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“Urination Problem… Don`t just Blame Your Age”

Posted September. 28, 2003 23:19,   

한국어

The Korean Urological Association (Chairman Choi Hwang, chief of Chilren`s Ward in Seoul National University Hospital) has designated Oct 5 as `Prostate Health Day` and from the day to the coming 11 as `Prostate Health Week` to help prostate cancer patients relieve their pain. This paper is sponsoring the event.

The association has entrusted actor Namgung, Won as promotion ambassador for the prostate health. `Korean Gregory Peck` Mr. Namgung is a graduate from Engineering Department of Hanyang University. He appeared on ` Red Scarps` and `The North and the South` and various other famous movies, leading the development of Korean movies.

He was once about to take a role of North Korean spy, but the central intelligence office got the information and stopped him saying that, “If a handsome actor plays a role of north Korean spy, it might make our children feel confused.”

He said “I first hesitated as the Urological reminded me of impotency or sexually transmitted diseases.” He added, “But recently when I met my friends they were all talking about the prostate, so I decided to take the offer.”

Mr. Namgung met with Chairman Choi Hwang at the Seoul National University Hospital on Sep 24 morning and asked what the prostate is and Chaiman Choi showed Mr. Namgung a human body model, and explained about it.

“The prostate is an organ what surrounds the urinary track just right under the bladder, that generates prostatic fluid that takes up around 20∼30% of semen. The prostatic fluid has various enzymes and nutrients needed for activities of sperms. It is the reason why it smells like chestnut flower. The prostate is almost invisible when a child is born, but as one reaches adolescence, it starts to grow, up to 20g. It is shaped like a chestnut, so at the Korean Anatomy Association we call it the `pond of chestnut`.”

―What kind of prostate diseases are there.

“The prostate gets bigger after a person reaches 35. After 40s, it presses against the urinary track. Since then, people develop different symptoms of urinary disorders, and this is what we call the prostate enlargement. This is very common that 60% of those in the 60s and 90% of those in their 80s have it. There are the prostate inflammation which is caused by various inflammation in the prostate and the prostate cancer which is to develop malignant tumor in the prostate. The prostate cancer is quite rare in Korea, but is it increasing fast. In western countries, it is foun very commonly that it ranks 1 or 2 as the most common cancer for men.”

―Many of my friends seem to have enlarged prostates, and most of them say that it is due to their age and do not consider taking treatments. Do we need to get treatment?

“If you neglect it, it can block the entire urinary track, that you would not be able to urine at all, leading to damages in the bladder and the kidney. It might even kill you. Except for these extreme cases, it can greatly undermine the quality of life. If you get treated, it will bring you a whole new life.”

Mr.Namgung realized a new fact. He said, “That is exactly the true. Some of my friends are unable to pee when they want, and it just comes out when they are in a car or something. For a great better life, we should treat prostate diseases.”

He asked Chairman Choi about treatments for the prostate diseases.

“If symptoms are light, you can just lessen consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and train on regular urination. You can also restrain yourself from taking flu medicine or tranquilizers. If symptoms are more severe, you can take some hormone blocking medicines to ease muscles surrounding the prostate or that blocks growth of the prostate. If symptoms are too serious, you should get a surgery. Sometimes you have to open the abdomen, but sometimes we can do the surgery by putting surgery gears through the anus. These days, new treatment methods were introduces such as razor treatment and thermo therapy and etc… However, there are still much disputes over its efficacy.”

Mr.Namgung said, “Recently an actor got the prostate surgery and said that his life has changed totally. He recommended others to get it too.” He said, “I will let many people know that any one can develop prostate diseases and your quality of life can improve if you get it treated. I will do all I can to do my job as a prostate health promotion ambassador.”



Seong-Ju Lee stein33@donga.com