Today, we have the renowned prostate cancer expert, Dr. Laurence Klotz joining us on the Prostate Health Podcast.

It can be very distressing to receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer. For many men, their first instinct is to immediately want to go for aggressive therapy, like surgery or radiation. Active surveillance, however, has become a valuable alternative for some men with low-risk prostate cancer because it allows them to avoid some of the side-effects of cancer treatment. Listen in today, to find out all you need to know about active surveillance for prostate cancer.

Dr. Klotz currently serves as Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto. He also holds the Sunnybrook Chair of Prostate Cancer Research and he is the chairman of the World Uro-Oncology  Federation.  Dr. Klotz was the Founding Editor-in-Chief of both the Canadian Journal of Urology and the Canadian Urology Association Journal. He was the founder and is Chairman of the Canadian Urology Research Consortium. He was awarded the Order of Canada for his work in prostate cancer. Dr. Klotz completed his fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, in urologic oncology. 

Dr. Klotz is a widely published Urologic Oncologist with over 350 publications and six books. Be sure to tune in today, to find out what he has to share about active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer.

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation. 

Show Highlights:

• Dr. Klotz shares some key points which are the basis for this conservative approach to the treatment of prostate cancer.
• Low-grade prostate cancer normally develops with age, in men.
• A man’s likelihood of having low-grade cancer in his prostate is roughly equal to his age, as a percentage.
• Although about two-thirds of men over the age of sixty-five will have small amounts of low-grade prostate cancer, studies have shown that this low-grade prostate cancer has a zero chance of metastasizing. It never spreads.
• Dr. Klotz explains what the issue is with low-grade prostate cancer.
• Dr. Klotz discusses the major approach to active surveillance.
• Some of the advantages of doing active surveillance, rather than having treatment.
• Dr. Klotz explains how doctors identify men who are candidates for active surveillance.
• The basic protocols around active surveillance, and how they are applied, vary to some degree around the world.
• The whole approach to low-grade prostate cancer has improved a lot.
• The current trend is moving away from doing biopsies.
• For patients of around eighty years of age, doctors switch to what’s known as “watchful waiting”. Dr. Klotz explains what that means.
• Active surveillance is now also being used for several other types of cancers.

Links and resources:

Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd

To get your free What To Expect Guide, go to www.prostatehealthpodcast.com/clinic 

Or find the link on our podcast website - www.prostatehealthpodcast.com  

Receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer can be a frightening experience, and it could cause a lot of anguish for men and their loved ones. Fortunately, we have urologic oncologist, Dr. Simon Kim, as our guest for today's show, to walk you through the process. In today's episode, Dr. Kim talks about what it all means, what your options are, and he discusses where to go from there. Stay tuned to find out more. 

Dr. Kim is a board-certified urologic oncologist at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus. He has worn many hats including Director of Robotic Surgery. Dr. Kim's clinical practice focuses on the surgical management of prostate, bladder, kidney, testes, adrenal, and penile cancer. He has received independent funding from the NIH to develop decision aids for men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer. He has published more than 180 manuscripts and he is currently serving as assistant editor for the Journal of Urology. Be sure to listen in today, to get Dr. Kim's expert advice.

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• What it means to be a urologic oncologist and what it takes to become one.
• Dr. Kim explains how he typically delivers the biopsy results.
• Dr. Kim shares his recommendations for men, to prepare for a prostate cancer consultation.
• Dr. Kim recommends some reliable online resources for prostate cancer patients.
• The kind of information you can expect to receive from a pathology report.
• The information that is obtained from the Gleason Score.
• The guidelines that Dr. Kim relies on when making his decisions.
• The criteria that Dr. Kim uses in determining who does and doesn't need additional imaging at the time of the diagnosis.
• A brief rundown of the typical discussion that Dr. Kim has with his patients, regarding their treatment options concerning the various risk groups.
• Dr. Kim is busy initiating a multi-disciplinary clinic for cancers.
• Looking at some different therapies, like cryotherapy, for prostate cancer.
• Dr. Kim talks about the Conquer Cancer Foundation, which recently honored him with an award. 
• The outcome for localized prostate cancer is usually very good. 
• Remaining fully informed is key for prostate cancer patients.

