World-Class Urology Care in Columbus
Our board-certified urologists at AdventHealth Polk, formerly St. Luke’s Hospital, specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of urological disorders, including complex conditions like prostate cancer, kidney stones, sexual dysfunction and male and female urinary incontinence.
We offer an array of minimally invasive treatment options to provide patients with the help they need with less pain and quicker recovery times.
We’re here to help you find the right urologist or a urology clinic location that’s convenient for you.
Your Partner in Prostate Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Your prostate gland enlarges as you age. An enlarged prostate constricts the urethra, making it harder to urinate. In addition, the bladder may weaken with age and can't empty completely.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, and it often has no symptoms until it’s more advanced. Early detection through routine screenings can make all the difference, and our team is here to partner with you on smart prevention steps.
Men over the age of 50 are at the highest risk for prostate cancer, and Black men have the greatest risk of prostate cancer compared to men of other races. Other risk factors include obesity and family history. If a first-degree blood relative is diagnosed with prostate cancer, you're at an increased risk. If you have a family history of breast cancer genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2), your risk of prostate cancer may be higher.
Advanced prostate cancer may exhibit a variety of symptoms, including:
- Blood in urine or semen
- Bone pain
- Decreased force in the urine stream
- Erectile dysfunction
- Trouble urinating
- Unintended loss of weight
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test measures the amount of PSA in your body. While both noncancerous and cancerous prostates produce PSA, cancerous prostates tend to have higher PSA amounts. Your PSA levels increase as you age, even without prostate cancer or other prostate conditions, so regular screening is important.
Some doctors use a cutoff point of 2.5 ng/mL or higher when deciding if further screening is required, while others might recommend it starting at four ng/mL. Men with a PSA level between four and 10 have a 25% chance of having prostate cancer. About 50% of men with a PSA more significant than 10 have prostate cancer.
A high PSA doesn't mean you have prostate cancer, but it's an indicator. Men with higher-than-normal PSA levels should consider further testing. Detecting prostate cancer early with a PSA test improves your chances of effective treatment.
Your provider may recommend one of the following options:
- Waiting for a period and having a second PSA test
- Having another type of test to get more detail
- Getting a prostate biopsy
Once you’ve received a prostate cancer diagnosis, our experts will discuss your treatment options. It's essential to weigh the benefits of each treatment option compared to the possible side effects.
Your treatment team includes the following:
- Urologist: a surgeon who treats diseases of the urinary and male reproductive systems
- Radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy
- Medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or chemotherapy
Active surveillance (waiting and watching) is an option for low-grade prostate cancer that isn't causing symptoms, is confined to a small area of the prostate and is growing slowly. Regular blood tests, rectal exams and prostate biopsies help monitor the cancer's progression. This approach may be best for someone of an advanced age or with other severe health conditions.
If tests show your cancer is progressing, you may opt for surgery, radiation or chemoimmunotherapy.
Our Urology Services
- Andrology
- Bladder cancer
- Erectile dysfunction
- Female urology, including prolapse
- Kidney cancer
- Kidney stones
- Lower urinary tract symptoms, including benign prostate disease
- Neurourology
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
- Prostate cancer
- Specialist nursing services
- Telehealth consultation for regional and remote patients
- Testicular cancer
- Urethral cancer
- Urinary incontinence
- Urodynamics diagnostics
- Urological prosthetics
Urology Care You Can Count On
Our AdventHealth Polk urology experts lead the region in providing urology care to male and female patients of all ages. When you’re looking for a compassionate, highly skilled urologist near you, you can rest easy knowing we’re close to home in rural Polk County.
A Complete Network of Care for Whole Health
You’re a connected system: body, mind and spirit. And so are we. With a multidisciplinary approach to care, we reach across specialties and locations to give you the urology expertise and support you need to thrive. You can count on us to listen to you, respect your time, compare notes and make care decisions that meet your unique needs and goals. No matter what’s on your chart or your mind, we’re here for you every step of the way.