Benign prostate hypertrophy and Urolift

I am sure all the men on the forum it have the problem or will get the problem.

A normal prostate would generally be in the 15 to 30 cc the size of a walnut .With age it can be the size of a lemon which can lead to a variety of problems. Plenty of information is available on the Internet.

There have been a variety of operations which involve eliminating part of the prostate in one way or another. All these treatments have their risks of significant long-term or sometimes permanent side effects.

There is a new treatment called Urolift details of which can be found on the Internet and which I had two weeks ago. No chopping of the prostate in one way or another.

There comes a point when the prostate is maybe too big for this treatment so better to do it earlier rather than later.

I was near the top end at around 80 cc.

The operation was not long and the temporary after-effects are very unpleasant but there is no pleasant way.

The Urolift websites mention the temporary after-effects but until you have them you don't really know what they mean,

Some of the websites make it sound so simple. You go in have a local then drive home later. I'm sure that is correct for many if they have not grown very big but don't assume it is true for you.

I went to one of the developers of the procedure in Wollongong Australia.

Two nights in hospital one with a catheter.

Settling down now but won't get back to where I want to be immediately.

Though a simple procedure in basic form find a well experienced person and don't just assume everyone who does it has a good level of experience.

Any queries please ask.

Alex

Alex - keep in mind that the the prostate gland needs an adequate amount of iodine to keep it functioning properly and to help prevent enlargement.

We always ask: what nutrients might be missing that causes trouble in this organ... rather than cutting it out or surgically 'altering' it.


As you mention, there is a lot of info online about prostate health..

These clips from the CureZone blog help explain the function of iodine relative to prostate health.
[www.curezone.org]

Quote:
We know that Iodine deficiency is linked with fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer. When a woman with fibrocystic breasts is treated with iodine, the fibrocystic breasts soften and turn into normal breasts. It would not be unreasonable to conclude that the same thing could happen when men with enlarged prostates are treated with iodine. Nature tends to be fairly conservative, and does not invent new processes when the old ones are perfectly adequate to the task. Iodine deficiency is associated with increased risk of three different cancers, including breast, thyroid and stomach, all of which have thyroid hormone receptors.2

The prostate also contains thyroid hormone receptors.3 Thyroid hormone requires iodine for its synthesis. Therefore the prostate must also require iodine, since it has the receptors for thyroid hormone, and nature really does not create useless redundancies. This could explain why therapy with iodine or Iodide could help to shrink the size of the prostate. It is known that iodine deficiency in adolescents results in enlargement of the testes, just as it results in enlargement of the thyroid gland without concomitant production of androgenic hormones and virilization.
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The prostate requires large amounts of iodINE (vs. iodIDE).

[www.tahoma-clinic.com] (Jonathan Wright)
"The third item is one that I like to recommend, although there is very little literature on it, and that's simply a very small amount of iodine. It turns out that the prostate gland is the male body's second-greatest repository for iodine - after the thyroid gland, of course. In women, the second greatest accumulation of iodine is in the ovaries.

"It has been my clinical observation, not published in the scientific literature, that when women have low estriol and more estrone and estradiol - remember Dr. Lemon's theory that low estriol levels represent a cancer risk - added iodine helps to raise the levels of estriol and concomitantly lower the levels of estrone and estradiol (which are more procarcinogenic). I don't know how it works, but I've seen it work enough times since I first observed it in the 1970s that I know it's true."
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I am sure that you are onto something VERY important. I have had increasing problems with my enlarged prostate in spite of having taken saw palmetto for many years.

I recently learned that Iodine deficiency is very common and I understand that the thyroid plays an important role as regulator of many vital body functions. I therefore started taking an Iodine supplement a little more than one week ago.

I used to get up at night three or four times and I had difficulties urinating. During the last three nights I only needed to get up once one night and slept through during the others.

I have made no other changes than taking the iodine tablet and therefore i started seeking information on the internet to find any possible link between the thyroid and the prostate. And here it is. Thanks so much for sharing. This is potentially very important for a lot of men!
End Quotes

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Jackie

It would be wonderful if iodine was the answer. I've suffered with BPH for years. I've also taken Iodine for years. Sadly, no improvement.

Hi Sam - in some instances, it depends on the form of iodine and also the other factors (hormonal) that help utilize it.

Plus - there is often the estrogen dominance factor for males and balancing that out with topical progesterone cream at 3X the standard dose has provided success as reported by restorative medicine practitioners... which would incorporate the 'massage' you initially recommended.

Found this comment on a medical blog forum:

Myomin for Prostate Problems?

Symptoms such as urination, urgency, interrupted or weak urine stream are typical of prostate issues. These can signal Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH), the most common disorder of the prostate, or the more serious prostate cancer.

