“Superficial bladder cancer” is an older term for cancer confined to the bladder lining or the tissue immediately beneath it. The preferred modern term is non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer, usually abbreviated to NMIBC. Although these cancers have not invaded the bladder muscle, they do not all behave in the same way. Some are small, low-grade tumours […]
For many years, treatment for localised prostate cancer has involved either monitoring the whole prostate or treating the entire gland with surgery or radiotherapy. ProFocal® therapy represents a newer approach: using precisely delivered laser energy to destroy a selected cancerous area while leaving much of the surrounding prostate untreated. This approach is known as focal […]
A hydrocoele is a collection of clear fluid around the testicle. It usually causes a painless swelling on one side of the scrotum, although both sides can occasionally be affected. Hydrocoeles are common in babies and older men, but they can also develop during adolescence or young adulthood. In a younger man, the important question […]
Father’s Day has just passed here in Australia. Across the country, dads have been celebrated with breakfasts, phone calls, handmade cards and an impressive assortment of slightly quirky gifts. There were novelty socks, barbecue tools, coffee mugs with questionable slogans and gadgets whose purpose may never be fully understood. Some fathers received homemade creations constructed […]
Benign prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is extremely common as men get older. As the prostate enlarges, it can compress the urethra and interfere with the normal passage of urine from the bladder. For some men, lifestyle measures or medication provide adequate relief. Others develop persistent or troublesome urinary symptoms and […]
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. As the prostate enlarges, its lateral lobes may compress the urethra and obstruct the flow of urine from the bladder. Common lower urinary tract symptoms include: A weak or interrupted urinary stream Difficulty starting urination Straining to pass urine Urinary frequency and urgency […]
Benign prostatic hyperplasia—or BPH—is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. As the prostate grows, it may compress the urethra and interfere with emptying the bladder. Typical symptoms include: A weak or interrupted urinary stream Difficulty starting urination Straining to pass urine Urinary frequency or urgency Getting up repeatedly at night Dribbling after urination A feeling […]
Finding sperm in a semen sample after vasectomy can be worrying. However, a positive result does not always mean that the vasectomy has failed. Sperm may remain in the reproductive tract for several weeks or months after the procedure. The most important questions are: How long has it been since the vasectomy? How many sperm […]
Creating a temporary safety zone between the prostate and rectum Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for many men with prostate cancer. Modern radiation techniques are remarkably accurate, but there is one anatomical challenge: the prostate sits immediately in front of the rectum. This means that while radiation is directed at the prostate, part of […]
A diagnosis of advanced or metastatic prostate cancer can be frightening. However, the treatment landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade. Where doctors once relied mainly on testosterone-lowering treatment, we now have combinations of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), modern androgen-receptor medicines, chemotherapy, targeted treatments, radioligand therapy and, for selected cancers, immunotherapy. Importantly, these treatments […]