The Prostate Health Podcast

Garrett Pohlman, MD

So the big question is this: how can men and those who care for them better educate themselves regarding prostate health, the conditions that affect the prostate, and the latest technology in managing these conditions? That is the question and this podcast will provide the answers. My name is Garrett D. Pohlman, MD, founder and host of The Prostate Health Podcast. On a weekly basis I will be chatting with experts, innovators, and leaders in the field of Urology – sharing useful information with the general public to improve their lives and increase their overall health.

  1. Jul 16

    113: Beyond Traditional Prostate Surgery: Why HoLEP is Gaining Momentum – Austen Slade, MD

    We are excited to partner with Richard Wolf Medical Instruments, a company at the forefront of urologic innovation and advanced surgical technology, for this episode of the Prostate Health Podcast. For decades, men with enlarged prostates have had to choose between living with disruptive urinary symptoms and undergoing invasive surgery. Now, holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, or HoLEP, is changing that by offering a minimally invasive treatment with proven long-term results, while new surgical innovations are taking the procedure to the next level.  Today's guest is Dr. Austin Slade, a nationally and internationally recognized urologic surgeon and one of the most experienced HoLEP specialists in the United States. Known for his surgical precision, exceptional patient outcomes, and commitment to advancing minimally invasive prostate care, Dr. Slade is sought out by patients and referring physicians from across the United States and around the world for the treatment of enlarged prostate symptoms. Join us as Dr. Slade offers his insights on why the HoLEP procedure has become a leading long-term treatment for BPH and how recent advances in surgical instrumentation are enabling surgeons to deliver even better outcomes for their patients. Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation. Show Highlights: What is BPH, and when should you seek evaluation? How BPH symptoms can impact the quality of men's everyday lives What HoLEP is, and how it differs from TURP and robotic simple prostatectomy How HoLEP provides durable, long-term results for men with BPH What patients can expect before, during, and after HoLEP surgery Dr. Slade addresses some common concerns and misconceptions surrounding the HoLEP procedure How new surgical instruments and technologies are improving the HoLEP procedure Treatment goals help to determine whether the HoLEP procedure is the right option Dr. Slade highlights the rapid worldwide growth of HoLEP and explains why he expects the procedure to become increasingly available Links:  Website: https://draustenslade.com/ YouTube HoLEP video: https://youtu.be/IvzE4GPP5hY YouTube "What happens to the urethra": https://youtu.be/6ETEV4b-kxE Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd  Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram  Sign up for the Prostate Health Academy   You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini-webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here: Richard Wolf Medical Instruments

  2. May 14

    112: BioProtect Balloon Spacer: Reducing Side Effects in Modern Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy - Jeffrey P. Wolters, MD and Coyt Rountree, MD

    We are thrilled to partner with BioProtect for this episode of the Prostate Health Podcast. Radiation therapy is a highly effective treatment for prostate cancer. Navigating potential side effects, particularly radiation effects on the rectum, is a key challenge when making a decision. Fortunately, a new technology helps reduce the short- and long-term risks associated with treatment. Today, for the first time on the podcast, we're featuring both a urologist and a radiation oncologist to give our listeners a true multidisciplinary perspective on how a biodegradable balloon spacer provides precise, predictable spacing for radiation therapy in prostate cancer.  We are delighted to have board-certified urologist Dr. Jeffrey Wolters, MD, and board-certified radiation oncologist Dr. Coyt Rountree, MD, both from Florida Cancer Specialists, joining us today. Dr. Wolters and Dr. Rountree are leading experts in the management of prostate cancer with significant experience using the BioProtect balloon spacer. Stay tuned for more! Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation. Show Highlights: What patients need to know about radiation before starting treatment How urologists and radiation oncologists work together to determine appropriate treatment options Recent advances in radiation oncology have helped reduce radiation dose and lower treatment-related side effects Drs. Wolters and Rountree explain what the BioProtect balloon implant system is and why creating space between the prostate and rectum matters How BioProtect compares with previous generations of rectal spacers Who should be considered for the BioProtect balloon implant system?  What to expect during and after the BioProtect balloon placement procedure Revealing clinical evidence regarding rectal dose reduction, toxicity, and quality of life with rectal spacing Links:  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd.  Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram  Sign up for the Prostate Health Academy   You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini-webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here. Florida Cancer Specialists

