Prostate Health

Experts in Prostate Care

Our team combines decades of clinical and surgical experience with expertise in the latest treatments and procedures. They take a sensitive and caring approach and will develop a personalized treatment plan that minimizes symptoms and side effects.

You have access to:

• Comprehensive evaluations and the latest diagnostic techniques
• Minimally invasive treatment options that reduce discomfort and recovery times
• An individualized approach with complete information and support at every stage

Comprehensive Care for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, and the urology teams at Beaufort Memorial work with primary care providers to ensure men receive appropriate screenings and can coordinate care with our experienced oncologists if they are diagnosed with the disease.

Prostate Cancer Screening

We recommend that all men age 50 and older get annual prostate cancer screenings. Black men and men with a family history of the disease should be screened sooner, typically by age 40 or 45.

When your provider identifies cancer early, you have more options for treatment, including watchful waiting and active surveillance, which allow your provider to monitor your cancer without using medical treatments.

Your primary care provider will discuss your prostate cancer risk factors and help determine when you should begin prostate cancer screening.

Personalized Prostate Cancer Treatment

Lowcountry men have access to some of the region’s leading experts in prostate cancer treatment. Your dedicated team at Keyserling Cancer Center in Beaufort and New River Cancer Center in Okatie includes urologists, prostate cancer specialists, medical and radiation oncologists, highly trained oncology nurses and therapists.

You will have a dedicated nurse navigator to help you manage your care, answer any questions and provide emotional support.

Treatment options include:

• Medical oncology, which includes chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Laser-based therapies that have fewer side effects than traditional surgery
• Prostate cancer surgery

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also called enlarged prostate, is common in men older than 50. The condition can cause many frustrating symptoms, including pain, problems urinating and an overactive bladder.

The urology specialists at Beaufort Memorial offer a range of BPH treatments, which are chosen based on your needs and the severity of your symptoms. Whenever possible, we opt for treatments that minimize side effects such as erectile dysfunction or other sexual health concerns.

Your treatment options include:

• Lifestyle changes
• Prescription medications
• Minimally invasive laser therapies
• Surgery to remove the prostate, including radical prostatectomies, a type of robotic surgery to remove the prostate

Prostatitis: Inflammation of the Prostate

Prostatitis involves inflammation (swelling and pain) of your prostate gland and, in some cases, the surrounding area. It is the most common urinary tract condition in men younger than 50 in the United States.

Our urology specialists treat the main types of prostatitis, which include:

• Acute bacterial prostatitis — Caused by a bacterial infection
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis — A recurring condition that can take longer to treat
• Chronic prostatitis — The most common type, which causes pain and swelling but is not associated with a bacterial infection
• Prostadynia — A condition that causes symptoms of prostatitis without any signs of infection or inflammation

Your specialist will develop a treatment plan tailored to your type of prostatitis that may include a combination of lifestyle changes, antibiotics and other medications. They can also help you manage and prevent prostatitis flare-ups to minimize the condition’s impact on your life.

Accurate Diagnostics for Many Prostate Concerns

Beaufort Memorial urologists offer many diagnostic tests to accurately diagnose your condition and develop the most appropriate treatment plan:

• Cystoscopy — Your urologist uses an instrument called a cystoscope to examine your urethra and bladder and diagnose conditions such as BPH, prostate cancer, bladder stones and inflammation.
• Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing — Your blood is tested for PSA, a protein made by the prostate gland. An elevated level can indicate cancer or BPH.
• Digital rectal exam (DRE) — Your doctor checks the prostate for irregular growth, inflammation or enlargement.
• Urodynamic tests — These tests check how well your bladder, sphincters and urethra work and can identify the cause of incontinence, overactive bladder and other urinary concerns.

Advanced, Minimally Invasive Procedures

If your condition requires surgical care, our urologists offer a range of effective, leading-edge treatments, including: 

• Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) — A laser-based therapy that cuts excess tissue related to prostate cancer or BPH
• Laser ablation — A treatment that destroys cancerous cells with heat or electrical currents, sparing healthy tissue and causing fewer side effects than other treatments
• Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy — Removal of the entire prostate gland through small incisions that allow for faster recovery and less pain
• Transurethral resection of the prostate — A minimally invasive procedure that uses lasers to remove excess or cancerous prostate tissue in men with prostate cancer or BPH

Comprehensive Care to Improve Your Quality of Life

While you may feel uncomfortable discussing problems affecting the prostate and bladder, you should never ignore symptoms or feel embarrassed to seek medical help.

Our urology specialists will listen to your concerns in a sensitive way and help you make informed decisions about your health.

They will focus on minimizing uncomfortable symptoms, such as incontinence, so you can return to enjoying a full and active life.