Can an enlarged prostate be non cancerous?

An enlarged prostate is often called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is not cancer, and it does not raise your risk for prostate cancer. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, commonly found in men over the age of 50.

mountsinai.org - Enlarged prostate Information | Mount Sinai - New York

What does colon cancer pain feel like?

Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain. A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely. Weakness or fatigue. Oct 8, 2022

Last updated Feb 20, 2022

Is vitamin D important for testosterone?

For most men, a higher vitamin D intake will probably not strongly influence the concentration of testosterone, but men with vitamin D deficiency...

Last updated Oct 20, 2022

Promotion

The treatment you choose will be based on how bad your symptoms are and how much they bother you. Your provider will also take into account other medical problems you may have.

Treatment options include "watchful waiting," lifestyle changes, medicines, or surgery.

If you are over 60, you are more likely to have symptoms. But many men with an enlarged prostate have only minor symptoms. Self-care steps are often enough to make you feel better. If you have BPH, you should have a yearly exam to monitor your symptoms and see if you need changes in treatment.

SELF-CARE

For mild symptoms:

Urinate when you first get the urge. Also, go to the bathroom on a timed schedule, even if you don't feel a need to urinate.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine, especially after dinner.

DO NOT drink a lot of fluid all at once. Spread out fluids during the day. Avoid drinking fluids within 2 hours of bedtime. Try NOT to take over-the-counter cold and sinus medicines that contain decongestants or antihistamines. These drugs can increase BPH symptoms. Keep warm and exercise regularly. Cold weather and lack of physical activity may worsen symptoms.

Reduce stress. Nervousness and tension can lead to more frequent urination.

MEDICINES

Alpha-1 blockers are a class of drugs that are also used to treat high blood pressure. These medicines relax the muscles of the bladder neck and prostate. This allows easier urination. Most people who take alpha-1 blockers notice improvement in their symptoms, usually within 3 to 7 days after starting the medicine. Finasteride and dutasteride lower levels of hormones produced by the prostate. These drugs also reduce the size of the gland, increase urine flow rate, and decrease symptoms of BPH. You may need to take these medicines for 3 to 6 months before you notice symptoms getting better. Possible side effects include decreased sex drive and impotence. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat chronic prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), which may occur with BPH. BPH symptoms improve in some men after a course of antibiotics.

Watch out for drugs that may make your symptoms worse:

SAW PALMETTO

Many herbs have been tried for treating an enlarged prostate. Many men use saw palmetto to ease symptoms. Some studies have shown that it may help with symptoms, but results are mixed, and more research is needed. If you use saw palmetto and think it works, ask your doctor if you should still take it.

SURGERY

Prostate surgery may be recommended if you have:

The choice of which surgical procedure is recommended is most often based on the severity of your symptoms and the size and shape of your prostate gland. Most men who have prostate surgery have improvement in urine flow rates and symptoms. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): This is the most common and most proven surgical treatment for BPH. TURP is performed by inserting a scope through the penis and removing the prostate piece by piece. Simple prostatectomy: It is a procedure to remove the inside part of the prostate gland. It is done through a surgical cut in your lower belly. This treatment is most often done on men who have very large prostate glands. Other less-invasive procedures use heat or a laser to destroy prostate tissue. Another less-invasive procedure works by "tacking" the prostate open without removing or destroying tissues. None have been proven to be better than TURP. People who receive these procedures are more likely to need surgery again after 5 or 10 years. However, these procedures may be a choice for:

Do you change diaper at hospital?

You will need to start changing your baby's diaper while he or she is in the hospital. It is important that you check with the nurse about any...

Last updated Jun 30, 2022

Are some cancers hard to detect?

Pancreatic cancer doesn't garner much treatment success for a number of reasons: It's hard to detect early. The pancreas is deep within the body so...

Last updated Sep 23, 2021

Promotion

What are the main causes of prostate cancer?

The following are also associated with an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer: Height, high body mass index, low physical activity, smoking, low tomato sauce consumption, high calcium intake, high linoleic acid intake, African-American race, and a positive family history.

webmd.com - What Causes Prostate Cancer? - WebMD

Prostate cancer affects mainly older men. Six out of ten cases are diagnosed in men over 65, but less than 1% in men under 50. Though uncommon, prostate cancer can be seen in men even in their 30's and 40's. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are more likely to develop prostate cancer than the general population. On a case-by-case basis, doctors cannot say with certainty what causes prostate cancer, but experts generally agree that diet contributes to the risk. Men who consume large amounts of fat -- particularly from red meat and other sources of animal fat cooked at high heat -- may be more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer. The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products are dietary staples than in countries where the basic diet consists of rice, soybean products, and vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cole slaw, or sauerkraut. The underlying factor linking diet and prostate cancer is probably hormonal. Fats stimulate increased production of testosterone and other hormones, and testosterone acts to speed the growth of prostate cancer. High testosterone levels may stimulate dormant prostate cancer cells into activity. Some findings suggest that high testosterone levels also influence the initial onset of prostate cancer.

How far down the urethra is the prostate?

roughly 2.5 cm The prostatic urethra is the portion of the urethra that traverses the prostate. It originates in the region of the bladder neck,...

Last updated Aug 17, 2018

Can a clear sperm get a girl pregnant?

Pre-cum, or pre-ejaculate, is a clear fluid that accumulates at the tip of the penis when some men are aroused. While it has less sperm than...

Last updated Dec 24, 2020

Promotion

Do I need to wipe baby after pee?

There's no real need to wipe your boy down after a wee. Modern nappies are highly absorbent to quickly soak up most of it, while urine rarely...

Last updated Jul 6, 2021

Promotion

Does biotin remove DHT?

While multivitamins are good to take for general health, if you want to use vitamins to help block DHT from causing hair loss, biotin supplements...

Last updated May 30, 2021