Blood in the urine (hematuria) is a common reason why patients are referred to see a urologist. Blood can make your urine look pink, red or cola-coloured. Bloody urine isn’t usually painful, unless clots are passed, and often a person has no other symptoms of illness.
Over the past decade our understanding of the biology of tumors has advanced significantly, thanks to medical research. This increased knowledge has allowed for the development of immunotherapies. Immunotherapies are drug-treatments that help the immune system attack cancer and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy work to stimulate the body’s immune system to work harder and smarter against cancer cells. Other types provide immune–system components, such as specific proteins, that help the body fight disease.
(more…)Coffee consumption, and caffeine more generally, is a staple of the North American diet. But how much is too much and what are the effects on the bladder?
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Hormone therapy is a powerful tool for treating prostate cancer. It works by halting production of testosterone in the body, which causes prostate cancer cells to die or grow more slowly. In patients with advanced prostate cancer, hormone therapy may shrink tumors and slow advancement of the disease. In patients with early-stage cancer, hormone therapy may be used prior to other cancer treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy, to improve final results.
Vitamin D is a well-known factor in bone health; however, its role in the body extends far beyond. Recent studies point to links between vitamin D and urological health.
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It can be difficult to determine if symptoms after surgery are normal or if you need medical attention. We summarize the most common concerns from patients and provide information about what to expect.
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Nobody wants to talk about it, but it happens – involuntary peeing, also called urinary incontinence. It is estimated that at least 10% of Canadians experience urinary incontinence at some point in their lives.
Shock wave lithotripsy is a common, non-surgical treatment that uses shock waves to break kidney stones into small fragments. We answer the “who, what, where, why and hows” of lithotripsy below.
Many of us have heard that the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. However, most people are unaware of the link between HPV and cancer of the penis.