Has anyone had FLA (Focused Laser Ablation) for treatment of enlarged prostate ??
Have you searched this site? There are numerous threads on FLA. If you don't know how to search the site use a google search for "FLA Patient".
Hi yes I just had it done by Dr Karamanian in Houston who is exceptionally good and highly recommended so much so that I traveled from New Zealand to get it done, I had an enlarged median lobe pushing against my bladder and slowing down the flow to the point where unsuccessful supplements and unwanted drugs had limited or no value as a large median lobe cutting off the flow needed more, after much deep research after examining all the options very closely I hose FLA and already enjoy the benefits along with knowing things will continue to improve.
I am in Australia and it seems most forum contributors are UK or USA based. I am flabbergasted at all the BPH options available in first world healthcare locations. I had only medication that probably caused my PCa for BPH and open RP or radiation for the PCa the medication likely caused. The radiation was then ruled out as said to fuse prostate to bladder wall complicating any return of the cancer. At age 72 in November 2015 the only likely RP side effect advised was a “couple of months of incontinence.” My post surgery research has opened my view to so many other options that may have better suited the position of my prostate problem. Everyone on this site keeps harping on “we are all different” scenario. We are not all different. The only considerations should be our age, level of complaint, our potency/appetite and the quality of life/survival prospect WE desire. Losing a prostate is much more than say the loss of an appendix I had expected it to be. I now find no one knows the full function of the gland and the parts you loose with it. You are told to expect we still have PCa cells other places waiting to declare themselves. Our masculinity gone no matter what your age or sexual situation. The incontinence goes on and on. No matter how careful you are and how much padding you use you don’t know when you are going to foul someone’s car or lounge. Overnight stays anywhere are a thing of the past. You begin to understand why that officer in “Dances with Wolves” was portrayed to blow his brains out.
My surgeon was a robotic expert but I didn’t find till months after my open RP that the equipment was not available in my city at that time. I should have known all this. There was a few minor alternate options still available in our backward healthcare regime. Robotics was I believe available some distance away and at an exorbitant ,non-rebated cost that our system lends itself to. Robotic assistance came to one hospital here in late 2017 though not I think for government or insurer cases. Post-op I was told the difference was minimal but forums indicate it was much more than that.
Every time I enter forum sites I discover another option first world sufferers have over our prostate afflicted men. We are not treated in relation to the complaint but the cost of the various treatments. Even if you are prepared to pay the lot yourself it is generally not offered to keep expensive best options away from becoming the norm.
I suffered BPH since 1990. Alpha1 blockers Flomaxtra then Prazosin (4mg a day) were prescribed from 2006 to 2015. Urologists had known since 1995 that Alpha1s would need increased dosage after 2 years use. As there was no pharmaceutical company billion dollar benefit no one had bothered to do this research. When I sought an increase I was prescribed Duodart March 2013 to March 2014. As Duodart’s components were 5ARI drug Dutasteride and Flomaxtra my Alpha1 intake went to 8mg a day anyway. I was advised Duodart could cause dizziness. No mention over doubt it may initiate high grade Prostate Cancer (DPCa). This is still being withheld from the many thousands channelled to this drug by government and insurers today.
I was diagnosed with Gleason Score 3+4=7 and the gland and its associates were removed November 2015. In pre-release trials of 5ARIs participants all had previous medium hit biopsies and elevated PSAs. They were of prostate problem specific age. The numbers came out that the drug reduced the risk of low grade PCa but increased the risk of high grade PCa. Instead of a redo with a smaller number of participants with a previous MRI to eradicate this ridiculous outcome our government simply accepted their best position. They fobbed off the high grade risk. Our Duodart supplier has since reported 6 cases where they suspect the drug caused serious PCa yet users are not even allowed to know the ever increasing risk.
Our Commonwealth Ombudsman has been led to believe only adversities detected in pre-release trials need to be advised to drug uses. That post-release serious adverse events can be withheld and this is what is happening.
So research then research again and take your time with every step in the BPH > PCa trip if it comes to that.
Barrie Heslop