Don’t underestimate the power of the prostate. It has a very vital function because it’s part of the male reproductive system.
The prostate helps to produce some of the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm from a man’s testicles when he ejaculates, according to the Mayo Clinic. So clearly, it’s an important gland.
The prostate is about the size and shape of a walnut, but as a man gets older it can grow, according to WebMD.com a 40-year-old man may have a prostate the size of an apricot. And in a 60-year-old man, the prostate might be the size of a lemon.
As for anatomy – the prostate sits below the bladder, in front of the rectum and surrounding the urethra, the tube that carries your urine from your bladder. That’s why as it grows it can cause issues with urination and bladder function. The term doctors may use for an enlarged prostate is prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, which is a common condition.
Age and heredity play a role in who may end up with BPH. Here are a few statistics to consider:
- Eight out of ten men develop an enlarged prostate.
- 90% of men over 85 have BPH.
- Only 30% are bothered by the symptoms of BPH.
- Symptoms may include issues with urination like trouble emptying the bladder and straining.
- Treatment for BPH include watching and waiting, changes in lifestyle like limiting drinking before bedtime, medication or even surgery.
Prostate Health
And while you’re likely to not think about your prostate until you have a problem, you should. There are things you can do to keep your prostate healthy when you are younger and as you age, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Green leafy veggies are filled with cancer-fighting antioxidants that are good for the prostate.
- Get vitamin D from the sun. It can reduce your risk of prostate cancer. (But don’t forget to wear sunscreen.)
- Know your prostate cancer risk factors to help you decide the right time to start screenings.
- African American men, those of Scandinavian descent and anyone with a family history of prostate cancer are at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
- Go for regular prostate screenings when the time is right. Most men should start at age 50. But if you’re at a higher risk, start at age 40.
- See a doctor as soon as you think there’s a problem, if not sooner.
If doctor detects an issue and tests confirm prostate cancer, there are treatment options.
Treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, drug therapies and radiation – or a combination of therapies.
CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer
The experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami – which offer state-of-the-art radiation treatment for prostate cancer called stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT – can help you make the right decision for your prostate cancer treatment.
The Advantages of CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer
- It is noninvasive so there are no risk of infection or long periods of downtime like there can be with surgery.
- CyberKnife radiotherapy is faster than traditional radiation. It can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days as opposed to 42 treatments over three months like other types of radiation treatments.
- The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor cells, are exceedingly precise. There is less risk of side effects including impotence and incontinence.
CybeKnife has a 98% cure rate for prostate cancer, according to Dr. Mark Pomper, board certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami.
“CyberKnife is an amazingly precise way to deliver radiation to the prostate,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel. “Miami is blessed to have the CyberKnife Center of Miami, which has an amazing amount of experience.”
CyberKnife Treatment Miami
At CyberKnife Miami, we have successfully treated hundreds of prostate cancer patients from across the country and right here in South Florida with excellent results. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, call CyberKnife Miami for a consultation.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us now at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information.