04 Nov An Enlarged Prostate Doesn’t Always Mean Major Surgery
Medical Notice: Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) is a medical procedure with risks and is not right for everyone. Urinary symptoms can also be caused by conditions other than an enlarged prostate, including prostate cancer, infection, or bladder problems, so a full evaluation by a urologist or other qualified physician is needed first. Seek urgent care if you cannot urinate at all, see blood clots in your urine, or have fever with urinary symptoms. This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Physicians and practices named or linked in this post are not warranted or endorsed by MedicalResearch.com or Eminent Domains Inc.
Choosing the right physician is a critical step when considering less invasive treatment options.
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), can make life difficult. Having to go to the bathroom often, a weak urine stream, and waking up at night can be a constant frustration. For many years, the main surgical solution was transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), in which doctors remove prostate tissue. This surgery works, but it involves a longer recovery and carries risks, such as effects on sexual function.
Dr. Wallis[/caption]
Christopher Wallis, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Urology
Department of Surgery
University of Toronto and Urologic Oncologist
Mount Sinai Hospital
MedicalResearch.com: Could you give a little context - what was the question you were looking at?
Dr. Correa[/caption]
Andres F. Correa, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Surgical Oncology, and
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Dr. Bernstein[/caption]
Adrien Bernstein, MD
Second Year Urologic Oncology Fellow
Fox Chase Cancer Center
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Unfortunately, it has been well-established that historically Black Americans experience increased cancer specific mortality compared to white patients. In prostate cancer specifically studies have shown that when access to care is equitable this gap resolves. This suggests that biological factors are not driving these differences but rather the result of the complex interplay of social determinants and systemic inequities in our healthcare system.
Early in the pandemic, multiple studies demonstrated that minority communities disproportionately shouldered poor COVID-19 outcomes. On March 13th 2020, the American College of Surgeons recommended against elective procedures; however, the definition of an elective oncologic case was left to the discretion of the provider. As prostate cancer treatment can be safely deferred up to a year follow diagnosis, management of prostate cancer during the initial lockdown period of the COVID-19 Pandemic provided a useful analysis of the differential restrictions placed on non-emergent health care during the Pandemic.