Darius is 63 years old and began to awake at night to urinate. When he went to the bathroom, he had to strain to initiate the flow, and the stream of urine was weak. Over time, the pattern became more apparent during the day; he often had a sense of urinary urgency and felt he was going to the bathroom frequently. When he did, however, he did not always feel he had emptied his bladder, and he tended to dribble urine throughout the day. Much to his reluctance, his wife urged him to see a physician. At the doctor’s office, his case history was carefully taken and it was learned that Darius’s dad died 2 years ago due to prostate cancer. A digital rectal was performed, and lab work was ordered. His blood results were unremarkable, but his urinalysis showed an elevated white blood cell count and bacteria. His physician diagnosed Darius with benign prostatic hyperplasia and a urinary tract infection 1. How does BPH cause the signs and symptoms of bladder dysfunction?
2. Why was Darius prone to developing a urinary tract infection?
3. Why should Darius be concerned about developing prostate cancer?
4. What symptoms would occur if Darius developed prostate cancer?