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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
New Male Sling Helps Prostate Cancer Survivors with
Urinary Incontinence
Losing urine control is frustrating for the
more than 2 million men
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Reconstructive urologist Dr.
Allen Morey (right) suggested a new type of male sling procedure
to improve urinary control for prostate-cancer survivor Michael
Yarborough.
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Aug. 29, 2007 Michael Yarborough, a 58-year-old
business owner from Waxahachie, Texas, was fortunate. A routine check-up
three years ago revealed prostate cancer, but a side effect of his
successful surgery was driving him nuts.
After surgery to remove the cancer, I started
experiencing incontinence, said Mr. Yarborough, who operates a
landscaping company. Although my case was far better than most, the
condition, simply put, drove me nuts.
Losing urine control because of coughing, laughing,
sneezing, or lifting is both frustrating and debilitating for the more
than 2 million men worldwide afflicted with the condition. Many of these
men are prostate-cancer survivors, having undergone surgery for the
treatment of their cancer with the often unavoidable outcome of a
damaged urinary sphincter.
Mr. Yarborough was referred to Dr. Allen Morey,
professor of urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center who joined the
faculty in June as a subspecialist in reconstructive urology. He
suggested a new type of male sling procedure to improve the urinary
control.
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Although slings have been used widely for years in
women to improve urinary control, they are a relatively new treatment
for men. Prior slings were anchored to the pelvis with small bone screws
to secure fixation, but that was painful for many patients.
The new type of device Mr. Yarborough received,
called the AdVance sling, involves passage of a thin strip of mesh
between pinpoint incisions on the inner thighs, which is then passed
deep beneath the bottom of the urethra to increase support in precisely
the area where the tissues are weakened. This additional flow resistance
prevents the leakage of urine when abdominal pressure increases. The
procedure is best suited for mild to moderate urinary incontinence,
usually defined as patients who wear one to four pads per day to absorb
any leakage.
I believe there are many men who have a nuisance
level of urinary incontinence after prostate cancer treatment which is
bothersome during strenuous activities, Dr. Morey said. To cope, these
men often restrict their activities or limit their fluid intake. We can
now offer these men a chance to return to their daily activities with
minimal or no pain. They are the ones who would benefit from this
low-risk procedure.
Mr. Yarborough is the first patient at UT
Southwestern to be treated with the AdVance sling, manufactured by
American Medical Sytems, Inc., of Minnetonka, Minn. Since surgery, he
said his situation has improved dramatically. While he admits things are
not exactly as they were before prostate cancer, he said he believes the
procedure has been tremendously helpful.
Its made a difference in my life, and I would
recommend it to anyone suffering something similar, Mr. Yarborough
said.
Editor's Notes:
Men interested in the male sling should have a
comprehensive evaluation of their incontinence before any
recommendations are made regarding treatment. For more information
contact the UT Southwestern Department of Urology at 214-648-4765.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
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