Prostate Cancer Staging System Updated

Prostate cancer staging is an integral part of treatment. There is no other way around it. Until your cancer care team recognize how established your tumor is, they can not effectively create a treatment plan that will best handle your needs. Staging is the step where they classify how developed the tumor is. Prostate cancer survival rates are likewise determined by the staging process. Obviously, this is not something you want to overlook when you are considering your prostate cancer treatment plan. That is why it is the very first thing your doctor will do when you have a verified diagnosis.

The primary staging system utilized by most prostate cancer specialists within Saint Louis including the ones at Metropolitan Urological Specialists is produced due to the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Their system is called the TNM system because it is derived from the 3 primary factors of the extent of the tumor (T), whether the cancer is in the lymph nodes (N), and whether the cancer has metastasized (spread) to various other parts of your body (M). In addition to that, the TNM system also takes into consideration PSA level. PSA is one of the very first warning signs of prostate cancer. PSA stands for "prostate-specific antigen." The higher your PSA level, the more likely you are to have cultivated advanced prostate cancer. A last element considered by the TMN system is your Gleason score, which is a measure of just how likely your cancer is to spread. The greater your Gleason score is, the more at risk you are. Whenever each one of these factors are combined together, you arrive at your prostate cancer stage under the TNM system. The greater your number is, the more advanced your prostate cancer is.

Regardless of whether you have checked out the various prostate cancer stages before, now is a great time to review. The doctors at the American Joint Committee on Cancer not long ago released an adjusted system for optimum clarity and accuracy. Although there are several sub-classifications to the different stages, let's emphasize the major staging groups as we think about this question of prostate cancer staging within Saint Louis, Missouri.

With Stage I, your doctor may or may not have had the ability to feel the tumor with a digital rectal examination. If not via the rectal examination, your doctor will have found the tumor although elevated PSA levels or by taking out your prostate. At this level, the tumor is at its earliest development and is going to not have reached the lymph nodes or additional organs. If you can have your cancer detected at Stage I, your prostate cancer survival rates are the highest, which is the reason that you ought to submit to yearly prostate cancer screenings.

With Stage II, your doctor still may or may not have the capacity to feel the tumor through a digital rectal exam. If the tumor may be felt, it will be noticeably physically larger than a Stage I tumor, but that will not considerably impact you insofar as you will not have the tumor spread to the lymph nodes or other organs. If the tumor can not be felt by a rectal exam, it may still be classified as a Stage II tumor if the PSA level is higher than reasonable levels for Stage I. Stage II is broken into 3 sub-categories, which are calculated by just how high your Gleason score is and therefore how likely the cancer is to spread out further.

With Stage III, the cancerous cells will not have expanded outside the prostate, but it very well may have spread within the prostate to a sizable extent. It will not have spread to the lymph nodes, but it might have spread out within the prostate to the seminal vesicles. Within this stage, your PSA level and Gleason rating will be quite high.

With Stage IV, the cancer has started to relocate outside of the prostate. Once again, this one can be broken into a pair of different sub-categories. In Stage IVA, the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes but no farther. Within Stage IVB, the tumor has dispersed beyond the lymph nodes into the bones or other body organs. Once again, the PSA level and Gleason score will be very high in this group.

This is only just a really quick overview of a very complicated system with numerous ramifications for your health and your recovery plan. If you wish to get this all further explained, the very best thing you can do is to visit a skilled team of cancer care professionals in Saint Louis. Serving the folks of Creve Coeur, Florissant, Kirkwood, Crestwood, Chesterfield, and Washington, Missouri, you can count on Metropolitan Urological Specialists. They have the experience you need to develop a prostate cancer treatment plan to maximize your cancer survival rates.

Introducing the Center for Sexual Health

The Center for Sexual Health is Metropolitan Urological Specialists' brand new innovative facility for the greater St. Louis metropolitan community. The objective of the Center is to deliver cutting edge comprehensive urological care in Saint Louis for men, women, and the couple's sexual health.

The Center's logo design embodies this notion of bringing alive the four elements of life: earth, wind, water, and fire; translating to the optimization of quality of life. The four factors are represented by the distinctive logo intertwined in the circle of life.

Not only do the physicians of Metropolitan Urological Specialists treat grave urological conditions, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and testicular cancer, but we are likewise dedicated to delivering professional urological care to optimize quality of life.

Our Center is devoted to managing urological conditions that are not inevitably life-threatening; nevertheless, effect an individual's lifestyle. A few of these conditions include male impotence, male and female sex dysfunction, and urinary incontinence.

