Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Prostate cancer is a fairly serious blip on the male health radar as the second leading cause of cancer death in American men.
Chances are you know someone who has battled prostate cancer because statistically speaking; one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. The average age of diagnosis is 65, in fact 60% of those diagnosed are 65 and older.
Prostate cancer – and other prostate issues – can cause considerable discomfort, pain and even death, if they are left undiagnosed and untreated. No man looks forward to the annual prostate exam; but if you’re smart, you’ll bite the bullet and go anyway because early detection can save your life.
Regular screenings cannot only save you a lot of pain and discomfort – they may just save your life.
What is the prostate – and why does it need to be examined?
The prostate gland is a doughnut-shaped organ that is part of the male reproductive system. A healthy prostate in a younger man is only about the size of a walnut. The prostate sits just under the bladder and is wrapped around the beginning of the urethra. It is surrounded by nerves that control erections and its primary function is to produce a liquid that enriches and protects sperm.
Unfortunately, as men get older this little organ tends to act up. At times, some of the symptoms are simply a sign of aging; however, in many cases prostate trouble is an indication of a more serious problem. Prostate cancer is a primary concern, but other prostate disorders can be just as uncomfortable and a serious concern for male health.
So if you are experiencing symptoms like difficulty or discomfort while urinating, reduced ability to get an erection, blood in your urine or semen, or painful ejaculation, it’s important to have your prostate checked out. Even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms, it’s still wise to be screened from time to time, as you can pre-empt and prevent problems before they crop up.
Regular screenings ensure that problems are caught quickly. Catching a prostate problem right at the start, means that it can be treated and cleared up with far less difficulty.
So men, don’t wait around till you run into trouble. A little momentary discomfort is a worthwhile trade for a long, happy, healthy life surrounded by your family and friends. Do yourself a favor and get your prostate checked out.
If there is concern as a result from the routine annual prostate exam, diagnostic imaging will be ordered. There are different imaging screenings available, the 3T wide bore MRI provides that best image quality in a non-invasive way.
Men travel from across the United States for advanced imaging with our Phillips 3T wide bore MRI.
Radiology Associates of Venice and Englewood is pleased to offer 3T wide bore MRI scans for obtaining superior-quality MRI images for diagnostic accuracy and exceptional comfort in an expanded range of patient scenarios.
What is a 3T MRI?
The term “3T” stands for “3 Tesla.” Tesla is the name given to a measurement unit that expresses the strength of the electromagnetic energy field that MRI devices use for generating images. Standard MRI scanners operate in the range of about 1.5 Tesla. This means that our 3T MRI operates at approximately twice the electromagnetic energy level of a standard MRI.
Benefits of 3T MRI
Our wide bore 3T MRI scanner combines the superb diagnostic image quality gained through a stronger electromagnetic field with the exceptional patient comfort of a wide-bore configuration—70 cm in diameter, a full 10 cm larger than standard MRI scanners. The scanner is also shorter in length than conventional MRI scanners. These factors make this scanner less confining to patients, reducing symptoms of claustrophobia. Additionally, large patients who have trouble fitting into conventional scanners can have their scans done in this machine, which can accommodate patients weighing up to 500 lbs.
The stronger magnetic field allows the machine to detect stronger signals from the patient during the imaging. This increased signal strength can be used to generate more detailed pictures or reduce the total imaging time. Often the imaging protocols are designed to generate better pictures while still saving time compared to other types of MRI scanners, giving patients the benefit of a shorter exam without sacrificing diagnostic quality.
Radiology Associates of Venice, Englewood, and Sarasota
VENICE
512-516 S. Nokomis Ave
Venice, FL 34285
941-488-7781
Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
ENGLEWOOD
900 Pine Street
Englewood, FL 34223
941-475-5471
Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
SARASOTA
3501 Cattlemen Road
Sarasota, FL 34223
941-342-RAVE (7283)
Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
