Hello, @jyuhanick. I hope to be of some help to you in deciding about how to address benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). I had the condition and my urologist performed a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), under anaesthesia in a hospital, about 10 years ago. I had two prominent results:

First, my urinary incontinence ended promptly and remains out of my life to this day. Second, removal of prostate tissue that was protruding into my bladder exposed a tumor in the bladder lining, which turned out to be a low-grade malignancy. Without the operation, I suspect that tumor -- and a dozen more that appeared within the following year -- would have taken my bladder (if not my life) by now. Instead, I'm in pretty good shape. The tumors all were growths in the superficial lining of my bladder; they were readily removed with a follow-up transurethral resection procedure. I would not hesitate to recommend that you choose a TURP if your urologist believes it is appropriate and that is reaffirmed by a second physician's opinion, preferably one from Mayo Clinic.

As to a HoLEP, I have no personal experience with it. However, I recently came across an article from Prevention magazine that you may wish to read and consider. Find it at http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/morcellation-surgery-when-cutting-edge-kills. If the procedure would include morcellation of prostate tissue, there may be a risk of spreading diseased tissue around the inside of your bladder or along the urethra carrying urine outside your body. In my case, morcellation might very well have sliced up the hidden tumor in my bladder and seeded more tumors in my urinary system. In this case, as in connection with TURP, I recommend that you get a second opinion from Mayo Clinic before undergoing a HoLEP.

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