men with benign prostatic hyperplasia do not develop these complications. However, kidney damage in particular can be a serious health threat when it occurs,” the NIDDKD explains.
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The NIDDKD also advises that benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms can also reveal a more serious conditions, which could be prostate cancer.
Men with the following systems are urged to seek immediate medical care:
- Inability to urinate
- Painful, frequent, and urgent need to urinate, associated with fever and chills
- Blood in the urine
- Major discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen and urinary tract
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Dealing With Shame
“Shame is an important topic when it comes to cancer,” Tripp Hornick, a testicular cancer survivor who was diagnosed when he was just a 21-year-old college student, previously told SurvivorNet.
“I think we as men have an awful lot that we can learn from what women have to go through with breast cancer.”
Tripp emerged from his experience with an extremely positive message: Do not be a victim. “What you accomplish is what cures any shame,” Tripp says, and there’s no reason you can’t go on to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Coping With The Shame That May Come With Testicular Cancer
Getting Screened for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It starts in the walnut-shaped prostate gland between the rectum and bladder, producing the fluid that nourishes sperm. Fortunately, most prostate cancer is caught with screening examinations.
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is one of the most commonly used screening tools for prostate cancer. It is also used for tracking the disease following diagnosis and during treatment. To perform the test, your doctor will take a blood sample just like any other routine blood test.
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Screening guidelines for prostate cancer depend on your risk for the disease. Age, race/ethnicity, geography, family history and gene changes are the main risk factors for prostate cancer. You should talk with your doctor regardless, but here are some things to consider when looking into your risk for the disease:
- Men younger than 40 are less likely to get prostate cancer, but age-related risk quickly rises after age 50. Approximately six of ten cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65.
- Prostate cancer develops more often in African-American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races, and these men tend to develop the disease at a younger age.
- Prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern Europe, Australia and on Caribbean islands. It is less common in Asia, Africa, Central America and South America. The reasons for this risk factor are unclear, but more intensive screening and lifestyle differences like diet might be contributing factors.
- Most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history of the disease, but it’s still important to look at your family history because prostate cancer does seem to run in some families. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer, for instance, more than doubles a man’s risk of developing the disease with a higher risk for men with a brother with prostate cancer than those with a father who have it. The risk is also especially high if a man has several affected relatives that developed the cancer at a younger age.
- Inherited gene changes, or mutations, like that of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes can also elevate risk, but this probably accounts for a small percentage of overall cases.
It’s not clear if the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the risks for most men. Nevertheless, screening can be life-saving, and it’s important to at least discuss the pros and cons of screening and your risk factors for the disease with your doctor.
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There is not typically one clear-cut sign that suggests prostate cancer.
“Prostate cancer is a very odd disease in that it doesn’t have a particular symptom,” Dr. Edwin Posadas, Director of Translational Oncology and the Medical Director of the Urologic Oncology Program at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
Yet there can be changes surrounding urinary function that might be a clue. Are you urinating too much or too little or are waking up at night to go more than usual? These signs could potentially be cancer, but they also could be a urinary tract infection or even an enlargement of the prostate gland (which is not cancer).
“Looking at your urinary health, your sexual health — and if you’re noticing things are different, bring it to your doc,” Dr. Posadas said. “Mention it as part of your annual physical to make sure that at least he’s thinking about whether or not you’re at risk for prostate cancer.”
Dr. James Brooks, Chief Urologic Oncology Stanford Medicine, says current guidelines recommend prostate cancer screening begin at “age 55 and continue screening through age 70.”
However, men who are at higher risk of prostate cancer, such as having close family members diagnosed with the disease, should consider screening earlier. “At least, at age 40, but probably even by age 35, they should have an initial PSA,” Dr. David Wise, a medical oncologist at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet.
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Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor about your risk of developing prostate cancer:
- How does my family history affect my risk of developing prostate cancer?
- Are their tests available to determine my genetic risk of developing prostate cancer?
- Based on my history, genetic test results and other factors, when do you recommend I begin screening for prostate cancer?
- How can I prepare for prostate cancer screening?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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