Consider the cost. How long will the treatment be effective? Although a technique appears to be safe and can easily be done as an outpatient procedure, if it has to be repeated at frequent intervals (as in balloon dilation), it’s not going to be very valuable to most people. The study should include a clear analysis of side effects and costs, and these should be compared with established surgical therapies and with watchful waiting. A final word, and in the excitement over new breakthroughs this can be easy to forget: BPH doesn’t kill people. Fortunately, many effective and safe treatments are already available. BPH isn’t an incurable, devastating disease. And because of this—because we’re not desperately racing the clock for a cure—we can be careful not to rush into new technologies until we’re sure they are safe and effective.
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