Treating the Urinary Tract and Male Reproductive Organs
Urologists on the medical staff at Palmdale Regional Medical Center diagnose and treat medical conditions related to the urinary tract and male reproductive organs, such as the kidney, urethra and prostate. These specially trained medical professionals perform surgical and nonsurgical procedures that can offer you relief from a range of diseases and disorders that vary in complexity and severity.
The hospital staff works in collaboration with your physician and with you to find the proper course of treatment while determining the cause of your condition to help prevent further complications. Together, we can lead you toward a better outcome using comprehensive, personalized and appropriate care.
Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a gland, found only in men, which produces seminal fluid that transports sperm from the testicles. Cancer generally develops from the prostate’s gland cells and grows slowly. Because of this gradual growth, men often don’t show symptoms until an advanced stage, at which point the cancer may spread.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifetime, causing about 27,540 deaths a year. Depending on the severity of your condition, urologists may recommend a treatment plan that could involve surgery, radiation therapy or some form of careful observation.
Enlarged Prostate
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to the enlargement of the prostate, affecting the urethra’s ability to function normally. This noncancerous condition is common in older men and can cause the following symptoms:
- Inability to urinate or a weak urinary stream
- Frequent or constantly urgent urination
- Difficulty starting urination
- The sensation to continue urinating after completing urination
As symptoms progress it can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder stones, kidney damage or blood in urine. While there is no cure for BPH, treatment options are available that can relieve symptoms. Your urologist will work with you to determine the severity of your symptoms before recommending a procedure. Treatments range from small lifestyle changes to surgery.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are sharp growths that develop from dehydration, choices in diet, certain medical conditions and certain medications. Kidney stones can pass through the body unnoticed, but they can sometimes grow large enough to get stuck in the urinary tract, causing severe pain in lower back or side that spreads to the groin and lower abdomen.
Urologists can treat almost all kidney stone disorders without the use of invasive surgery. Talk to your physician about the types of minimally invasive procedures to treat your specific condition.
Testicular Cancer
The American Cancer Society reports that the rate of testicular cancer has increased in the United States over the last several decades. According to this organization, about 8,430 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer and about 380 will die from this disease each year. Fortunately, urologists can successfully treat this type of cancer, usually by removing the affected testicle. Advancements in this surgical procedure can eliminate the cancer while preserving function of a man’s reproductive organs.
Other Services
- Erectile dysfunction care
- Urinary incontinence
- Vasectomies
- Overactive bladder
- Circumcision
- Various medical therapies
- Preventative medicine