• Male Infertility
• Vasectomy
• Vasectomy Reversal
• Varicocele Repair
• Male Sex Problems
• Female Sexual Dysfunction
• Couple's Sexual Function
• Female Urological Care
• Bladder Control Issues

The center provides on-site services of total urological medical assessment, diagnostic testing, laboratory services, semen analysis, collection, and testing, physical therapy, and psychological counseling. Our urologists also supply diagnostic and therapeutic urologic procedures, like flexible cystoscopy and vasectomy at the Center.

These varieties of conditions should not be taken flippantly. Male infertility is a terrific example of one of our specializations that can have a massive effect on the life of any married couple. Certainly, infertility in men is a problem which often does not display itself up until he tries to have a child. Until then, a guy quite possibly may not even recognize that he has a urological condition in need of fixing.

Naturally, the couple of symptoms of infertility which you do experience are going to vary significantly depending upon which of the many root causes of infertility you experience. Some which might crop up include alterations in libido, pain in the testicles, abnormal hair growth, abnormally small testicles, or troubles getting an erection.

The Center for Sexual Health has a variety of solutions available for you to pursue when it comes to diagnosis and male infertility treatment. If you reside in Saint Louis or the neighboring communities and you believe you might be suffering from infertility, get in touch with Metropolitan Urological Specialists to see what they can do to help you receive the results you need.

The UroLift System BPH Treatment

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) --also called prostate gland enlargement-- is a prevalent ailment as men grow older.

An enlarged prostate gland can easily cause unpleasant urinary symptoms, such as obstructing the flow of urine from the bladder. It can also trigger bladder, urinary tract, or kidney problems.

Men in St. Louis with an enlarged prostate gland right now have a minimally invasive option for BPH that may be performed in our office.

What is BPH?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is a condition where the prostate enlarges as guys get older. This health condition which has an effect on almost 40 million Americans and more than 500 million aging men globally.

Over 40% of men in their 50s and over 70% of males in their 60s have BPH1. Even though BPH is a benign condition and unassociated to prostate cancer, which can influence a man's quality of life.

As the prostate enlarges, it presses on and obstructs the urethra, causing urinary symptoms such as:

• Constant need to urinate each day and night
• Weak or slow-moving urinary stream
• A sense that you can not completely clear your bladder
• Problem or delay in starting urination
• Urgent feeling of needing to urinate
• A urinary stream which stops and starts

The Treatment

The verified, minimally invasive BPH treatment in Florissant, MO which fills the space between prescription medications and more invasive surgical procedures, and can break the cycle of medicines and how they make a person feel, all without having the risks of more invasive surgery.

The UroLift System utilizes an approach to treating BPH that raises and holds the enlarged prostate gland tissue so it no longer blocks the urethra. It is the just BPH treatment done by a urologist that does not require heating, cutting, or removal of the prostate tissue.

The goal of the UroLift System treatment is to relieve symptoms so you can return to your life and return to your day-to-day activities.

The specialists at Metropolitan Urological Specialists are really skilled when it comes to handling enlarged prostate treatment in Saint Louis, MO. Set up an appointment today to learn more about this and other urological services they provide.

Kidney Stones: Problems and Solutions

In America, about one person in ten will build up a kidney stone within their lifetime. In 2010, kidney stones were accountable for more than 600,000 emergency room visitors. The doctors with Metropolitan Urological Specialists in Washington, Florissant, and St. Louis, Missouri have some important information to keep you in the loop on your potential risks.

A kidney stone is just mineral deposit that forms in the urinary tract. Kidney stones form when crystals, which are present in the urine, start to be stuck to each other and gradually build up into a rock-like mass. At the start, kidney stones are rather little in size, but with time, as more and more crystals join, they're able to grow quite large.

Why is it that kidney stones develop?

The deposits that form kidney stones are made from substances normally seen in the urine. These compounds include calcium, oxalate, phosphate, uric acid, and other chemical substances. Your kidneys most frequently excrete these compounds into the urine. However, when their concentration in the urine is really high, these chemicals don't stay dissolved and rather will crystallize and precipitate outside of the urine. There are some other components in the urine generally known as inhibitors which help to keep the crystals from staying together. If the concentration of crystals is too high or the relative level of inhibitors is too low, a kidney stone will develop. Numerous factors can contribute to your likelihood of having kidney stone, including your familial genetic predisposition, eating habits, and fluid intake, where you live, as well as your work environment.

What are the different kinds of kidney stones?

There are various a variety of kidney stones, each having distinctive chemical composition.

The majority of kidney stones have calcium. Calcium stones are made of calcium that is chemically bound to either oxalate (calcium oxalate stones) or phosphate (calcium phosphate stones). Among these, calcium oxalate is much more common. Pure calcium phosphate stones are the rarest and usually show an underlying illness or metabolic condition. The most commonly known stone composition is mix of mostly calcium oxalate with a bit of calcium phosphate.

