A Port St. Lucie Man Is Beating BPH - He Took Control Of His Prostate Health With An Innovative Treatment Now Available Locally

Dennis’ story – all too familiar for many men

For years, 75-year-old Port St. Lucie retiree, Dennis Chaberd, had noticed he was experiencing an increase in needing to make frequent trips to the bathroom, interrupted sleep and discomfort, and other life-disrupting symptoms. He found his energy levels impacted during the day due to poor sleep and dreaded long car rides. Chaberd assumed it was just a normal part of getting older until he was eventually diagnosed with BPH. But even armed with a diagnosis, Chaberd tried various treatments, none of which provided him with relief from his symptoms.

Chaberd’s story is all too common. Historically, many men have suffered in silence for health issues like BPH due to stigma or misinformation. In the past, men who sought interventional treatment for BPH faced burdensome options like a lifetime of daily medication, more invasive procedures including Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) or a Prostatectomy – all which carry different risks and side effects. Due to medical innovation, men now have more access to a wide range of options for symptom relief.

A shift in BPH Treatment

BPH is not life threatening, although it can lead to complications if left untreated. Some complications come on suddenly and can be painful, such as urinary retention, or an inability to urinate. Untreated BPH can also lead to lasting damage to the bladder because it stretches and weakens the bladder muscles. More serious complications include Bladder Stones and Kidney Damage.

Fortunately, BPH is a treatable condition that can be effectively managed and help men return to enjoying their lives. Treatment options for BPH depend on the severity of symptoms and the impact on a man’s quality of life. They range from lifestyle changes and medications to minimally invasive or more invasive surgical interventions.

Historically, medication was the next step in the progression to treat BPH symptoms, but that approach has started to shift in recent years. Medications are still widely used today, but due to their low efficacy, side effect profile – including impact on sexual function – and poor patient compliance, many urologists are providing other options for their patients right from the start.

Beyond the issues mentioned earlier around medications, there has been some concern in the medical community that BPH medications only act as a Band-Aid for symptoms. Though they may provide some symptom relief for some people, they don’t address the underlying cause of the issue – bladder obstruction. And long-term bladder outlet obstruction creates pressure on the bladder, causing it to give out and may result in irreparable damage to the bladder. Thankfully for physicians and patients, and widely due to their demand for better treatment options, today there are a plethora of new and emerging minimally invasive treatment options that can be used alongside or in place of medication.

New options – one size does not fit all

At one time, a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) Surgical Procedure was considered the gold standard in BPH Treatments, but it is an Invasive Surgery and there are significant risks involved including sexual side effects, incontinence, bleeding, and a long recovery time. Patient and physician demand for better options has led to the creation of a new class of safe and effective, minimally invasive technologies that don’t cause the same side effects as medications, don’t negatively impact men’s sexual function and do address the root issue of Bladder Obstruction.

This brand-new category of BPH treatments is often referred to as minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs). Some of the MIST options that are cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be safe and effective include the Optilume BPH Catheter System, a prostatic urethral lift, water vapor thermal therapy, and a temporarily implanted nitinol device.

Many factors including severity of symptoms, Prostate size and medical history, come into play when evaluating MIST options, so it’s important to work closely with your urologist to find the best course of treatment for your specific situation.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Otherwise Known As An Enlarged Prostate, Affects An Estimated 40 Million Men Across The U.S. The Associated BPH Symptoms Typically Involve An Urgent Need To Urinate, Nocturia (Nighttime Urination), Bladder Damage, Urinary Tract Infections, Blood In The Urine, Incontinence And More – Which Significantly Impact A Man’s Quality Of Life. Despite Being Extremely Common, With Bph And Lower Urinary Tract Issues Affecting 70% Of Men 60-69 Years Of Age And 80% Of Those 70 Years Of Age Or Older, It's Rarely Discussed Openly. But One Port St. Lucie Man Wants To Change That.

Finally: Relief

Chaberd finally found help when he met Dr. Christopher Hollowell, a Urologist at Z Urology Coral Springs, Florida, who recommended the new, minimally invasive Optilume BPH therapy. The one-time procedure offers a quick recovery, is safe and effective and doesn’t have any negative impact on sexual function, unlike some other BPH treatment options. Typically administered as an outpatient procedure, Optilume BPH is a drug-coated balloon that is inserted into the urethra via a cystoscopic camera, to the prostate. Once in the Prostate, the balloon expands creating an opening, and releases the safe and proven drug, Paclitaxel, into the open Prostate.

When the drug coating is fully released, the balloon is deflated and removed. The drug prevents re-fusion of the lobes during healing, keeping the prostate open, restoring the flow of urine and relieving bothersome symptoms with no heating, burning, lasering, steaming or implantation.

After his procedure, Chaberd saw results immediately. What’s more, he was finally able to comfortably resume his active lifestyle – jogging, golfing and spending time with friends – free of BPH symptoms. Now, Chaberd is passionate about getting the word out about Optilume BPH to help as many others as possible find relief like he has.

No more suffering in silence: Help is available

Having a good understanding of the many different treatment options available today is the key to finding relief and improving quality of life quickly, with as few side effects as possible while avoiding irreparable bladder damage.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of BPH, contact a Urologist for evaluation. More about Dr. Hollowell and the team at Z Urology – including scheduling information – can be found at: https://zurology.com. To learn more about the Optilume BPH Catheter System, visit: https://www.laborie.com/product/optilume-for-bph/.