The Prostate - A Guide for Men and the Women Who Love Them (Paperback)

This year, 200,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. An even greater number will seek help for problems caused by prostate enlargement and inflammation. This text is intended for them - and for the wives, sisters and daughters who often take responsibility for educating men about their health matters and encouraging them to see a physician. Written by a world-renowned Johns Hopkins surgeon who devised the new, nerve-sparing surgical procedure for treating prostate cancer (generally known as the "Walsh procedure") and an award-winning medical writer, this book is an accessible and authoritative resource about the three most common prostate disorders: prostate cancer; benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP, commonly known as enlarged prostate); and prostatis (inflammation of the prostate). By alleviating men's fears about treatment and assuring them that many men can lead normal, active lives after prostate surgery, the authors hope to encourage men to seek medical attention for their prostate problems and help them to understand the options that are available. After explaining the anatomy and functions of the male urinary and reproductive systems, the book describes symptoms, diagnostic procedures and medical and surgical treatment for the major prostate disorders. The controversial "watchful waiting" approach to teatment is also thoroughly discussed. The authors offer advice on how to choose a surgeon, what to expect before and after surgery and when to call the doctor if problems develop. They discuss all the symptoms that lead men to seek treatment - such as frequent or urgent urination and back pain - as well as the possible complications of untreated prostate disorders and surgery. Chapters cover topics include: the male urinary and reproductive systems; who gets prostate cancer; screening and diagnosis; what to do when prostate problems develop; treating prostate cancer with surgery, radiation and cryoblation; treating advanced prostate cancer; help for impotence and incontinence after prostate treatment; understanding BPH and how it's diagnosed; when BPH needs to be treated; and inflammation of the prostate. The book includes chapter summaries, stories about the experiences of individual patients and families, and explanatory tables and charts.