  3. Jan 15

    111: TULSA-PRO, the only AI-powered, MRI-guided Treatment for Men with Prostate Cancer – Y. Mark Hong, MD

    As men and their loved ones explore treatment options for prostate cancer, it's encouraging to know that ongoing innovation is shaping the management of this condition as technology advances. Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Mark Hong, a pioneer of an advanced treatment for men with prostate cancer and/or BPH, known as Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation, or TULSA. It is a minimally invasive MRI-guided procedure that destroys cancerous tissue while minimizing side effects. We're thrilled to partner with Profound Medical to introduce today's special guest. Dr. Hong is a board-certified urologist at Integrative Urology in Phoenix, Arizona, and a pioneer of MRI-guided TULSA-PRO incision-free surgery for prostate cancer. He completed his urology residency at Harvard Medical Center and earned selection as a national CAPTURE Scholar in prostate cancer. That allowed him to lead projects alongside world-leading scientists from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the University of California, San Francisco. He also completed a fellowship in robotic and minimally invasive surgery at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He has published in almost every major international urology journal, having authored publications on topics ranging from prostate cancer detection to healthcare policy. Dr. Hong joins us today to share more about TULSA-PRO for men with prostate cancer. Having completed over 200 procedures, he has performed more TULSA procedures as an independent urologist, in the absence of a radiologist, than any other urologist in the world. Stay tuned for more! Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation. Show Highlights: Dr. Hong clarifies what the TULSA procedure is How the TULSA procedure differs from other technologies, in terms of its delivery, advantages, and outcomes Who are the ideal candidates for the TULSA procedure? The potential risks associated with the TULSA procedure What patients undergoing the TULSA procedure can expect How the development of new technologies leads to better outcomes for men with prostate cance Links:  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd.  Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram  Sign up for the Prostate Health Academy   You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini-webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here. Podcast Partner: Profound Medical TULSA-PRO: https://tulsaprocedure.com/

  4. 12/23/2025

    110: Evaluating Aquablation Therapy to Treat Prostate Cancer – WATER IV Prostate Cancer Trial – Inderbir S. Gill, MD

    There is now a significant opportunity to improve the safety and quality of life outcomes for men requiring treatment for prostate cancer.  Today, we're discussing the Water IV Prostate Cancer trial, an innovative and meaningful clinical trial that is actively enrolling patients to assess how the safety and efficacy of Aquablation therapy compares with radical prostatectomy in men with localized prostate cancer. I'm excited to share my experience as a current investigator for that study and to have Dr. Inderbir Gill, the co-principal investigator from the University of Southern California, join us.  Dr. Gill is the current Chairman and Distinguished Professor of Urology of the University of Southern California Department of Urology. He is also the Founding Executive Director of the USC Institute of Urology. Stay tuned to learn who qualifies as a candidate to participate in the trial, how the study works, and how you can get involved. Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.  Pertinent disclosure for today's episode – Today's episode is sponsored by PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation, which manufactures and sells the Aquablation system. Dr. Pohlman is also a paid advisor for PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation. Show Highlights: How the Water IV Prostate Cancer trial compares Aquablation directly with radical prostatectomy How the Water IV Prostate Cancer trial is the first prospective, randomized U.S. trial comparing a novel prostate cancer treatment to radical prostatectomy. Who qualifies as an eligible participant for the Water IV Prostate Cancer trial? The requirements for those participating in the Water IV Prostate Cancer trial How the trial randomizes the participants in the trial What the study measures as its primary and secondary endpoints  How recruitment for the trial has exceeded all expectations When the early trial results should come out  Links:  WATER IV Prostate Cancer Study webpage: water4pca.com Contact the study team: wateriv@procept-biorobotics.com Aquablation Therapy website: https://aquablation.com/ Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd  Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram  Sign up for the Prostate Health Academy   You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini-webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here.

