60 seconds with a Urological Surgeon
To mark Urology Awareness Month, Professor Frank Chinegwundoh, Urological Surgeon at the Gateway Surgical Centre at Newham Hospital, blogs about why he chose to specialise in urology and why looking after your urological health is important.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust, in London, UK (since 1996) and honorary visiting Professor to the School of Health Sciences, City, University of London. I have a particular interest in ethnicity and prostate cancer. I published the first paper in the UK demonstrating a 2-3 fold increase risk of prostate cancer in black men.
I chair the patient charity Cancer Black Care. I have been a government advisor on cancer since 2007. In 2013 I was awarded an MBE for services to the UK National Health Service and urology.
What's your favourite thing about your job?
My favourite thing about the job is the patient interaction. I enjoy being able to explain to a patient what the matter is and what we can do about it.
A good few years ago I treated a patient called Michael. Through measuring Michael's PSA levels we managed to catch early stage prostate cancer and treat him succesfully. Read Micheal's story. Stories like Michael's are why I love my job.
What are the challenges?
Every job has its challenges. One of the difficulties is not always being in a position to treat people as rapidly as they would wish. This has been particularly difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic. Breaking bad news is never something to look forward to but I always ensure that when it has to be done, I do it with sensitivity and compassion.
Why is keeping aware of urology disease important?
Urological conditions are very common. Most men over 50 years of age will experience some urinary difficulty. Bladder problems, especially incontinence, is distressing whatever the age or sex of the patient. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer that affects men. A knowledge of urological conditions is important as such ailments affect the quality of life.
How can people look after their urological health?
I would recommend maintaining a good fluid intake - drinking between 1.5 to 2 litres of water everyday. This flushes out the kidneys, reduces the risk of urine infection and the risk of forming kidney stones. You should also monitor your uring - if you pass blood in the urine you should see your GP urgently so they can assess you and ensure you reieve adequate treatment for any urological disease.
Young men should examine their testes regularly so as to detect any abnormal swelling, which may be caused by testicular cancer.
Find out more about Urology at Barts Health.