The Clinic at Beverly Hills

Warning Signs of BPH and Prostate Cancer

Warning Signs of BPH and Prostate Cancer

Men’s health is crucial and one of the most important things to keep in mind is prostate health. An enlarged prostate or prostate cancer can have serious consequences if not detected and treated early, and this becomes particularly apparent in men as they age.

Luckily, there are several key indicators and warning signs to be made aware of when seeking to detect BPH, prostate cancer, or any other prostate issue in a timely manner. While these key indicators and warning signs aren’t conclusory, they are cause for concern and should trigger men to act immediately upon detection.

The following are the most common and relevant warning signs for both BPH and prostate cancer in men, noting that some of the warning signs may have some overlap between the two.

Key Indicators of BPH & Prostate Cancer

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), commonly referred to as an enlarged prostate, affects most men as they age, and is a non-cancerous condition that can cause urinary problems and discomfort.

Some of the warning signs of BPH include difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak urine flow, urgency or frequent urination, especially at night, inability to fully empty the bladder, and straining to urinate.

Prostate cancer, on the other hand, is a serious condition that can be life-threatening if not detected early, characterized by cells in the prostate growing abnormally and forming a tumor.

Some of the warning signs of prostate cancer include blood in urine or semen, painful ejaculation, difficulty having an erection, pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs, and a lump in the area between the anus and scrotum.

As you can see, the most common indicators and warning signs of both BPH and prostate cancer are often the most reported symptoms experienced by diagnosed patients with said conditions.

If you identify any or all of the above warning signs and are experiencing pain and/or discomfort, it’s imperative to seek medical attention immediately, for you’ll learn that early detection and treatment is key to the relief from prostate symptoms.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Early detection and diagnosis of BPH and prostate cancer are crucial for successful treatment, accomplished by regular check-ups and maintaining good prostate health via lifestyle intervention.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal examination (DRE) are two common ways to screen for prostate cancer. If there is a suspicion of prostate cancer, a biopsy may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis.

There are several treatment options available for BPH and prostate cancer, including surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and medications.

A Radical Prostatectomy and Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) are surgical options for treating BPH, while radiation therapy is an option for treating prostate cancer. Finally, hormonal therapy is used to slow the growth of prostate cancer, while medications can help relieve symptoms and improve urinary flow in patients with BPH.

In conclusion, it is important to be aware of the warning signs of BPH and prostate cancer and to have regular check-ups to maintain good prostate health. Early detection and treatment of these conditions can significantly improve a man’s chances of a successful outcome.

Don’t wait, take control of your prostate health today!

For more information surrounding prostate health, contact our team of doctors, nurses, coaches, and nutritionists at The Clinic at Beverly Hills. Phone 416-630-1712 or 647-352-3233.

Dr. Ravi Kumar completed his Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster University. He then pursued his Medical Doctorate and Urology residency at The University of Ottawa. He subsequently completed a fellowship in Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre at the University of Toronto. During his fellowship, he obtained a Master of Engineering from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. He is the co-lead author of the Canadian Urological Association/American Urological Association guideline on the diagnosis and management of adrenal masses.

Dr. Kumar treats a wide variety of urologic conditions including BPH and kidney stones, with a special focus on delivering cutting-edge care for prostate cancer, kidney cancer and bladder cancer.

Dr. Ashwin Maharaj obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology/Physiology from the University of Western Ontario (BSc). e became certified through is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and was certified as fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and recently recertified. He is a member of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons. His current clinical interests are devoted to outpatient acute and chronic gastrointestinal medicine/surgery as well as abdominal wall hernia surgery and practices in certified facilities in Toronto. He has research experience in gastrointestinal disease as well as surgical education teaching resident surgeons and medical students.

Dr. Diana Magee completed her undergraduate education at Cornell University followed by a Master of Public Health degree at Boston University. She received her medical degree from Queen’s University and completed her urology residency at the University of Toronto. While in residency she enrolled in the Surgeon Scientist program and completed her Master of Science in Health Services Research. She completed her fellowship in urologic oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Magee’s area of expertise is in the management of urologic cancers as well as performing minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Pianezza completed his medical degree (MD) at the University of Ottawa in 2002. He became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCSC). He then completed a one-year fellowship in minimally invasive surgery and endourology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 2008.

