Dear Dr. Roach: I received the COVID-19 vaccine seven weeks ago. It was not an updated vaccine as it has been inoculated since 2023. However, the Food and Drug Administration has just approved and released an updated vaccine for 2024. Will we be able to get the latest updated vaccines or will we have to wait? — VC
A: A new vaccine was approved by the FDA in August and is now available specifically for the new micron variant KP.2. This new vaccine precisely targets the circulating virus. If you haven’t had a coronavirus vaccine in the past two months, you can still get the vaccine and only have to wait another week.
With the coronavirus currently circulating in many parts of the country, getting vaccinated now may be a good option, especially if you haven’t been vaccinated for a long time or are at high risk. . Due to age or medical condition. Some may consider waiting a few months until the anticipated winter surge. I currently encourage most patients to receive the new vaccine, but your particular situation may be different. Therefore, consult your doctor about the best timing.
Dear Dr. Roach: It was five years ago that I had TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) surgery for slow urination. It’s not critical yet, but I feel like my urine flow is slowing down again. How often do men who have had TURP surgery need a second surgery?
A normal prostate gland is about the size of a walnut. Men get bigger as they age. Does it stop growing at some point? How big can it actually grow? Will it be bigger than an orange? –Anon.
Answer: It is true that the prostate gland in young men is usually the size of a walnut. Many men have an enlarged prostate, and there are different anatomical areas within the prostate called zones. The urethra carries urine from the bladder through the penis and through the transition zone of the prostate gland, and it is this zone that most often causes symptoms in older men.
Surgery for enlarged prostates is performed less frequently today than it was 20 years ago. This is because drug therapy is much more effective. Although most men do not require surgery, it is certainly still performed. Additionally, there are other options such as photo-selective vaporization, microwave therapy, cooling and laser therapy, and prostatic artery embolization. The decision on which to recommend is in the hands of the urologist, but he or she can give some advice on how often revision surgery is needed.
After 5 years, about 7% of men who had your surgery required a second surgery. Most other treatments were similar, but some didn’t last as long. Prostatic artery embolization required 24% retreatment over 5 years, while microwave therapy required 31% retreatment.
Unfortunately, the prostate tends to continue to grow. I don’t want to break the “world record” of 4 liters, which is about the size of a small watermelon. (The infected person had no symptoms, so no treatment was given.)
Dr. Roach regrets not being able to respond to individual letters, but will incorporate them into his columns whenever possible. Readers can email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
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