Category: UNC Health Talk

Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy (RALP) is a minimally invasive surgery for men with prostate cancer. The procedure involves making a series of small holes in the abdomen through which robotic arms controlled by the surgeon are used to remove the prostate with a high degree of accuracy and precision. RALP is now the most common type of prostatectomy performed in the U.S.

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Whether they are as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball, kidney stones can be extremely painful. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent developing kidney stones or at least minimize their size and impact, says UNC Health urologist David F. Friedlander, MD, MPH.

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Albert Brunson didn’t tell anyone but his wife, Delphine, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2009, or when his prostate was removed six months later. “I had my surgery in Chapel Hill,” he says. “I have a brother who lived just down the road in Durham. I didn’t tell him I was …

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Testicular cancer is a young man’s disease. The average age at diagnosis is 33, a time of life when men may be launching their career, starting relationships or planning a family. Fortunately, “testicular cancer is one of the success stories,” says UNC Health urologic oncologist Hung-Jui “Ray” Tan, MD. “More than 95 percent of patients …

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You probably never thought much about your kidneys, those fist-sized, bean-shaped organs that filter blood and make urine. You do know it’s possible to live with only one, which seems hopeful. An early diagnosis is a reason for optimism, says UNC Health urologic oncologist Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, MD, MSHPM.

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Each year, nearly 75,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer. While more common in men over age 55, bladder cancer can—and does—affect women and men of all ages. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, you may have a lot of questions. We talked to UNC Health bladder cancer specialists …

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Testosterone is important to a man’s health, says UNC Health urologist Marc J. Rogers, MD. Here’s the real deal about why, and what to do if you’re concerned about low testosterone.

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Just as women know to be concerned about breast cancer, men need to be aware of their risk for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with an even higher incidence in Black men. But many men don’t know their risk factors or when to get screened.

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You or a loved one may have experienced erectile dysfunction but have been too embarrassed to talk about it. First, know that you’re not alone. Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common type of male sexual dysfunction. Second, know that it can be treated. We talked to UNC Medical Center urologist Brad Figler, MD, to …

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Prostatitis is a benign but painful condition that causes inflammation of the prostate or surrounding area. While half of all men will experience it, many don’t know what it is. When prostatitis happens to younger men, it can be alarming and a little scary. We asked UNC Medical Center urologist Eric Wallen, MD, to explain …

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You might think that a man who suffered an injury to his penis would be well aware of that fact. But for many men with Peyronie’s disease, repeated injury from sex or other physical activity causes damage without being noticed. Peyronie’s is the formation of scar tissue, or plaque, in the erectile tissue of the …

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Men: Think of your penis as the canary in the coal mine. It can signal health problems beyond your genitals. Men who have trouble getting and maintaining erections should see a doctor, says Culley C. Carson III, MD, distinguished professor emeritus of urology at the UNC School of Medicine. Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is sometimes …

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