Watchful waiting is excellent treatment option for a large percentage of men with LUTS. Watchful waiting is appropriate in a man who has lower urinary tract symptoms which do not significantly bother him or interfere with his lifestyle and who maintains good bladder function and good bladder emptying. Most men who undergo watchful waiting should be seen by their physician on an annual basis and have an assessment of their urinary symptoms, a digital rectal exam to check the prostate for signs of cancer and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test to evaluate for prostate cancer which may not be palpable on rectal exam. If a man’s symptoms worsen, he would then be offered treatment options that are discussed below. A large percentage of men can be managed for years, or their entire lives, with watchful waiting and never require aggressive treatment for their prostatic enlargement."
| |
Natural History and Treatment Options for Benign Prostatic HyperplasiaMichael J. Naslund, M.D. |
