At Home Christian Jessen 2014 - 205

promotion

prostate
CanCer
guide

MEET THE
ExPERT

mrs robyn Webber
md FrCsed (urol)
(pictured, right)
Mrs Webber provides a service in
general urology, with a wide range
of clinical interests including benign
and malignant prostatic disease.
She has subspeciality interests in the
management of stone disease, and
reversal of vasectomy, having trained
in the management of stone disease
at the Scottish Lithotriptor Centre,
Edinburgh, and in the technique of
microsurgical vasectomy reversal.

the PSA level rises. However, it can also be
raised in other conditions, so if the PSA is
elevated it does not always mean cancer.
Many patients with a raised PSA will need
to undergo a biopsy, where small pieces
of tissue are taken from the prostate and
examined under a microscope by a pathologist
to look for any signs of cancer.
Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia are
frequently prescribed treatment with tablets.
The most commonly used medications belong
to two groups of drugs: alpha adrenoreceptor
blockers (often simply called alpha blockers),
which help to relax the muscles at the outlet
of the bladder; and a second group called five
alpha reductase inhibitors, which act to make
the prostate decrease in size. Sometimes,
drugs from each group are used together.
If a patient's symptoms are particularly
severe, or his or her medication loses its
effectiveness over time, then surgery may
be required. There are a number of different
operations available. However, these can have
side effects, and some men experience difficulty
with their erections or ejaculation afterwards.
It is very important, therefore, to discuss this
in detail with the surgeon before undergoing
a procedure. Surgery is very effective at

relieving symptoms, however, and most men
feel much better afterwards.

kidney stone disease

Kidney stones are common, and up to 10% of
the population will experience at least one stone
in their lifetime. The symptoms a patient with a
stone may develop can range from a mild ache
in his or her side, to a pain that is very severe.
A few patients have no symptoms at all.
Modern treatments for kidney stones are
very effective, and range from expulsive
therapy, where drugs are given to help the
body expel the stone, to shock wave lithotripsy,
where energy is used to shatter the stone from
outside of the body, to surgery. Most surgery
for stones is minimally invasive, keyhole surgery,
and today it is very rare for a patient to need
open surgery in order to remove a stone.

vaseCtomy reversal

When men undergo vasectomy, they are
advised to consider the operation irreversible.
However, people's life circumstances do
change, and an increasing number of men are
now seeking to have their vasectomy reversed.
Prior to undergoing vasectomy reversal, it
is important to have a detailed discussion with

the surgeon about what to expect and the
likelihood of success, defined as sperm being
present in the semen after the operation. No
two patients are exactly alike and, for that
reason, factors such as the length of time
since the original vasectomy and how it was
performed need to be taken into account.
After the operation, patients are usually
advised to have a sperm count between six
weeks and three months later. The time taken
for the sperm to reappear in the semen does
vary and, sometimes, it can take several months
or more. With an experienced surgeon, at least
90% of patients are able to produce sperm in
their semen once again. Sometimes, however,
the sperm may be of poor quality, the number
of sperm may be small, or he may not produce
any sperm at all. If this happens, assisted
conception will be needed to help to achieve
a pregnancy. But, overall, vasectomy reversal
is an effective operation. It is hugely rewarding
for the surgeon, too, who has the opportunity
to help a couple have a family of their own.

Choosing a speCialist

If you are considering surgery, it is important
to choose your surgeon carefully. All urological
surgeons in the UK are trained to very strict
standards, and your GP will often be able to
recommend a surgeon to you. Above all,
choose a surgeon you feel comfortable talking
to and in whom you have confidence.

For more inFormation
Book an appointment with
Mrs Robyn Webber.
Ross Hall Hospital, Glasgow (private),
call 0141 810 3151.
Spire Murrayfield and Shawfair Park
Hospitals, Edinburgh (private),
call 0845 6090 363.
Alternatively, for further details,
visit www.robynwebber.com.
http://www.robynwebber.com http://www.robynwebber.com
At Home Christian Jessen 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of At Home Christian Jessen 2014
