Key Takeaways:
- As men age, it is important to monitor prostate health and undergo regular screening for early detection of any issues.
- Physician assistants play an important role in educating patients and providing quality care to help individuals maintain optimal health.
- The demand for healthcare providers, including physician assistants, is expected to grow in the coming years.
Chad Bryan, a physician assistant for Advanced Urology Institute, discusses the importance of understanding prostate health in men. He highlights how society is becoming more educated about the issue through direct advertising from pharmaceutical companies, but notes that many people may not fully understand the pathophysiology behind prostate enlargement.
Bryan simplifies the issue by explaining that as men age, their prostate gland may enlarge due to the influence of testosterone. This enlargement can create an obstruction in the urinary tract, leading to problems with urination. He emphasizes that there are only two reasons why a person may have difficulty urinating: either there is no pressure behind the urine or something is blocking the flow. Therefore, urology offices perform tests to determine the cause of the problem and decide on the appropriate treatment, which may include medications or surgical options.
Bryan also shares his personal connection to prostate health, as both his grandfather and father have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He notes that genetics plays a role in the risk of developing prostate cancer and that catching the disease early is crucial for successful treatment.
Regarding prostate cancer screening, Bryan believes that the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, in conjunction with the digital rectal exam, is the best chance for early detection. Despite some controversy surrounding the accuracy of the PSA test, Bryan believes that it remains an essential tool in identifying prostate cancer in its early stages.
Bryan’s insights into prostate health and the importance of early detection are valuable for men of all ages. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, and understanding the risk factors and screening options can help individuals make informed decisions about their health.
As a physician assistant, Bryan plays a crucial role in educating patients about prostate health and helping them navigate any health concerns they may have. Physician assistants work under the supervision of physicians and can provide a wide range of services, from diagnosing and treating illnesses to prescribing medications and ordering diagnostic tests.
The role of physician assistants has become increasingly important in recent years, as the healthcare industry faces a shortage of providers. The demand for healthcare services is growing, and physician assistants are helping to fill the gap by providing high-quality care and improving access to healthcare in underserved areas.
In conclusion, Chad Bryan’s experience as a physician assistant in urology highlights the importance of understanding prostate health in men. As men age, it is essential to monitor their prostate health and undergo regular screening to catch any issues early. Physician assistants like Bryan play a critical role in educating patients and providing high-quality care to help individuals maintain optimal health. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the demand for skilled healthcare providers like physician assistants is expected to grow, making it an attractive career option for those interested in healthcare.
TRANSCRIPTION:
My name is Chad Bryan and I’m the Physician Assistant for Advanced Urology Institute.
You can watch any commercial, right?
Direct advertising from pharma and you can see these different commercials that talk
about bladder or voiding dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, things like that.
So society as a whole has been somewhat educated regarding enlarged prostate.
I don’t think they really realize obviously the true pathophysiology behind it, but yeah,
their prostate grows and it’s very simple.
Men get to have big prostates, women get to have babies.
It comes down to very, very simple terms.
As we get older, our prostate’s enlarged, fed by testosterone.
So we keep it simple in those terms.
It does create an obstruction.
So going back to some of the other tests that we do, then we incorporate that because there’s
only two reasons why you can’t pee.
Either there’s no pressure behind it or something’s blocking it, right?
Water doesn’t run uphill.
It needs a force.
So we do all these tests in the urology office to determine, hey, is this a bladder problem?
Is this a prostate problem?
Then we can accordingly decide medications versus surgical options in order to treat
the prostate.
Now prostate cancer on the side note of that is very close to me because my grandfather
and my father both have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
And so we know that it’s genetically tagged to where I have a high risk, a much higher
risk than the average Joe because of my family history.
So that’s also given me a very good passion on the prostate cancer side.
So catching and early detection.
With the rectal exams, there’s been a lot of news out there about PSAs, not necessarily
being accurate.
I do believe that we feel that PSA in correlation with the DRE or the digital rectal exam gives
us our best chance of catching this early.
And that’s the key, right?
Whether it’s prostate cancer, lung cancer, any kind of cancer, the earlier you catch
it, the better chance you have to treat it.
References:
- “Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer.” https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html.
- “Can Testosterone Replacement Therapy Cause Enlarged Prostate?.” 9 Aug. 2021, https://lowtcenter.com/news-article/testosterone-replacement-therapy-enlarged-prostate/.
- “What Is Screening for Prostate Cancer? – CDC.” https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/screening.htm.