Links and resources:

Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd

To get your free What To Expect Guide, go to www.prostatehealthpodcast/clinic

Or find the link on our podcast website - www.prostatehealthpodcast.com 

Journal of Urology - https://www.auajournals.org/

American Cancer Society - https://www.cancer.org/

American Urologic Association - https://www.auanet.org/

Know Your Options - https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2016/07/know-your-prostate-cancer-options

Conquer Cancer Foundation - https://www.conquer.org/

We have Dr. E. David Crawford, an internationally renowned urologist, joining us today. Dr.Crawford is an expert in benign prostate hyperplasia, urologic cancers, and prostate cancer in particular. In today's episode, we will be discussing prostate cancer markers, which are making an impact on the world of prostate cancer by helping to individualize patient care and the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment choices for prostate cancer. 

Dr. Crawford has been the recipient of more than 95 research grants, he has authored over 600 published articles, and he has contributed to nearly 100 education books. In a bid to raise awareness and education about prostate health, Dr. Crawford founded and is the current chairman of the Prostate Conditions Education Council. 

The Prostate Conditions Education Council is a non-profit organization that is responsible for reaching an average of 400 million people each year with education and awareness information on prostate cancer and men's health issues. Dr. Crawford's involvement in the national prostate cancer arena has been widely recognized and he is often requested to act as an educator or speaker, and participate in advisory boards and review research.

Tune in today, to find out what Dr. Crawford has to say about prostate cancer markers.

Today's show was recorded at the 30th Annual International Prostate Cancer Update, which was founded and organized by Dr. Crawford.

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• Dr. Crawford talks about tests, other than the PSA, which are now available for patients for the early detection of prostate cancer.
• The PSA is a great test, and it's our first line of defense against prostate cancer, but it's not perfect. So although it is a way to detect prostate cancer, it still needs to be more refined.
• Biomarkers have become a game-changer. Dr. Crawford explains where they are playing a big role in the early detection of prostate cancer.
• Biomarkers can be from the urine, serum, tissue, and other modalities.
• Urine or tissue-based biomarkers are mainly used to detect prostate cancer.
• The abnormal level for PSA has been modified down to 1.5. So anything less than that would indicate that you're safe.
• Dr. Crawford explains what the SelectMDx test is looking for, and how it's done.
• If you have a SelectMDx test and it comes back negative, there's a ninety-eight percent chance that you don't have aggressive prostate cancer.
• Some of these tests are covered by medical insurance companies.
• Dr. Crawford talks about biopsies and he explains what the ConfirmMDx test does.
• Some tests that might help to determine who would be at low risk for cancer and might benefit from some active surveillance, versus someone who would need treatment, after having had a positive biopsy. 
• Dr. Crawford discusses the tests and treatments for patients who have tested positive for low-grade cancers.
• What the future holds for the testing and treatment of prostate cancer.
• Genetics is a hot topic right now. Dr. Crawford talks about genetics, genomics, germline mutations, and the treatment of prostate cancer. 
• Prostate cancer is still the most common cancer in men.

Links and resources:

Dr. Crawford's website - https://www.edavidcrawford.com/

To get your free What To Expect Guide, go to www.prostatehealthpodcast/clinic

Or find the link on our podcast website - www.prostatehealthpodcast.com 

Some educational websites on prostate cancer:

www.pcmarkers.com 

Prostate Conditions Education Council - https://www.prostateconditions.org/

NCI (National Cancer Institute) - https://www.cancer.gov/

Mayo Clinic - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353087

UCLA - https://www.uclahealth.org/urology/prostate-cancer/about-us

Cleveland Clinic Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator - https://www.clevelandclinic.org/lp/prostate-cancer-risk-assessment/index.html

MD Anderson Cancer Center - https://www.mdanderson.org/cancer-types/prostate-cancer.html

We're very excited today, to have urologist, Dr. Steve Gange, as our guest. In today's podcast, Dr. Gange will be talking about the new paradigm shift in how men with an enlarged prostate are being treated.

With over twenty-five years of clinical and research experience, Dr. Gange has developed specific expertise in Men's Health Urology, emphasizing in minimally invasive procedures. He was the first urologist in North America to perform the UroLift procedure for BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) in 2011, and the first urologist in the world to perform UroLift under local anesthesia.

