Procedures

Lithotripsy is the technology that allows us to break up stones in the urinary tract (such as kidney, Ureter and Urinary Bladder stones) using shockwaves.

Chemotherapy concerns the use of special cytotoxic drugs to treat cancers by either killing the cancer cells or slowing their growth. Chemotherapy drugs travel round the body and attack rapidly growing cells, which may also include healthy cells in the body as well as cancer cells. However the breaks between bouts of chemo allow the bodies normal cells to recover before the next course of chemo.

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy uses powerful x-rays and other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells using a machine called a 'Linear Accelerator'. Damaging the cancer cells means that they cannot grow or multiply and s o they die. Normal cells are also damaged in this procedure but usually recover.

Hormone Therapy is another option for treating Prostate Cancer. It is most commonly used in the treatment of malignancies that have spread beyond the prostate. The body produces hormones to control the growth and activity of healthy cells, but some of these hormones may stimulate the growth of the prostate cancer. The male hormone Testosterone, which is produced by the testicles, appears to have a direct affect on the growth of prostate cancer.

Prostate brachytherapy involves the placement of radioactive material directly into the prostate gland. These implants can be in the form or wires or radioactive iodine 'seeds'.

Transurethral resection of the prostate gland is carried out primarily to relieve obstruction. It is not the type of operation that is usually carried out in the treatment of prostate cancer. In a great majority of cases,you will be given a spinal anaesthetic. This involves the placement of a needle into your lower back and after the injection of anaesthetic drugs; you will be completely numb from the waist down.Your anaesthetist will discuss this further with you.

Circumcision is the surgical removal of some or the entire foreskin covering the head or glans (rounded tip) of the penis. The procedure is performed for cultural or religious reasons, or for health reasons. It is a safe surgical procedure if performed by a trained, experienced practitioner, using a strict aseptic (sterile) technique and if performed on a healthy, stable infant.

The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland that is only present in men. It is involved in providing nutrition to sperm and assisting in their transport. A prostate biopsy involves the removal of small samples of suspicious tissues from the prostate.

A hydrocele is an accumulation of fluid around the testicles causing the scrotum to swell. This is caused due to non-closure of the tube through which the testicles descend into the scrotum.