Is a prostate check necessary? King Charles III promotes awareness of a common men's health issue

Even kings have prostate problems.

On Friday, King Charles III was admitted to The London Clinic, a private hospital, for a scheduled procedure related to an enlarged prostate, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace.

The king is "doing quite well" after the successful treatment, a royal source informed Planet Chronicle Digital.

The palace emphasized that his condition is non-cancerous.

After the palace announced the planned treatment, the number of Google searches for "prostate check" increased last week, according to various sources.

Royal experts claim that the 75-year-old British monarch aims to motivate men exhibiting symptoms to obtain medical care.

What is BPH?

The enlargement of the prostate gland leads to the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a non-cancerous condition.

Some men have larger prostates than others, and the cause is unknown, according to Seth Bechis, M.D., an associate professor of urology at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and a urologist at UC San Diego Health. He was not involved in King Charles' care.

He stated that the prostate is one of the few organs in the human body that undergoes growth during adulthood.

The enlarged prostate tissue may compress the urethra, which is the tube that connects to the bladder and helps urine drain from the body as the prostate grows.

Emptying the bladder becomes more difficult when BPH restricts the flow of urine through the urethra.

This may cause men to strain more when urinating.

Other common symptoms of BPH include frequent urination, nighttime urination, difficulty initiating urine flow, weak urine stream that stops and starts, dribbling at the end of urination, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

Treatment for the condition

The American Urological Association (AUA) Symptom Index is often used by urologists to determine the most suitable treatment, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine's website.

It is also important for men to take an inventory of the type of fluid they're consuming.

The most conservative and least invasive approach is to implement simple lifestyle changes.

By monitoring their daily fluid intake, men can alleviate symptoms, as advised by Mayo Clinic.

Men should also monitor the fluids they consume, as excessive intake of caffeine and alcohol can exacerbate the condition, especially at night.

Mayo Clinic stated that if lifestyle modifications do not alleviate symptoms, the next course of action is to take medication to facilitate urine drain through the prostate gland.

Alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are two types of medications that treat prostate enlargement. Alpha-blockers relax the muscles in the prostate, while 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors shrink the prostate.

Although surgery is typically more effective, the expert pointed out that this medical treatment is not always as successful.

Several treatments exist for an enlarged prostate, each with its own set of side effects and risks.

Experts recommend considering whether the procedure requires general anesthesia, preserves ejaculatory function, and involves a catheter.

Bechis reviewed several of the surgical options for Planet Chronicle Digital.

Prostatic urethral lift (UroLift)

The UroLift is performed in the office or operating room without general anesthesia.

Bechis stated that a cystoscope is inserted into the urethra and advanced to the prostate level.

The urologist employs specialized clips to keep the enlarged portion of the prostate away from the urine flow, allowing it to drain more easily, according to Yale Medicine.

Only a select group of patients with a specific prostate size and shape are eligible for the procedure that preserves ejaculatory function and does not require a catheter, according to Bechis.

Water vapor thermal therapy (Rezūm)

The procedure is carried out in a medical facility, either in a doctor's office or an operating room. It does not necessitate the use of general anesthesia.

Bechis stated that a camera is inserted into the urethra and advanced to the prostate level, where steam is injected to destroy obstructing tissue around the urethra.

"We don’t know what causes some men to have larger prostates than others."

After the surgery, you will have a catheter in place for two to five days and will continue taking an alpha-blocker medication, such as tamsulosin.

Most patients retain ejaculatory function, but recovery requires a catheter for several days and an alpha blocker.

According to Bechis, it can take up to three to six months to see maximal improvement in symptoms.

The doctor pointed out that, while this procedure has shown promising results, long-term data is not yet available.

Photovaporization of the prostate (PVP)

This approach involves inserting a cystoscope into the bladder via the urethra and utilizing a special laser to vaporize prostate tissue, according to Bechis.

The procedure does not cut or scrape tissue, according to Mayo Clinic.

Taking anticoagulation medications makes PVP a better option due to less bleeding, according to Bechis.

After surgery, patients will likely need to remain in the hospital for one night with a catheter in place.

Complications such as blood loss, infection, bladder injury, and urine incontinence can arise from the procedure.

Waterjet therapy (aquablation)

A cystoscope is inserted into the bladder through the urethra.

A focused water jet is circumferentially destroyed using an ultrasound, according to Bechis.

He pointed out that while it's efficient, long-term outcomes are not yet fully collected.

"The prostate is one of the few organs in the human body that continues to grow during adulthood."

After the procedure, men can typically maintain their ability to ejaculate, but they will need a catheter and usually stay in the hospital for one night.

Urinary tract infections can result in complications such as blood loss, infection, bladder injury, or incontinence of urine.

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

A camera is inserted into the bladder through the urethra with this technique.

The prostate is "chipped away" with a surgical instrument until the urethra is unobstructed, according to Bechis.

The procedure is performed without any incisions.

After surgery, you will have a catheter and remain in the hospital until the bleeding stops, according to Bechis.

Complications such as blood loss, infection, bladder injury, or urine incontinence can arise from certain medical procedures or conditions.

Gradually, the leakage of urine decreases as the bladder is "retrained" to void.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy

This procedure is often reserved for larger prostates.

Bechis stated that this surgery is more complex and involves going through the abdomen, which increases the risk of complications such as requiring a blood transfusion, damaging the bowel or abdominal structures, or causing a bladder leak.

The doctor explained that during the procedure, several small incisions are made in the abdomen and small robotic instruments are used to remove the prostate through an incision in the bladder.

According to Bechis, patients can anticipate a hospital stay of one to two days following surgery, with a catheter in place for seven to 10 days.

In 2024, it is estimated that there will be approximately 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S., resulting in about 35,250 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Stephanie Giang-Paunon of Planet Chronicle Digital contributed reporting.

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