Prostate Health Archive

The troubling symptoms of rostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, accounts for roughly two million doctor visits every year. Fortunately, research advances are leading to some encouraging developments for men suffering from this condition.

Most men over 50 will develop an enlarged prostate. Many different therapies are available, including medications and various types of surgery. Aquablation is gaining in popularity, and a recent study showed that improvements in urinary function from aquablation were still holding up after five years.

Roughly one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives, but these cancers usually aren't life-threatening. The least risky form of the disease occurs frequently with age, will not metastasize to other parts of the body, and it doesn't require any immediate treatment. So, should it even be called cancer?

Researchers are developing tools for predicting how fast prostate cancer might progress; among the most promising are those that count circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood samples. Research shows that high CTC counts predict poorer survival and faster disease progression. But they are also predictive for early-stage metastatic prostate cancer that still responds to hormonal therapy.

In a 2024 study, transperineal prostate biopsies were less likely to cause infections than traditional transrectal biopsies. Transperineal biopsies retrieve tissue samples using a thin needle inserted through the skin between the scrotum and rectum.

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer used to involve weeks or months of treatment. Today, radiation delivery is moving toward higher doses given with fewer sessions over shorter durations. Results from a clinical trial show that the two types of therapy offer the same long-term benefits.

Abnormal results on a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test for cancer are typically followed by a systematic biopsy. But systematic biopsies can be problematic, and researchers are seeking alternatives. A large European study provides encouraging evidence favoring a different approach that uses MRI instead of biopsy.

Men with high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels often get a biopsy of prostate tissue to check for cancer. The results of the biopsy are calculated to create a Gleason score, which helps doctors assess whether the cancer is low-, medium-, or high-risk. Based on that information, doctors may recommend that a man follow active surveillance (in which he monitors his PSA for changes) or begin cancer treatment.

The specialized cells of our immune systems help to keep us healthy and free of infectious diseases. Immunotherapies teach those same cells to recognize and destroy cancer. Researchers are reporting promising results with a different method that involves engineered cells studded with receptors that bind to specific targets on cancer cells.

A 2024 study found that a urine test that looks for cancer genes may help identify the most serious cases of prostate cancer among men with high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This could help many men with high PSA levels avoid biopsies.