Although BPH does not necessarily increase the risk for prostate cancer, both conditions usually coexist. In prostate cases where there are no symptoms, a PSA test is often used to determine BPH or the risk for prostate cancer. Although the standard accepted PSA level is under 4.0 ng/ml, it is ideal to keep it under 1.0 ng/ml.

Studies show that one factor of prostate cancer is higher estrogen and lower testosterone levels which can fuel the overgrowth of prostate tissue. It is therefore important to manage estrogen levels in men.

MYOMIN is an effective natural aromatase reducer that can help reduce estrogen levels in men.

Also, this report on from Johns Hopkins on prostate-related issues:

The Johns Hopkins Prostate Disorders Bulletin

The Johns Hopkins Prostate Disorders Bulletin works with doctors and professors of urology at one of the nation's foremost urological center, we are constantly impressed by the wealth of new therapies, important breakthroughs and newly-discovered preventive measures available to men at high risk for prostate problems, or undergoing treatment for them. Yet for the average medical consumer, the information has simply been inaccessible -- hidden in obscure medical journals or buried in minuscule articles in the back of the daily newspaper. Even many physicians may not have ready access to up-to-the-minute research in this highly specialized field.

As the nation's leading center for prostate care and research, Johns Hopkins' James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute is in a unique position to evaluate and disseminate the very latest information concerning advances in prostate treatment. Now, Dr. Jacek Mostwin is leading a team of world-class prostate specialists as chief medical editor of a remarkable publication created for that precise purpose.

The Johns Hopkins Prostate Disorders Bulletin has one simple mission, one clear focus: to provide those facing prostate health challenges with the kind of authoritative, leading-edge information they need to take charge of their medical care -- intelligently and effectively.

The Johns Hopkins Prostate Disorders Bulletin brings you eye-opening reports about new therapeutic avenues... advance news of clinical trials in which you can participate... detailed answers to subscribers' most pressing questions and concerns... revealing research findings about nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle influences and diagnostic tools... and the latest news from urological and cancer conferences around the world. All with a single relentless focus on prostate issues and the preservation of your health and quality of life, and without mysterious medical jargon -- so you can clearly understand what the advances mean to you.

This can literally be life-changing information -- especially if you fall within the prostate high-risk target zone, which includes men over 40, African-Americans, and any male with a family history of prostate problems. In recent issues,
The Prostate Disorders Bulletin subscribers have learned about:

· Why experts now estimate that up to 90 percent of cancers of the prostate may have a dietary link.

· New evidence that the progression of prostate cancer may actually be slowed by dietary changes. One study published in the Journal of Urology found that tumor cells from men taking flaxseed in combination with a lowfat diet appeared to be growing more slowly and dying more quickly than those of the control group.

· Two types of foods that should be included plentifully in the diet of anyone at risk for prostate problems -- or experiencing them.

· Important prostate issues to consider if you're contemplating testosterone replacement therapy. The good news: most urologists now recommend replacement therapy for men with low testosterone levels -- provided careful follow-up examinations are maintained.

· Must-read comparisons of the robotic-assisted and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with the traditional radical prostatectomy. You'll get important insights about the relative merits of each approach for curing prostate cancer and maintaining quality of life.

· Why a new use of an oral hormonal medication may represent an important breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment.

· How a team of scientists and physicians is zeroing in on an improved Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test -- one which will reduce false positive readings and provide greater accuracy in predicting which men have PSA elevations due to benign prostate enlargement, and which are due to prostate cancer. The Prostate Disorders Bulletin readers will be kept apprised of their success as the data is reported.

· Five questions you should ask your surgeon if you are facing a radical prostatectomy. If he answers negatively to any one of them consider seeking treatment elsewhere. Question #1: does he know and use the nerve-sparing techniques in performing prostate surgery?

· Overactive bladder? You're not alone -- an estimated 17 million Americans, most under the age of 65, are affected by OAB. Your symptoms could be caused by one of the 12 trigger foods we reported on in our latest in-depth report on treating overactive bladder.

· The biggest mistake physicians make in prescribing drugs for prostate enlargement. Important reading for anyone taking Hytrin, Cardura, Flomax or Minipress.

· The pros and cons of medications, minimally-invasive therapies, and surgical alternatives in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) -- the most common benign tumor found in men. Dr. Alan W. Partin, M.D., Ph.D, and Distinguished Professor of Urologic Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reviews treatment options in our in-depth report on BPH.

· Where to find national listings of clinical trials of new therapies for BPH and prostate cancer -- and how you can apply to take part in them.

Source: [www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com]


Jackie

People look at my supplement shelves with amazement[maybe horror].

