For what ist's worth: I have had BPH symptoms for many years but
"lived with it". About the time I decided to take positive steps I was
diagnosed with PCa (prostate cancer for the uninitiated). I underwent
external beam radiation and interstitial (Palladium) seeds along with
3 months of Lupron. Foolishly as it turns out, I thought the radiation
would take care of the prostate and BPH problems (to give him credit,
by uro had advised differently and wanted me to do a TUMT before
raidation).
After the radiation, my PCa got better (and hopefully will continue to
do so) but the BPH symptoms got worse.
For those of you who follow these things, you will know that I made a
serious error in judgement by waiting. Found out that TUMT is not
recommended post seeding (you know what happens when you put metal in
the microwave).
TURP is also not generally reommended, s incontinence is not uncommon,
so I started looking for viable alternatives and came up with PVP.
Picked Dr. Laub (who I think is a great doc) in Santa Barbara (I'm in
Denver). Procedure was great..minimal pain, minimal bleeding, flew
back to Denver the following day and back to work next day.
Unfortunately the relief from BPH symptoms lasted about 6-8 months and
then were back.
Again lived with symptoms for as long as possible and then went back
to local uro. Cysto showed that laser had created significant scarring
and a baldder neck contracture.
So I underwent a standard TUR (no prostate left to resect). I am one
month out and symptoms are still with me. Doc thinks will improve with
time, but warns that radiated tissue does not react like normal tissue
to procedures like PVP (or TURP for that matter).
Moral: Take care of BPH before radaition. Alternatively, if you are
diagnosed with PCa and have BPH symptoms, find an artist and undergo a
RP. Studies have now shown that RP's provide greater relief (than
radiation) for BPH symptoms. (yes there are drawbacks like higher
incidence of incontinence and ED). But I will tell you that at age 62,
with my other problems, my sex life is not at the forefront of my mind
(most of the time).
I think PVP is a great alternative to TURP, but with radiation
factored in the results are less impressive.
For what it's worth.