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Suggest Treatment For Swelling In The Prostate
Question: Hello. My 57 year old brother is in pretty good overall health. He recently found that his urinary flow was slower than normal, and his physician is sending him for an ultrasound test in 2 weeks. His PSA is normal and his digital prostate test was normal, and has no signs of blood. How would this be understood? Could it simply be a function of emotional stress? I always understood problems in that regard would show up in PSA and a digital exam for swollen prostate or worse. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
good that he is getting the ultrasound
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
The prostate wraps all around the base of the penis.
It is great that he had a normal prostate exam and PSA. This means he does not have prostate cancer, however he could still have some benign prostatic hypertrophy. The digital rectal exam can only evaluate part of the prostate. It could still be somewhat enlarged and obstructing urinary flow.
It is great that he is getting the ultrasound to determine the cause of the decreased flow. If it is from the prostate it can be treated before it becomes worse.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Dr. Robinson
good that he is getting the ultrasound
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
The prostate wraps all around the base of the penis.
It is great that he had a normal prostate exam and PSA. This means he does not have prostate cancer, however he could still have some benign prostatic hypertrophy. The digital rectal exam can only evaluate part of the prostate. It could still be somewhat enlarged and obstructing urinary flow.
It is great that he is getting the ultrasound to determine the cause of the decreased flow. If it is from the prostate it can be treated before it becomes worse.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much. How common is this at his age with no family history of prostate problems? What would cause it? He does take medication for cholesterol and hypertension, as well as Qsymia for the past two years. He has had ulcerative colitis in remission for many years.
Brief Answer:
very common
Detailed Answer:
Benign prostatic hypertrophy is extremely common. It occurs in 40-50 percent of men aged 51-60 and increases as men get older so that eventually almost all men get this. Eighty percent of men over 80 years old have some degree of BPH.
We do not completely understand why men get this. There ar some associations with a high fat diet, but increasing age is the biggest risk factor. Luckily we have good medicines to treat it.
Dr. Robinson
very common
Detailed Answer:
Benign prostatic hypertrophy is extremely common. It occurs in 40-50 percent of men aged 51-60 and increases as men get older so that eventually almost all men get this. Eighty percent of men over 80 years old have some degree of BPH.
We do not completely understand why men get this. There ar some associations with a high fat diet, but increasing age is the biggest risk factor. Luckily we have good medicines to treat it.
Dr. Robinson
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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