Prostate treatments are plentiful
By: Unknown Author
Herald Tribune, June 4, 2002
Dear Dr. Donohue: I have to get out of bed three times a
night to urinate. My doc says it's because of my prostate gland. It's too
big. He says I should have the gland removed. Is that the only treatment?
-- W.S.
Dear W.S.: The number of ways to treat prostate gland enlargement
increases on a yearly basis.
When men are in their 50s, about 50 percent have evidence of an enlarged
prostate. By age 70, 50 percent of men must get up during the night to
empty their bladders. Their enlarged glands do not allow complete emptying
of the bladder, so the bladder quickly fills with urine, and it's
necessary to visit the bathroom frequently.
Medicines are one way to fight the prostate problem.
Hytrin, Cardura and Flomax are three related drugs that relax the grip an
enlarged gland has on the base of the urinary bladder and on the urethra,
the bladder's emptying channel, which runs through the prostate gland.
Another medicine treatment is Proscar. It provides a protective shield
around the prostate to stop the influence male hormones have on prostate
growth. In time, Proscar can even shrink the gland.
TURP -- transurethral resection of the prostate -- is a
procedure that leaves the gland in place but pares gland tissue via an
instrument inserted into the penis and gently maneuvered to the site of
the prostate. It's a procedure that has been around for years.
TUMP -- transurethral microwave prostate thermography -- is somewhat
similar to TURP, but it shaves off excess prostate tissue with microwaves.
ILC -- interstitial laser coagulation -- employs a laser beam to reduce
prostate size.
Because of these techniques and because of the
introduction of prostate-shrinking medicines, total gland removal is done
less frequently. There are times when it is the only acceptable way to
deal with an enlarged gland, and it still retains a revered place in
treatment of gland enlargement.
Dear Dr. Donohue: I would like to continue taking glucosamine chondroitin
since it is not hard on my stomach like other medicines are. I read that
diabetics must be careful in taking this drug. My father was diabetic, and
my younger brother has it. Can it cause diabetes? -- M.E.
Dear M.E.: Glucosamine and chondroitin have become some
arthritis patients' favorite treatment. They do work at times. They are
used for osteoarthritis, the arthritis that comes from disruption of joint
cartilage.
Glucosamine appears to restore health and resiliency to joint cartilage.
Chondroitin lubricates joints and protects joint cartilage.
For some people, glucosamine decreases the effect insulin has in ushering
sugar into cells for cellular energy production. Blood sugar can rise.
People with diabetes, therefore, have to monitor their blood sugar with
more caution when they use glucosamine.
I have no knowledge that glucosamine induces diabetes,
even in people with a family history of diabetes.
Write Dr. Donohue at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This
page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been
specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Action on Aging
distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a
prior interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such
copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to
use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go
beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
|