Dr. Gange has lectured on BPH and UroLift at several national professional meetings. He has co-authored several pivotal UroLift papers in the urological literature. He enjoys teaching urologists and proctoring cases across North America. Tune in today, to find out what Dr. Gange has to share about the treatment options for an enlarged prostate, and the shift we're seeing in the paradigm of how BPH is treated. 

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• Some of the available options for the treatment of enlarged prostate before medications were introduced in the 1990s. 
• About a pivotal procedure, that was performed in America in the 1960s and 1970s, that defined the specialty of urologists.
• Some of the side-effects of the transurethral resection of the prostate procedures (TURP) that were being performed early on, and what those procedures used to entail.
• Dr. Gange gives an overview of some of the common medications that have been used, and are still used to manage an enlarged prostate, and how they work. 
• What the prostate consists of.
• Dr. Gange discusses some of the issues regarding prostate medications.
• Some prostate medications can potentially increase the risk of complications with cataract surgery, even if the patients have only been on the medication for a short period.
• Looking at the concept of bladder decay from prostate medications.
• Urologists think a lot about protecting and preserving the bladder.  
• Drug therapies make people feel better, but they do not protect the bladder from decay.
• The UroLift provides a mechanical solution to a mechanical problem. Dr. Gange describes the procedure, and he explains why the UroLift has been a game-changer.
• The UroLift is the only way to treat BPH without any sexual side-effects.

Links and resources:

For some info about Dr. Steve Gange 

Today, we have Dr. Curtis Nickel, a urologist, joining us to talk about prostatitis, a pesky condition that affects the prostate. The focus of today's episode is on the way that this condition could affect you or your loved ones. Dr. Nickel will also be discussing the options that are available for treating this condition.

Dr. Nickel's research covers inflammatory, benign prostate, and pain diseases of the urinary tract. He has over 550 publications, he is on the editorial board of eight Urology journals, and he is the editor of the American Urological Association Update Series. He has presented in 45 countries and he is the Past-President of the Canadian Urological Association. Be sure to tune in today, to find out about prostatitis, how it could affect you or your loved ones, and what can be done to treat it.

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• Prostatitis is a relatively common condition. Dr. Nickel describes the symptoms. 
• As many as 20% of men may have suffered from the symptoms of prostatitis at some point in their life, usually very mild.
• Studies show that 9% of men can have symptoms of prostatitis but only 3% actually have something done about it.
• In Canada, almost 3% of the males coming to a urology practice will leave with the diagnosis of prostatitis. In the United States, it has been reported to be as high as 8% in a male, outpatient, general urology practice.
• Prostatitis does not cause prostate cancer.
• Prostatitis can elevate PSA tests. (PSA tests test for cancer.)
• The main risk factor for prostatitis is a bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract.
• The cause of prostatitis is not clear.
• The kinds of tests that men with prostatitis can expect to have to undergo.
• There are various categories of prostatitis.
• The majority of patients with prostatitis are in the category of chronic prostatitis, or chronic pain syndrome.
• Sometimes, what is called prostatitis might not be prostatitis at all.
• Dr, Nickel explains the process of making a diagnosis of prostatitis.
• The patient's history is important when making a diagnosis of prostatitis.
• Studies have shown that, as a young person, having prostatitis that does not get treated properly to start with, can become a lingering, chronic condition that can be as debilitating as having Type 1 Insulin-Dependant Diabetes.
• Every patient with prostatitis has to have a treatment plan designed specifically for him, based on what is known as the clinical picture.
• There are many different treatments available.
• There is a different prescription for every patient diagnosed with prostatitis. Often, doctors resort to using less toxic medications like phytotherapy or herbal medications.
• Sometimes doctors even recommend physiotherapy, for certain cases of prostatitis.
• When all else fails, doctors could resort to injection therapy.

Links and resources:

https://grandroundsinurology.com/author/jnickel/

We're happy to have Dr. Ryan Terlecki, a urologist at Wake Forest Baptist Health, with us today. He is here to talk to us about the enlargement of the prostate, which is also known as BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). 

In this episode, you'll find out what you need to look for, and how BPH could affect the quality of your life. 

Dr. Terlecki wears many hats at the Wake Forest Center for Men's Health, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is the director of the men's health clinic, the director of medical student education, and the fellowship director of reconstructive health. Be sure to listen in today, to hear what he has to say about the enlargement of the prostate. 