Dr. M. Pianezza has been a staff urologist in Sudbury at the Health Sciences North since January 2010. He was Head of Urology from February 2013 to September 2016. He is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Dr. Heimrath completed his medical school at the University of Ottawa, his surgical residency at McGill University, and his Endourology, Minimally Invasive, and Robotics Fellowship at the University of Toronto. Dr. Heimrath’s areas of expertise include the management of complex kidney stones and urologic cancers as well as performing minimally invasive surgery. Since 2016, Dr. Heimrath has worked overseas in Malawi and Rwanda to explore opportunities to build urologic and surgical capacity in the developing world. He is a partner in the Urology Global Surgery initiative at the University of Toronto and holds a lecturer appointment with the University of Toronto.

Endoscopy

Procedures & Conditions Treated

SIBO for IBS

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a clinical condition characterized by a malabsorption syndrome due to an increase in microorganisms within the small intestine.

Gastric ballon

The Clinic at Beverly Hills offers patients the option between two industry leading gastric balloon procedures. The traditional endoscopy guided Orbera Gastric Balloon and the revolutionary swallowable Allurion Gastric Balloon.

Laser Hemorrhoid Treatment

Hemorrhoids are a natural part of the human body and, when healthy, assist with the closure of the anus.

Hemorrhoids are vascular cushions that move blood to and from the anus and help support the function of the sphincter. Most people think of hemorrhoids as the disorder known as hemorrhoids or piles.

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress Urinary incontinence (SUI) means the uncontrollable loss of urine – an involuntary loss or leakage of urine during precipitating activities like coughing, laughing, sneezing, straining, exercising etc. Early signs of SUI are complaints relating to dysuria, frequency, and urgency. At TCBH Surgical Centre, we offer two treatment options for Stress Urinary Incontinence.

iTind

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in which your prostate grows in size. Your prostate is a gland that rests below your bladder and in front of your rectum. It’s about the size of a walnut, and it surrounds part of your urethra. Your urethra is a tube that carries urine and sperm (ejaculate) out of your body. If your prostate grows in size, it can prevent urine and ejaculation from passing through your urethra. BPH is not cancerous. However, symptoms of BPH may indicate more serious conditions, including prostate cancer. TCBH Surgical Centre provides two treatment options.

Rezum Water Therapy

How The Rezum™ Water Vapor Therapy Works

  • RezumTM Water Vapor Therapy is a novel technology that helps people who are suffering from BPH symptoms.
  • In each application, sterile water vapor is released to the targeted prostate tissue. When the steam turns back into the water, all the stored energy is released, causing the cells to die.
  • Over time, your body’s natural healing response removes the dead cells, shrinking the prostate. With the extra tissue removed, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms.
  • The maximum benefit may occur within three months.
    Patients’ responses to treatment can and do vary.

Nanoknife for Prostate Cancer

NanoKnife or Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) consists of placing a number of electrodes into the prostate to surround the area of significant cancer.

Short pulses of electricity using very high voltage are passed between the electrodes. This causes micropores to occur in all cells, including the cancer cells, which lead to their death.

Dr. Luke Fazio is the current Chief of Urology at Humber River Hospital. Dr. Fazio received his medical degree from McGill University in 1999. Following this, he finished his Endourology and Minimally Invasive fellowship at the University of Toronto. As the Urology Medical Director, he has brought many minimally invasive programs to TCBH and is working on future projects. He currently sits on numerous committees and is an advocate for innovation in healthcare. He is the physician lead for the Da Vinci Robotic Surgery Program. He also is the Chair of the Innovation Committee.

Dr. Bhargava has a primary focus of providing care for her patients in the form of minimally invasive procedures and cutting edge technology. She is the Medical Director of TCBH Surgical Centre (The Clinic at Beverly Hills Healthcare) and has been instrumental in bringing Laser Hemorrhoid Treatment to her Centre.

Achievements:
Dr. Bhargava completed both her medical school and surgical residency at the University of Western Ontario. In addition to her Bariatric fellowship, she has also completed Minimally Invasive fellowship at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.
Dr. Bhargava has published multiple research papers and lead articles.

Memberships:
Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Association of General Surgeons, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and American Society of Bariatric Surgery