Did you know that most patients with prostate cancer (CaP) will also frequently experience BPH symptoms?
A common form of CaP treatment is radiation (XRT). Radiation can be delivered in either traditional external beam or brachytherapy. While it is effective at eradicating CaP, it has no effect on the enlarging prostate. Many patients will go on to develop BPH and obstructive symptoms. Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) has been traditionally used as the standard form of treatment. However, many serious side effects can happen in this patient population: male stress incontinence (SUI), stricture, and bladder neck contracture.
SUI can develop in up to 42% of patients. Post XRT/TURP incontinence can be extremely difficult to treat and requiring major surgery to correct. The reason TURP has such a high rate of male SUI is because the surgery removes the internal sphincter or muscle that controls leakage. The external sphincter is preserved but can be damaged and stiffened from the XRT allowing urine to escape.
Minimally invasive BPH procedures (Rezum & Urolift) were designed to avoid these side effects by targeting the internal mass of the obstructing prostate and avoid the sphincters. Prostate radiation patients with bph obstructive symptoms are ideal candidates. Minimally invasive bph procedures can deliver excellent symptom relief and avoiding any major side effects.
“Preoperative symptoms predict continence after post-radiation transurethral resection of prostate.” Can J Urol. 2017 Aug; 24(4):8903-8909.
