King Charles III will undergo a procedure the week of January 21 to treat an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace announced on January 17.
“In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure.”
The King, 75, will postpone his public engagements for a short stint of time as he recuperates from his procedure.
According to the BBC, while it may not be routine for senior members of the royal family to disclose medical information, perhaps King Charles chose to share his diagnosis to encourage other men to get checked.
And that is an important message.
What Is an Enlarged Prostate?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia or an enlarged prostate is the most common prostate problem for men over the age of 50, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. It affects 50% of men between ages 51 and 60, and up to 90% of men older than 80.
While the cause is not well understood, it could be related to hormones as men age.
According to WebMD.com, the prostate is the size and shape of a walnut. But as a man age’s the prostate can grow. A man in his forties may have a prostate the size of an apricot, and a 60-year-old man may have a prostate the size of a lemon.
Here is why a man with an enlarged prostate may experience issues.
The prostate sits just below the bladder, in front of the rectum and it surrounds the urethra. As it grows, it can put pressure on the urethra and cause issues with urination – like the urge to urinate, difficulty urinating, waking to go to the bathroom, a slow or weak stream, or straining.
When urine does not leave the bladder properly, it can lead to problems like urinary tract infections, incontinence, blood in the urine and bladder stones. If you are not able to urinate at all, that is a medical emergency so you should go straight to the emergency room.
In some cases, enlarged prostates can lead to bladder or kidney damage – even prostate cancer.
Enlarged Prostate Treatments
Common treatments for an enlarged prostate include lifestyle changes, medication, minimally invasive procedures, or surgery.
Lifestyle changes – like lowering caffeine consumption or reducing liquids before bedtime – may help men with mild symptoms. Medications are aimed at stopping the prostate from growing, shrinking it, or reducing symptoms.
Minimally invasive procedures also help to shrink the prostate by removing some of the enlarged prostate tissue by widening the urethra. And in some cases, doctors turn to surgery when medications or minimally invasive procedures are no longer effective, or if there are complications.
Enlarged Prostate Versus Prostate Cancer
Enlarged prostate and prostate cancer sometimes have similar symptoms like urgency or difficulty urinating, pain while using the bathroom or ejaculating, or a weak or interrupted urine stream.
That is why at the first sign of a problem you should see your doctor.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are treatments, like CyberKnife, which offer minimal disruptions to a man’s lifestyle.
CyberKnife Miami for Prostate Cancer
According to Prostate Cancer Research one in eight men will develop prostate cancer during his lifetime. The risk is one in four for African American men. Most will be diagnosed after the age of 70.
However, prostate cancer is treatable and curable – especially when caught early.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, call the experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami.
We treat prostate cancer with a non-invasive form of radiation called stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT. The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are so precise that there is a reduced risk of side effects including impotence and incontinence. And CyberKnife has an up to 98% success rate for prostate cancer.
According to a 2015 study, in prostate cancer patients treated with CyberKnife, erectile function preservation compared favorably to data following radical prostatectomy, a radiation therapy called brachytherapy or conventional radiation treatments.
And CyberKnife treatments can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days instead of up to 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
Side effects of CyberKnife may include tiredness — or urinary or rectal irritation. Medication can help minimize these, and they usually go away in a few weeks. And there is no risk of infection like there is with surgery.
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, call CyberKnife Miami for a consultation at 305-279-2900 or go to go to our prostate cancer website. We can talk to you about why CyberKnife may be the best option for you.