What is the biggest challenging in using a prostate cancer model with a patient for the first time?

As with any type of new technology or tool, it is always a bit of a challenge to get started. Using a prostate cancer model with a patient is an excellent way to enhance his understanding of a very difficult to comprehend disease. For men the symptoms of prostate cancer can be initially very minor and it may be difficult for them to understand the changes that are occurring in the gland. Some men may even be in denial about the diagnosis.

The first thing to do when planning to use a prostate cancer model for the first time is to spend just a few minutes becoming familiar with the model, the information on the card provided and the specifics of the patient's individual case. This will help you highlight or focus in on the different features of the prostates displayed on the model. This will help you be comfortable in using the model in your discussion and pointing to the relevant symptoms and features that are specific to the patient. After you have used the anatomy model a few times, you will become familiar enough that you won't need any review. If you need a bit of extra assistance remember the card behind the model is ideal for structuring your consultation to include major prostate cancer symptoms and complications.

How can a prostate cancer model be used in a medical classroom or laboratory setting?

Having students read information and look at a variety of medical images, photographs, and videos of prostate functioning and disease conditions can be very helpful. Having a model that shows both a healthy prostate as well as the various disease conditions can be a great supportive learning tool for the student. A prostate cancer model that has high quality representations of the different symptoms of prostate cancer or enlargements of the prostate in 3D form is perfect for detailed study. Unlike a photograph, the 3 dimensional aspects of these models really helps in emphasizing the problematic condition in a realistic and life size fashion. Students can also view the model from different angles which provides the opportunity to compare and contrast the different models with the corresponding healthy prostate. This will allow students to get a hands-on lesson of how the human prostate looks and functions.

What features are displayed on a prostate cancer model?

The specific features on a prostate cancer model will vary based on the style and type of model selected. A very popular and practical 3D model that shows a healthy prostate and the five most common conditions is helpful in keeping all information in a compact, simple yet very clear single space. A good model will include the hard nodules, enlarged lobes, enlarged prostates of various forms as well as irregular surfaces with seminal vesicle involvement. This combination of prostate glands on the same model is perfect for comparison and sharing information with patients or students without the need for multiple different individual models.