Articles
I write about diseases, tests and treatments, always with references. Choose a topic from the list.
Prostate cancer
- OverviewWhat it is, who is at higher risk, how it is diagnosed and what the treatments are.
- Active surveillanceWho can have the tumor monitored closely, with which tests, and when to treat.
- Artificial intelligence in pathologyWhat the technology already does with prostate cancer slides, and how far it goes.
- Continence after surgeryHow bladder control usually comes back and what to do if leakage continues.
- Erections and ejaculation after surgeryWhat changes in sexual life after prostatectomy and what helps recovery.
- Gleason, ISUP and the biopsy reportHow to read what the prostate biopsy report says.
- MRI and PI-RADSWhat each score on the scan means and when it leads to a biopsy.
- Preparing for surgery and the day of the operationWhat to do in the weeks before and what happens on the day of robotic surgery.
- PSA after prostatectomyWhat value to expect, when it is a concern and what to do if it rises.
- PSA: when to investigateWhat the result means, what changes the test and what the next step is.
- PSMA PETWhen the scan is recommended, what it finds and what its limits are.
- Recovery after prostatectomyWhat to expect in the following weeks, from the catheter to getting back to activities.
- Robotic radical prostatectomyHow the operation is done, what the studies show and what recovery is like.
- Screening and the prostate examWhen to start, how the evaluation works and what the studies show.
- Surgery or radiotherapyWhat to compare before choosing a treatment for localized prostate cancer.
- Transperineal prostate biopsyHow the test is done, what the studies show and what to expect afterward.
Enlarged prostate
- OverviewWhat it is, how it is evaluated and what the treatment options are.
- EchoLaserHow the ultrasound-guided laser treatment through the perineum works.
- Ejaculation and erections after each techniqueWhat may change in ejaculation and erections after each technique.
- GreenlightHow green laser vaporization of the prostate works and what the studies show.
- HoLEPHow holmium laser surgery works, who it is for and what to expect.
- Medications for the prostateHow they work, how long they take, what the side effects are and when to combine them.
- RezumHow the water vapor treatment works and what it tends to preserve.
- Robotic simple prostatectomyHow robotic surgery for large prostates works, and how it differs from radical prostatectomy.
- TURPHow resection through the urethra works, the difference between monopolar and bipolar, and what to expect.
- Urinary symptoms of the prostateWhat each symptom means, how to measure the bother and which tests help.
- Urolift, iTind, Optilume and AquablationHow these four techniques work and what the studies show.
- When to have surgery for an enlarged prostateWhat makes surgery necessary, when it is an option and what changes the choice.
- Which technique for each prostate sizeWhat prostate size changes in the choice, and what else weighs on the decision.
Kidney and bladder cancer
- OverviewWhere they start, who is at higher risk, which signs call for evaluation and how they are treated.
- Bladder cancerSymptoms, stages and what changes when the tumor invades the muscle.
- Blood in the urineCauses of hematuria, when to investigate and which tests are done.
- CystectomyRemoving the bladder and the ways to rebuild the path for urine.
- CystoscopyThe test that looks inside the bladder, with a rigid or flexible scope.
- Kidney cancerDiagnosis, stages, treatments and when the kidney can be preserved.
- Kidney masses and cystsSimple cysts, Bosniak, angiomyolipoma and solid masses.
- Robotic partial nephrectomyThe operation that removes the tumor and preserves the rest of the kidney.
- TURBT, transurethral resection of a bladder tumorThe operation through the urethra that removes a bladder tumor and defines the stage.
Robotic surgery
Kidney stones
- OverviewWhy stones form, when they pass on their own, when to operate and how to prevent new ones.
- Bladder stonesWhy they form, the link with the prostate and how they are treated.
- Double J stentWhat it is for, how long it stays, what bothers and why it must not be forgotten.
- Flexible laser ureteroscopyHow laser surgery through the urethra works, without cuts, and what to expect.
- How to prevent kidney stonesWater, diet, tests and what changes with the type of stone.
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomyHow surgery for large kidney stones works, through a small access.
- Renal colic and kidney stone symptomsWhat the pain is like, why the kidney swells and which signs call for immediate evaluation.
- When to treat a kidney stoneWhen to wait, when to treat and what changes the choice of technique.
Circumcision
STIs
- OverviewSymptoms, tests, oral sex, prevention and what to do about partners.
- Genital herpesSymptoms, why herpes comes back, transmission, tests and treatment.
- GonorrheaSymptoms, tests, treatment and why antibiotic resistance matters.
- HPV in menWarts, cancer risk, cauterization and other treatments, partners and the vaccine.
- Penile discharge and urethritisCauses of discharge from the penis, tests, treatment and what to do about partners.
Urinary incontinence
- OverviewTypes of urine leakage, causes, evaluation and treatments.
- Bladder botoxWho it is for, how it is given, how long it lasts and what the risks are.
- Female sling surgeryHow it is done, who it is for, results, risks and alternatives.
- Kegel exercisesHow to do them, how often, how long they take to work and the most common mistakes.
- Overactive bladderUrinary urgency, causes, evaluation and treatment options.