Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Urology?
Urology is a surgical specialty that deals with diseases of the urinary tract in males and females as well as disorders of the male reproductive system.
What are some of the more common conditions urologists treat?
- Prostate diseases (both benign and malignant)
- Adrenal Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Kidney cancer-including kidney stones
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
- Overactive bladder
- Prostate Cancer
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Testicular Cancer
- Testosterone Deficiency
- Urinary Incontinence
- UTI
- Vasectomy
- Vasectomy Reversal
- Peyronie’s Disease
- Hematuria
- Cystitis
- Prostatitis
- Urethral /Penile Cancer
- Varicocele
What are the current screening guidelines for prostate cancer?
The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening consisting of a digital rectal exam and a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test for all men over the age of 50. Men with family history of prostate cancer should undergo yearly screening beginning at the age of 40-45.
Is there anything new for the treatment of kidney stones?
Most stones in either the kidney or the urethra (the tube that carries the urine from the kidney to the bladder) are now treated with a noninvasive shock wave technique called lithotripsy. Our group has access to the most modern equipment for treating stones on an outpatient basis.
How useful is a PSA test once a patient is diagnosed with cancer?
PSA is an excellent marker for use during and after cancer therapy. PSA lets the patient know how the cancer is responding to the treatment.
What is a no-scalpel vasectomy? The no-scalpel vasectomy is popular in this country due to the decreased discomfort that men experience with this technique. Our group will provide you with the information needed for this procedure.
What are the symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
There are usually no specific signs or symptoms of early prostate cancer, which is why prostate screening is so important. The following are the most common symptoms of prostate cancer. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine
- Urinating often (especially at night)
- Difficulty urinating or holding back urine
- Inability to urinate
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Nagging pain in the back, hips or pelvis
- Difficulty having an erection
The symptoms of prostate cancer may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.
What are some of the symptoms for overactive bladder?
Three main symptoms are associated with an overactive bladder:
- Frequency (frequent urination)
- Urgency (urgent need to urinate)
- Urge incontinence (strong need to urinate followed by leaking or involuntary and complete voiding)
What is Hematuria?
Hematuria is the presence of blood, specifically red blood cells, in the urine. Whether the blood is visible only under a microscope or visible to the naked eye, hematuria is a sign that something is causing bleeding in the genitourinary tract: the kidneys, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, the prostate gland, the bladder, or the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. There are two types of hematuria, microscopic and gross (or macroscopic).
What is a kidney stone?
A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms from crystallization of excreted substances in the urine. The stone may remain in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all of the way out of the body, but a larger stone can get stuck in the bladder or the ureter. This may block the flow of urine and cause great pain. A kidney stone may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl, and some are as big as golf balls. Approximately 80 percent of all kidney stones are less than one centimeters in diameter. They may be smooth or jagged.