About 15 percent of kidney stones don't have calcium. These include uric acid stones, struvite stones, and cystine stones.

Just how typical are kidney stones?

In the USA, about 1 individual in ten will develop a kidney stone in their lifetime. In 2010, kidney stones were to blame for over 600,000 emergency room visitors. We understand that men are more predisposed to have kidney stones than ladies. Those with caucasian origin are five times more prone to have kidney stones than African-Americans. Stone incidence peaks between 40 and 50 years of age and generally seems to decline.

What are my chances of recurrence?

Kidney stones tend to recur. If a man has already established one kidney stone, and does nothing to reduce his risk of recurrence, research has revealed he's got about a 60% to seventy percent chance of having another. If a man has had two kidney stones, the likelihood of recurrence reach more than ninety percent. The chances of recurrence are a little lower for women.

There are certainly actions you can take to seriously lessen your chance of recurrence. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the experts at Metropolitan Urological Specialists. They have offices in St. Louis, Washington, and Florissant, MO.

The Overactive Bladder Diagnosis Process

If, shortly after consulting with a doctor, it is established that you need to get an official diagnosis regarding the prospect of overactive bladder (OAB,) there are a number of steps that will need to occur. Before you reach that point, you may want to review what will be required. If that is the case, please evaluate the information below from Metropolitan Urological Specialists pertaining to overactive bladder in Saint Louis, MO. We are going to walk you through the entire procedure, from the medical history to the voiding diary to the physical examination to the diagnostic procedures.

A thorough medical history is absolutely necessary for a suitable overactive bladder diagnosis. Typically, this means you are going to have to compile a journal of your bowel habits, whether there is discomfort involved, whether you have to strain, and your patterns of urination and whether or not there is any sort of leakage. There are a number of other factors that may be taken into consideration, including any history of illness you might have, surgeries and particularly pelvic surgeries you may have, pregnancies, and any medications you may be taking, including both prescription and non-prescription medication. Those are the big items which you will need to have prepared. However, if you are elderly, there is a possibility your Saint Louis urologist will request you to get an examination of your mental status and social and environmental factors.

When you have all of that background info put together, it is going to be time for your urological specialist to carry out the actual in-office examination. There are many different elements of a physical examination which might or might not be necessary for you specifically. Note that not all of these will necessarily need to happen in your specific case.

• A neurologic status examination of your abdomen, pelvis, genitals, and rectum.
• A cough stress test in which you cough vigorously while your doctor observes any urine loss that comes about. Precisely how much leakage occurs and the manner in which it transpires can speak volumes to the problem's origination.
• A urine test, which should identify any bacteria, blood, pus, or unwanted glucose or protein within the urine.
• A postvoid residual volume, or PRV, test. In this test, an ultrasound exam is going to take place right after you void, determining if there is any hesitancy, straining, or disrupted flow. Since the results can fluctuate, you might need to have this test carried out numerous times.
• A urodynamic examination, which establishes the pressure and capacity of your bladder. There are all types of assessments in this category, so be prepared for whatever your physician recommends for your Saint Louis overactive bladder diagnosis.
• A smattering of other endoscopic or imaging tests.

While all of these things might seem a tad uncomfortable, the fact remains that overactive bladder is something you must get diagnosed as soon as possible. There is absolutely no reason for you to need to face its symptoms when there is treatment readily accessible. Urological health is not a little something you can ignore. Whenever you are prepared to take the vital step of seeing a urology expert to diagnose your condition, please think about going to Metropolitan Urological Specialists. Their team of professionals is ready and willing to help patients in Creve Coeur, Washington, Florissant, Crestwood, and all over the Saint Louis, Missouri area.

Treating BPH Symptoms in Saint Louis

When you imagine all of the things that take place whenever you get older, you may think of watching your grandkids grow up, slowing down, and also perhaps gaining a little extra weight. One thing which you might not think of is benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as BPH. However, if you are a male and you are beginning to get older, this is something that should be on your radar. Of course, with "benign" being inside the name, you might assume that it is nothing to be concerned about. All that actually means is that it will not automatically become cancerous.

However, it may very seriously impact your quality of life. BPH can cause a number of adverse symptoms, similar to prostate cancer in Saint Louis men can. You may experience difficulty passing urine or pass urine a lot more frequently. That might mean more urgency whenever you have to urinate as well. You may find yourself leaking urine if you are afflicted with BPH. Even erectile dysfunction is a very strong probability for many men in Saint Louis with BPH.