I don't know of any recommendation I am not taking. I eat very carefully. Only healthy food and no Satan sugar of course.Iodoral is for my iodine but will listen to any suggestions.

One sure way not to get bph is said to be testicle removal but a bit extreme in my view.

Bph and prostate cancer have an association because they have a fundamental link. Older age in both.

Bph can be affected by our behaviour to some extent but a bit like menopause it is an inevitable consequence of older age.

My testosterone is at the higher end with no assistance.No simple answers.

Men. It will happen very close to all of us!

START THINKING ABOUT IT ONCE PAST 50 OR SO

Alex

Jackie or anyone,

I decided to put in a multiple supplement order ASAP so what forms of iodine are suggested to include?

Thanks

Alex

Alex…

The iodine I use is a blend of three forms of iodine…
2.5 mg as molecular iodine,
2.5 mg as sodium iodide and
1.25 mg as potassium iodide for a total of 6.25 mg

It’s a professional brand (ProThera) – here’s the link: [www.professionalsupplementcenter.com]
Their product description says: Growing evidence suggests that RDI levels of iodine of 150 mcg daily, while beneficial for thyroid function, may be far too low to support the needs of other organs throughout the body. Instead, milligram amounts, as well as different forms of iodine, may be required to maintain normal cell integrity and optimum function of the various glands.

It’s important to understand the essential function of iodine throughout the body in order to protect the health of the thyroid, prostate, breasts, liver, thymus. For instance, adequate iodine helps prevent cancer by aiding in the process of programmed cell death aka apoptosis.

In a very informative book devoted to tips about managing thyroid dysfunction, the author, Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, writes these conservative observations about supplementing with iodine:

The Thyroid Alternative, pages 98-99.
According to papers published by Aceves and Cann, the average daily dose of iodine intake by Japanese is 5,280 micrograms or 6.28 mg/day. _{22, 23} Also, and FAO/WHO world report states that the average daily intake of iodine by the Japanese is in the range of two to three milligrams per day. ₂₄ Nagataki states in a recent paper: "The average of dietary iodine intake due to the ingestion of seaweeds is 1.2 mg/day in Japan.” ₂₅ Hedberg: Contrary to what some medical physicians have led us to believe, experts in Japan do agree that iodine in excess can be detrimental and the average dose of 12 mg of iodine per day is false.

[My comment: I saw a report by another iodine expert referencing the 1.2 mg / day as accurate and also stating that the 12 mg so commonly quoted actually has the decimal point missing and no one caught the error.]

From The Thyroid Alternative (c 2011) book… this segment on What Form of Iodine?

Iodine and iodide have different effects in the body as each one has high affinities for certain glands. Let’s clarify these points. Iodide is the most effective form of iodine for the thyroid gland itself. Molecular iodine is the most effective form of iodine for optimal breast health and for the treatment of fibrocystic breasts. We use a product that is a combination of iodine and iodine which contains 1.8 mg per drop. Iodine status can be measured by performing a 24-hour urine collection. This test is done without taking any iodine (as a loading dose) as some practitioners are promoting; and is an accurate test, unlike the iodine patch test. Painting iodine on the skin and recording how long it takes for the stain to disappear has no validity whatsoever for iodine status.

There are many reports on using the form of Nascent Iodine written by Mark Sircus OMD, Ac, OMD, DM(P)
Start here: [drsircus.com] and continue with a Google search on the topic of iodine and prostate health. As well as Lugol’s.

I have a pdf file of The Thyroid Alternative book courtesy of Dr. Hedberg. If you’d like a copy, send me a PM and I’ll forward to you for more information about iodine function… but keep in mind the topic of the book is thyroid and not prostate health. Still, it has very informative, referenced information. It’s relatively short (117 pages) and easy to read with 174 study references.

Jackie


22. Cann SA et al. Hypothesis:iodine, selenium and the development of breast cancer.
Cancer Causes Control.2000;11(2):121-7.

23. Moss, J. DDS. (2007). A Perspective on High Dose Iodine Supplementation-Part V-The Japanese Experiment with Dietary Iodine. Moss Nutrition Report #218

24. Nagataki S. The average of dietary iodine intake due to the ingestion of seaweeds is 1.2 mg/day in Japan. Thyroid. 2008;18(6):667-68.

25. Aakvaag A, Sand T, Opstad PK, Fonnum F. Hormonal changes in serum in young men during prolonged physical strain. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1978 Oct; 20;39(4):283-91.

Alex - While looking for something else, I found this May 2015 report by Life Extension on the importance of zinc and prostate health. " New Studies Reveal Importance of Zinc in Maintaining Prostate Health" [www.lifeextension.com]

Jackie