  5. 09/11/2025

    109: Using Electrical Pulses (The NanoKnife System) to Treat Prostate Tumors – L. Spencer Krane, MD

    There is a new treatment option available now that can precisely target prostate lesions with electrical pulses, while helping preserve sexual function and urinary control. Whether you or a loved one has prostate disease, or you are a urologist considering this technology for your practice, you will not want to miss today's discussion on this innovative new option. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, so we have a special episode today to kick it off. We are excited to welcome the distinguished urologist, Dr. Spencer Krane, to the Prostate Health Podcast. Dr. Krane is the Chief of Urology at the US Department of Veterans Affairs in New Orleans, Louisiana. He specializes in personalized medicine for patients with urologic malignancies, aiming to use new biomarkers, genomic classifications, epigenetic signatures, and advanced imaging modalities, including MRI-guided prostate biopsies, to offer his patients individualized care that improves cancer outcomes while minimizing therapy side effects. Dr. Krane has published extensively in urologic journals, and his work was selected to provide guidelines for urologic care. He has 50 peer-reviewed articles in national and international journals and has presented his work internationally, from Chile and Rome to Taiwan, as well as across the United States. We are excited to welcome him today to share his experience with the innovative new NanoKnife system as a treatment option for men with prostate tumors.  It is exciting to see ongoing innovation in the technology we have available for men with prostate tumors. For the appropriate candidates, this minimally invasive option offers precise targeting of the lesion while helping preserve both sexual function and urinary control.  Pertinent disclosure for today's episode – Dr. Krane is a paid consultant for AngioDynamics, Inc., which manufactures and sells the NanoKnife System. The views, information, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Dr. Krane, and does not necessarily represent those of AngioDynamics, Inc., its affiliates, or subsidiaries.  Show Highlights: Dr. Krane reviews the concept of targeted focal therapy and explains what  the NanoKnife system is Who is an ideal candidate for irreversible electroporation with the NanoKnife system? The advantages and features of the NanoKnife system   Does prostate size or shape limit the candidacy for IRE with the NanoKnife system? Would prostate anatomies on the MRI or biopsy exclude a patient from NanoKnife therapy? Dr. Krane explains how long it takes to resolve the initial decrease in sexual ability after NanoKnife therapy.   Why many patients experience improved urinary function in the long term after having NanoKnife therapy Dr. Krane clarifies the time it takes to resolve the initial decrease in sexual ability after being treated with NanoKnife therapy.   Links:  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd.  Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on X and Instagram  Sign up for the Prostate Health Academy   You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini-webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here.

  6. 05/29/2025

    108: How a Prostate Health Coach Can Be an Essential Component to Your Journey with an Enlarged Prostate (BPH)

    Today, our guest is Tom, a 67-year-old retired senior executive who found it challenging to get an accurate diagnosis and find effective treatment for his enlarged prostate. Frustrated by his limited options and with a growing sense of mistrust, he consulted with several providers before realizing he needed the guidance of a prostate health coach. Tom retired as a senior IT executive with over 40 years of experience leading transformative technology strategies to drive business growth for global organizations. He led global IT initiatives for Fortune 500 companies across various industries, including financial services, retail, media, manufacturing, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. It is hardly surprising that Tom struggled with an enlarged prostate, since 70% of men over the age of 60 suffer from BPH. We are excited to have him on the podcast today to discuss his BPH experience and share how the Prostate Health Academy gave him the tools and confidence he needed to navigate his treatment process.  Stay tuned for more! Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation. Show Highlights: The symptoms Tom had been dealing with How his symptoms disrupted his day-to-day life Why the symptoms of BPH are abnormal, and you should not accept them as a part of aging Why BPH treatment options must be individualized to fit the anatomy and symptoms of each patient How the Prostate Health Academy empowered Tom by providing valuable resources and a community of like-minded individuals How the Prostate Health Academy helped Tom make an informed decision about his treatment options and find a urologist offering a range of non-invasive BPH treatments Tom shares his experience with the financial burden of having unnecessary tests.  How a prostate health coach helps you navigate the results of your tests and make sense of the findings Why Tom opted for Aquablation therapy after finding a doctor who met his needs Links:  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd. Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram  Sign up for the Prostate Health Academy   You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini-webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life, here.