Of course, the obvious question is what you should do if you begin to experience the symptoms of BPH. The 2 primary routes to take are supplements and life adjustments. The most suitable treatment is very likely a combination of both. There are a few other more radical possibilities, including surgery, but it is almost always a smart idea to attempt other methods prior to resorting to that. The absolute best thing you can do is to seek advice from a skillful Creve Couer, MO urologist to get a qualified opinion. To get you kicked off with the basics, here is a little bit of info from the pros at Metropolitan Urological Specialists in Saint Louis, MO.

Supplements

The large bulk of supplements that are effective will properly minimize your symptoms by lowering your cholesterol levels. Of course, you probably know that lowering cholesterol has a multitude of positive health affects, including strengthening your heart health, cutting down on the affects of varicose veins, and of course regulating BPH. Once again, make certain you talk with your urologist before you start taking a new supplement.

• Pygeum africanum: 75 to 200 milligrams a day in divided doses
• Pumpkin seed (cucurbita pepo) oil: 320 milligrams a day
• Flaxseed and SDG: 300 to 600 milligrams a day
• Beta-sitosterol and other plant sterols: 60 to 195 milligrams a day in split doses (or up to 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams a day in divided dosages potentially )
• Cernilton: This one virtually makes the list, but actually only just. It has a history of greatly improving quality of life and lessening pain in men with chronic prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

There are certain supplements which purportedly are reliable in dealing with BPH, but actually have little or no evidence of working out. DHEA is one of those supplements. Really, it has been known to boost the size of the prostate, not decrease it. Zinc is another example of this. In fact, certain studies have indicated that zinc has been connected to prostate cancer progression.

Lifestyle Changes

It may not come as a big surprise to you that having a healthy heart can lead to good overall health. Nonetheless, you should know that this is particularly true about the prostate. There is a very clear link between a healthy heart and a healthy prostate. Having a normal weight, a normal blood pressure, and a normal blood glucose and cholesterol level can all play a factor in decreasing the progression of BPH. As a result, if you make the lifestyle changes that will keep your heart healthy, you are likewise making the lifestyle changes that will keep your prostate healthy.

Exercise is a critical part of prostate health too. If you exercise for about thirty minutes every day, you are going to be a long ways toward reducing the affects of BPH.

As you can see, BPH is a very treatable health condition. There is very little reason for you frequently having to feel the affects of it, like urine leakage and erectile dysfunction. If you think that you may have benign prostatic hyperplasia, do not delay in getting in touch with Metropolitan Urological Specialists. With office spaces in Saint Louis proper, Florissant, and Washington, MO, they are on call to serve your needs as you make your journey towards prostate health. If you have any questions about BPH in Saint Louis, MO, they are the people to talk with.

What is Interstitial Cystitis, AKA Bladder Pain Syndrome?

When it comes to urological health in Saint Louis, MO, there are a number of conditions which require the expertise of a urological health specialist. One such condition is interstitial cystitis, which is likewise known as bladder pain syndrome. Those who reside in the Saint Louis area, including Creve Coeur, Florissant, Kirkwood, Crestwood, Chesterfield, and Washington, MO, can count on the specialists at Metropolitan Urological Specialists to be there for them as they cope with this serious condition. However, just prior to scheduling an appointment, why not read through the following information so you can have a basis of info about interstitial cystitis.

Female Urinary Tract

Interstitial cystitis (IC)/ bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a continual bladder health problem. It is a sense of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this discomfort are lower urinary tract signs and symptoms that have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.

Symptoms range from mild to severe. For some patients the symptoms might come and go, and for other folks they do not go away. IC/BPS is not an infection, but it might seem like a bladder infection. Women with IC/BPS might experience pain when having sex. The more severe instances of IC/BPS can affect your life and your loved ones. Some people with IC/BPS have other health and wellness issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other pain syndromes.

Male Urinary Tract

The bladder and kidneys are part of the urinary system, the organs in our bodies which make, store, and pass urine. You have 2 kidneys that make urine. Then urine is stored in the bladder. The muscles within the lower portion of your abdomen secure your bladder in place.

How the Urinary System Works

When it is not full of urine, the bladder is relaxed. Whenever nerve signals within your brain let you know that your bladder is getting full, you feel the need to pass urine. If your bladder is functioning normally, you may put off urination for some time. Once you are prepared to successfully pass urine, the brain sends a signal to the bladder. Then the bladder muscles squeeze (or "contract"). This forces the urine out through the urethra, the tube that carries urine from your body. The urethra has muscles called sphincters. They help keep the urethra sealed so urine doesn't leak before you're set to go to the restroom. These sphincters loosen up when the bladder contracts.

Now is your chance to make the call to contact the urological health experts at Metropolitan Urological Specialists. They can walk you through what treatments are most ideal for handling your interstitial cystitis in Saint Louis, Missouri.