Androgen: male sex hormone

Anti-androgen: hormonal therapy drug that works by attaching itself to proteins on the surface of the cancer cell thus blocking testosterone from entering the cancer cell.

Benign: a non-malignant or not cancerous growth or enlargement

Biopsy: A procedure in which tiny pieces of body parts are removed with a needle or during surgery and examined under a microscope to determine if cancer or other abnormal cells are present

Bone scan: a nuclear image of the skeleton; commonly used to determine if cancer has spread to the bones

Brachytherapy: the implantation of radio-active seeds into the prostate in an attempt to cure prostate cancer

Catheter: a thin tube inserted thru the urethra into the bladder to allow urine to drain

Cauterize: close a wound or destroy abnormal or infected tissues with a heated instrument, laser, or electric current

Chronic: lasting a long time; chronic diseases develop slowly and may develop into serious problems

Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC): periodic insertion of a clean catheter into the urethra after washing your hands to drain the urine from the bladder

Continence: The ability to control the timing of urination

CT Scan: also known as computerized tomography, formerly referred to as CAT scan; a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images of the body; much more detailed than general X-rays

Diagnosis: the process by which a doctor determines what disease or condition a patient has by studying the patient’s symptoms and medical history, and analyzing any tests performed

Epididymis: a coiled tube attached to the back and upper side of the testicle that stores sperm and is connected to the vas deferens

Erectile dysfunction (ED): the inability to get or maintain an erection for sexual activity

Estrogen: female hormone produced by the ovaries

Gene: the basic unit capable of transmitting characteristics from one generation to the next

Genetic: relating to the origin of something

Gleason Score: used in the Gleason grade system to grade the appearance of prostate cancer tissue; a gleason score may total from 2-10 with a 2 representing a very non-aggressive cancer of the prostate and a 10 being an extremely aggressive prostate cancer. Gleason scores up to six are not considered aggressive; seven and higher are considered to be aggressive in nature

Hematoma: a semisolid mass of blood in the tissues caused by injury, disease or a clotting disorder

Hernia: condition in which part of an internal organ projects abnormally through the wall of the cavity that contains it

Hormone: a natural chemical produced in one part of the body and released into the blood to trigger or regulate particular functions of the body

Infection: a condition resulting from the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms

Inflammation: swelling, redness, heat and/or pain produced in the area of the body as a result of irritation, injury or infection

Invasive: having or showing a tendency to spread from the point of origin to adjacent tissue, as some cancers do; involving cutting or puncturing the skin or inserting instruments into the body.

Metastases: the spread of a cancerous tumor to another part of the body

Mortality: the state of being certain to die

MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body

Pathologist: a physician who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease in tissues and body fluids

Pelvis: the bowl-shaped bone that supports the spine and holds up the digestive, urinary, and reproductive organs; the legs connect to the body at the pelvis

Prostatitis: inflammation or infection of the prostate; chronic prostatitis means the prostate gets inflamed over and over again; may or may not be caused by infecting organism

PSA velocity: the rate at which a PSA rises; a PSA velocity of over 0.4 per year is suspicious of prostate cancer

Radiation: also referred to as radiotherapy; X-rays or radioactive substances used in treatment of cancer

Microwave therapy (TUMT): use of controlled heat for treatment

Neurogenic Bladder: a loss of bladder control caused by damage to the nerves controlling the bladder. Can be “overactive” in nature resulting in frequency and urgent loss of bladder control; or “flaccid” in the bladder muscle does not work and must be drained by a catheter.

Orgasm: the climax of sexual excitement, consisting of intense muscle tightening around the genital area experienced as a pleasurable wave of tingling sensations through parts of the body

Prostatism: a disorder of the prostate gland, especially enlargement that blocks or inhibits urine flow

Prostiva-RF Therapy: a minimally invasive procedure that destroys excess prostate tissue with electromagnetically generated heat achieving temperatures over 115 degrees Celsius (100 Celsius = boiling temperature) by using a needle-like device in the urethra. Formerly called Trans-urethral needle ablation (TUNA)

Retention: inability to empty urine from the bladder requiring urine to be drained via catheter; can be caused by “flaccid” neurogenic bladder or obstruction of the urethra usually by an enlarged prostate

Scrotum: also referred to as the scrotal sac; the sac of tissue that hangs below the penis and contains the testicles

Sedation: state of calm relaxation induced in one or more body systems by administration of medical agents (sedatives)

Seminal vesicles: two pouch-like glands located behind the bladder; they produce a nutrients that provide sperm with a source of energy and help sperm move; fluid from the seminal vesicles produce the majority of the volume of a man’s ejaculatory fluid

Semen analysis: a laboratory study of semen to determine the concentration, shape and motility of sperm

Sperm: male germ cells that are produced by the testicles and are capable of fertilizing the female partner’s eggs; resemble tadpoles if seen under a microscope

Testicles: male sex glands located inside the scrotum; they produce sperm, male hormone, and semen.

Tissue: group of cells in an organism that are similar in form and function

Transurethral: through the urethra; several transurethral procedures are used for treatment of BPH

Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate (TUNA): a minimally invasive procedure that destroys excess prostate tissue with electromagnetically generated heat achieving temperatures over 115 degrees Celsius (100 Celsius = boiling temperature) by using a needle-like device in the urethra. Now known as Prostiva-RF Therapy

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): a surgical procedure requiring major anesthesia to “core” out the obstructing component of an enlarged prostate gland

Urethral Sphincter: muscle fibers around the outside of the urethra that tighten to close off the flow of urine or relax to open the urethra to allow the passage of urine

Urinary incontinence: inability to control urine

Urinary tract: the system that takes wastes from the blood and carries them out of the body in the form of urine; passageway from the kidneys to the ureters, bladder and urethra.

Urinary retention: inability to empty urine from the bladder requiring urine to be drained via catheter; can be caused by “flaccid” neurogenic bladder or obstruction of the urethra usually by an enlarged prostate

Void: to urinate, empty the bladder

Watchful waiting: way of managing and monitoring prostate cancer when diagnosed in small, non-aggressive amounts with regular checkups and PSA testing as opposed to immediate treatment; also applies to monitoring mild symptoms of BPH with regular checkups instead of treating immediately.