  7. 03/13/2025

    107: The Expanding Role for Modern Low Dose Rate (LDR) Prostate Brachytherapy – Steven Kurtzman, MD and Ankit Agarwal, MD

    We are delighted to partner with Western Radiation Oncology today, with two of their distinguished radiation oncologists joining us on the Prostate Health Podcast.  LDR (Low Dose Rate) prostate brachytherapy has recently been an underutilized treatment for prostate cancer. However, advancements in modern techniques have demonstrated that LDR brachytherapy, a procedure that can be performed quite easily in an ambulatory surgery center, offers high cure rates with minimal long-term complications, making it a convenient, non-invasive option for men with prostate cancer. Today, we chat with Dr. Steven Kurtzman and Dr. Ankit Agarwal, two distinguished radiation oncologists working to expand access to LDR brachytherapy by partnering with urologists to establish new programs across the United States.  Drs. Kurtzman and Agarwal are national leaders in targeted real-time intraoperative planned brachytherapy. With over 7,000 implants performed in the past two decades and more than 700 procedures conducted annually, they have managed to preserve this specialized technique despite its limited expansion in recent years. Based primarily in the Bay Area, California, they provide exceptional cancer care while collaborating with urologists, medical oncologists, and prostate cancer specialists across the United States to assist in establishing LDR programs in ambulatory surgery centers nationwide to provide high-quality prostate cancer care. Tune in to learn more about this promising treatment option! Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation. Show Highlights: Who are the most viable candidates for LDR brachytherapy? How the treatments for low, intermediate, and high-risk prostate cancer patients differ The benefits of a combination of brachytherapy and external beam radiation for high-risk prostate cancer patients How factors like urinary function, bowel function, and prostate size can influence men's eligibility for LDR brachytherapy Why prostate size is no longer a limitation for brachytherapy treatment How is the LDR brachytherapy procedure performed? What can patients expect in terms of recovery and side effects following brachytherapy? Post-therapy safety precautions Links:  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd  Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram  Go to the Prostate Health Academy to sign up.  You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here. Sponsor Links:  Western Radiation Oncology Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer with Dr. Steven Kurtzman and Dr. Ankit Agarwal on YouTube Expanding Treatment Options at Ambulatory Surgical Centers: LDR Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

  8. 02/13/2025

    106: The Elevated PSA Pathway and My Initial Experience with the EpiSwitch PSE Test - Garrett D. Pohlman, MD

    Prostate cancer screening is an essential aspect of men's health, and current advancements in testing are making early detection more precise than ever before. While the PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test has long been the standard, it has limitations and may lead to unnecessary biopsies. The new EpiSwitch PSE test helps differentiate between high and low prostate cancer risks. With an impressive 94% accuracy rate, the EpiSwitch PSE test empowers patients and physicians to make informed decisions. In this episode, Dr. Garrett Pohlman explores the latest innovations in prostate cancer screening, focusing on the EpiSwitch PSE blood test.  Stay tuned to discover the benefits of the new EpiSwitch PSE test and learn how precision medicine is reshaping prostate cancer management for men. Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation. Show Highlights: What are the limitations of the PSA test? How the EpiSwitch PSE test can predict the risk of prostate cancer with 94% accuracy How prostate cancer biomarkers help to identify the likelihood of prostate cancer  How the EpiSwitch PSE test can provide a more accurate assessment of prostate cancer risk How the EpiSwitch PSE test can help men avoid unnecessary biopsies The clinical applications of the EpiSwitch PSE test and how it can be used alongside a standard PSA test to improve accuracy How the EpiSwitch PSE test requires just two milliliters of blood  How even patients who have undergone recent BPH procedures or are on 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can use the EpiSwitch PSE test Why the EpiSwitch PSE test is more accurate than PSA testing Why men need to be aware of their PSA numbers and consider additional testing if they have an elevated PSA Pertinent disclosures for this episode:  Dr. Garrett Pohlman is a Consultant for Oxford BioDynamics Links:  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram - @gpohlmanmd  Get your free What To Expect Guide (or find the link on our podcast website)   Join our Facebook group  Follow Dr. Pohlman on Twitter and Instagram  Go to the Prostate Health Academy to sign up.  You can access Dr. Pohlman's free mini webinar, where he discusses his top three tips to promote men's prostate health, longevity, and quality of life here.

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About

So the big question is this: how can men and those who care for them better educate themselves regarding prostate health, the conditions that affect the prostate, and the latest technology in managing these conditions? That is the question and this podcast will provide the answers. My name is Garrett D. Pohlman, MD, founder and host of The Prostate Health Podcast. On a weekly basis I will be chatting with experts, innovators, and leaders in the field of Urology – sharing useful information with the general public to improve their lives and increase their overall health.

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