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• What having an enlarged prostate means.
• BPH can cause difficulty with urination.
• It can result in changes to the bladder itself.
• BPH can have a significant impact on a man's day-to-day routine, and his quality of life.
• There is a linear increase in BPH as men age throughout their lives. 
• Dr. Terlecki discusses the risk factors for men getting this condition.
• As obese men lose weight, they could see improvement in some of their lower urinary tract symptoms.
• Urinary symptoms will rarely be due to prostate cancer.
• BPH can cause problems with the bladder.
• What a BPH test involves.

Links and resources:

Prostate Health Podcast - www.prostatehealthpodcast.com

To receive your free guide for what to expect when you visit your urologist, go to www.prostatehealthpodcast.com/clinic or find the link on our podcast website.

Today, we're very happy to have Dr. Judd Moul, an international prostate cancer expert from Duke University, joining us on the podcast. In today's episode, Dr. Moul will be talking about the importance of the PSA, or the Prostate Specific Antigen, which is like a check-engine light for men's prostate health.

Dr. Moul joined the Duke faculty in 2004, after a career in the US Army Medical Corps, where he was mainly at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Dr. Moul, who served as the editor for Prostate Cancer and Prostate Disease Journal, has authored and co-authored over 275 scientific manuscripts and book chapters. He is a retired colonel, and also a noted researcher and clinician in the area of prostate cancer. He is also a popular speaker and lecturer, having been a visiting professor and keynote speaker throughout America and the world. 

Be sure to listen in today, to hear what Dr. Moul has to share about the importance of the PSA.

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• Dr. Moul explains what a PSA is.
• What is measured in the PSA test.
• The PSA test first came out in the late '80s. Initially, several companies were making the test, and there were no national standards at the time, so the results could vary, depending on where the test was done.
• Dr. Thomas Stamey, a famous Stanford urologist, came up with a standard for PSA testing.
• Dr. Moul explains how doctors checked men's prostates in the years before the PSA tests became available.
• The problem with doctors prescribing antibiotics for suspected prostate infections.
• A digital rectal prostate exam is still very important, even in combination with the PSA.
• The guidelines that Dr. Moul prefers to refer to, with regards to using the PSA for prostate cancer screening.
• There was an unsettling trend, in around 2012, that resulted in millions of American men not getting PSA or prostate cancer screening.
• Today, urologists are doing a very good job of determining who needs to go for an evaluation for elevated PSA.
• There are some very important things that The US Preventative Services Task Force needs to recognize around the cutting-off of PSA testing for certain men.  

Links and resources:

Prostate Health Podcast - www.prostatehealthpodcast.com

To receive your free guide, go to www.prostatehealthpodcast.com/clinic or find the link on our podcast website

Welcome to the introductory episode of The Prostate Health Podcast, with your host, Dr. Garret Pohlman. For this podcast, we will be interviewing experts, innovators, and leaders in the field of urology. In today's episode, we're excited to have Dr. Brantley Thrasher joining us, to explain what the prostate is, its function, and where it's located. His was one of the very first names that came to mind when we were developing the podcast and thinking about possible guests.

Dr. Thrasher is the immediate past president of the American Urologic Association, the former chair of the department of urology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and the current executive director of the American Board of Urology. In addition to giving over 400 presentations at local, national, and international meetings, he has written more than 190 manuscripts, book chapters, and monographs in the field of urology. Tune in today, to find out more! 

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• Dr.Thrasher explains what a prostate is. 
• The primary purpose of the prostate.
• Where the prostate is located, and some of the structures that surround it.
• The average size of the prostate.
• Dr. Thrasher explains what the function of a prostate gland is and what it does for a man.
• The different zones of the prostate.
• What stimulates the growth of the prostate.
• The things that men would need to worry about, with a prostate.
• The consequences of removing a prostate.
• In cases where men are having symptoms, they should see a urologist.

Links and resources:

Prostate Health Podcast - www.prostatehealthpodcast.com

To receive your free guide, go to www.prostatehealthpodcast.com/clinic or find the link on our podcast website

Welcome to the Prostate Health Podcast! Today, you'll meet your host, Dr. Garrett Pohlman and learn why he is passionate about prostate health and how he plans to use this podcast to help as many men as possible! Here's to your prostate health!