Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or adenoma is an enlargement of the stromal or epithelial component of the prostate gland. The disease occurs in men over the age of 40, less often at an earlier age. According to statistics, the probability of its development after the age of 50 is about 40%, and more than 75% - after 65. In fact, 90% of men sooner or later face this disease, so you need to knowprior to the cause. , risk factors, symptoms and modern treatment of prostate tumors.
Danger
An adenoma is a benign formation, therefore, by itself, it does not harm the body. However, as they grow older, the formations block the lumen of the urinary tract, preventing the flow of urine. This is due to some unpleasant complications and painful sensations, especially in the later stages. The appearance of obstruction leads to the formation of infections, stones in the bladder, damaging it, as well as serious disorders in the work of the kidneys, which leads to kidney failure. Therefore, right from the moment of mild symptoms, it is necessary to immediately visit a urologist for a thorough examination and based on its results to choose the most effective treatment for prostate cancer.
Stages and symptoms
The course of the disease can be divided into three main stages, accompanied by different symptoms:
- I - characterized by frequent urges to urinate, nocturia (increased volume of urine at night), first sign of urinary incontinence, slower flow. At this stage, the disease can persist for several years without developing a more severe form;
- II - the symptoms are more pronounced. Urine flow can be interrupted, with frequent straining to urinate, often leading to a hernia and prolapse of the rectum. After visiting the toilet, there is a feeling of dissatisfaction, incomplete emptiness. The disease develops more actively, the transition to the next form takes relatively little time;
- III - due to the cumulative impact, the bladder stretches, its elasticity decreases, infection develops, kidney stones appear, urination increases. General symptoms of poisoning may also appear - weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, persistent dry mouth.
It should be understood that similar symptoms accompany certain types of neurological disorders and cancers. An accurate diagnosis can only be made in the clinic after conducting proper research.
Cure
Currently, prostatic hyperplasia is a fairly well-studied disease. Its treatment does not cause any particular difficulties and can be done in different ways, depending on the severity of the disease, the type of disease, the speed and stage of development, the age of the diseaseindividual, general health and other factors.
In general, all methods are conventionally divided into pharmacological, non-pharmacological and surgical. There are also many recipes from alternative (traditional) medicine, including with the help of various herbal preparations, but their effectiveness has not been proven by clinical trialsand in some cases, such treatments for prostate cancer only complicate the course of the disease. , negatively affect the patient's condition.
Non-drug techniques
For mild symptoms or more severe symptoms that do not affect quality of life, watchful waiting, also known as active waiting, is used. It includes regular monitoring of the condition without the use of medication. In addition, behavioral therapy is also performed, including:
- refuse to take anticholinesterase drugs and diuretics without further guidance from the attending physician;
- obligatory emptying of the bladder before going to bed;
- physical therapy exercises, Kegel exercises and other movements aimed at training the pelvic muscles;
- reduce the use of diuretic products and liquids, especially - three hours before bedtime.
This technique is used independently and as an adjunct to drug therapy.
Medicines for treatment
Several medications may be prescribed for moderate to severe symptoms, including:
- alfuzosin, tamsulosin and other alpha blockers;
- solifenacin, M-anticholinergic, muscarinic receptor blocker - with clear predominance of obstructive symptoms;
- phosphodiesterase type V inhibitors - commonly used in the treatment of impotence and its causes, but have been shown to be effective in treating hyperplasia;
- Finasteride and other 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors - reduce the rate of proliferation of prostate tissue, reducing its size.
These and other drugs are often used before surgery or when they are contraindicated for some reason.
Surgery
Today, surgery is considered the "gold standard" and is the most effective treatment for prostate cancer. With their help, you can completely get rid of prostate cancer with minimal consequences for the body, maintaining the ability to urinate and have a normal erection. Their main advantage is their applicability at any stage of the disease. At our clinic, several main types of surgical interventions are performed. The decision on how to treat a prostate tumor is made by the health care practitioner along with the patient after a thorough examination and examination.
Removal of the accessory gland
Adnexectomy is a classic surgery that involves an incision in the perineum or lower abdomen and removal of inflamed glandular tissue using different instruments. The main advantage of the method is its good knowledge and no special equipment, so it can be used in almost any clinic. However, due to the opening, the surgery is often accompanied by heavy bleeding. In addition, because the prostate gland is located close to the nerve ganglia, there is always a potential risk of damage leading to sexual and urinary dysfunction.
Transparency surgery
TURP of prostatic hyperplasia is a procedure to remove part of the prostate gland using an electrocardiogram. Today, it is one of the most preferred and frequently performed surgeries due to its low invasiveness. All instruments are delivered through the urethral canal without any incision, so there is no blood loss, no scarring on the skin and the recovery time is only a few days. In addition, during surgery, complete information about the state of the urinary system is collected and any abnormalities are eliminated.
New in prostate cancer treatment
The most promising are minimally invasive methods using advanced technology and equipment. Including:
- Holmi laser nucleation of prostatic hyperplasia (HoLEP) - surgery is performed through small incisions (up to 2 cm). With the help of an endoscope, a laser fiber is inserted into the bladder and through its neck is delivered to the gland. The teratoma is removed using gentle incisions made with an ultra-precise and safe holmium crystal laser, after which it is destroyed. This approach ensures almost no damage to healthy tissues and minimal blood loss;
- Transurethral photo-selective sauna - method that involves complete burning of damaged tissue using focused laser radiation without harming healthy cells. The intervention is performed through the urethral canal, eliminating any incisions and scarring, allowing you to achieve a minimum number of recurrences, reducing the recovery time to a few days;
- Robotic-assisted laparoscopy - performed using the advanced robotic complex "Da Vinci", equipped with the necessary tools and equipment for video recording. The control is carried out by an experienced surgeon on a special terminal and the image from the camera is displayed on a large screen with high resolution, which greatly expands the field of view. work. The robot's special algorithms smooth out all sharp and random movements of the operator, completely eliminating human factors such as vibrations. The use of the compound allows you to perform the operation as precisely and precisely as possible, through small, few mm incisions.
All of these methods have a significant drawback - the equipment is expensive and requires qualified personnel to work with it. Therefore, such techniques may not be used in every hospital.