AdventHealth Medical Group Urology at Denver and Lone Tree

Bladder cancer is the fifth most diagnosed cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. More than 70,000 Americans are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year. Bladder cancer is more common among men than women, although rates have been increasing among women over the past 10 years.

The incidence of the disease increases with age; people over 70 are two to three times more likely to develop the disease than individuals between the ages of 30 to 54.

Damage to the nervous system may sometimes cause patients to lose normal bladder function, a condition known as neurogenic bladder.

Under normal conditions, the nervous system controls bladder function by sending messages from the brain to the bladder and from the bladder to the brain that signals a tightening or release of the bladder during urination. Patients suffering from this condition may experience an underactive bladder that is unable to contract or empty or an overactive bladder that contracts too quickly and frequently.

Urinary Incontinence (UI) isn’t unusual. It’s estimated that more than 25 million adults in the United States experience temporary or chronic bladder leakage daily. While UI is more common in women over 50 than in other segments of the population, it can happen to anyone.

Depending on the cause and severity, treatment options range from medication and therapy to surgical procedures that include:

• BOTOX® injections
• Slings
• Sacral neuromodulation
• Tibial nerve stimulation

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract and urethra and multiply. These infections typically develop in the lower urinary tract before progressing to the upper urinary tract if they remain untreated. Bladder infections (cystitis) are the most common form of urinary tract infections, but UTIs can also manifest as infections of the urethra or kidney infections. Women are more prone than men to developing UTIs. Children under the age of two can also develop this infection. E. coli is the most common bacterial cause of UTIs. Other forms of bacteria can also cause UTIs. Men and women sometimes can transmit bacteria to their partner during sexual intercourse, causing a UTI.

Kidney stones (renal lithiasis) and ureteral stones (kidney stones that have moved to the ureters) are common in urological health. They are often caused by diet, lifestyle changes, and even family history.

More than 1 million cases of kidney and ureteral stones are diagnosed in the U.S. every year, with about 10% of Americans suffering from stone disease at some point during their lifetime.

We treat kidney stones through non-surgical and surgical care, but we’ll investigate the root cause of kidney stones. We conduct metabolic studies and create a customized plan to prevent future stones from forming.

Treatment options include:

• Shock wave lithotripsy
• Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy
• Robotic-assisted pyelolithotomy and ureterotomy

Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Chronic erectile dysfunction affects approximately 5% of men in their 40s and 15 to 25% of men over the age of 65. Transient erectile dysfunction can affect up to 50% of men between the ages of 40 and 70.

Under normal physiological conditions, neurotransmitters in the brain initiate an erection by sending messages to the vascular (blood) system to increase blood flow to the penis. The corpora cavernosa (tubes of connective tissue) and erectile tissue in the penis expand as a result of the increased blood flow and pressure. Following ejaculation, pressure in the penis decreases to reduce blood flow and allow the penis to resume its normal shape.

Patients with erectile dysfunction often experience negative psychological side effects. They may have low self-esteem or feel inadequate as a sexual partner. Partners of patients dealing with erectile dysfunction may also feel the emotional strain of the diagnosis.