Prostate Treatment Notes

Ablation: Refers to treatments for prostate cancer that involve the removal or destruction of prostate tissue using various methods. These methods include:
- Surgery
- Hormones
- Drugs
- Heat
- Chemicals
- Electrocautery (uses high-frequency electrical current to destroy tissue)
Prostatectomy: The surgical removal of part or all of the prostate gland. The term breaks down into:
- Prostat: Refers to the prostate.
- Ectomy: Means surgical removal.
- Purposes:
- Treat prostate cancer
- Reduce an enlarged prostate gland
- Complication: May lead to erectile difficulties.
Types of Prostatectomy:
- Radical Prostatectomy: Complete removal of the prostate gland, typically for extremely enlarged organs or suspected cancer.
- Transurethral Prostatectomy (TURP): Removal of excess tissue from an enlarged prostate gland using a resectoscope, a specialized endoscopic instrument.
Retrograde Ejaculation: A condition where semen flows backward into the bladder during orgasm instead of exiting through the penis. This is a common long-term complication of TURP.

Radiation Therapy: A method used to control prostate cancer through targeted radiation.
Hormone Therapy: Treatment aimed at reducing hormone levels to manage cancer progression.
Watchful Waiting: Prescribed for older patients as prostate cancer often progresses slowly.

Kegel Exercises: Named after Dr. Arnold Kegel, these are pelvic muscle exercises aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, used to:
- Treat urinary stress incontinence in both men and women.
- Help men with prostate pain and swelling.
- Assist women in recovery after childbirth.
Bladder Retraining: A behavioral therapy approach that aims to restore voluntary bladder control by:
- Urinating on a schedule with progressively longer intervals.
- Breaking the cycle of frequency and urgency associated with urge incontinence.