Urological cancers are growths or abnormal cells formed in the urinary tract. For women, this includes the urethra, kidneys, ureter, and bladder. For men, this includes the urethra, kidneys, ureter, bladder, testicles, prostate, and penis. 

There are a variety of types of cancers that can affect the urinary tracts of both men and women. Most often cancers in these organs would cause symptoms such as pain, lumps, UTIs, blood in urine, and more. 

Luckily, many urological cancers can be treated and cured, especially when caught early. For this reason, if any of these symptoms sound like something you may be experiencing it is important to see a urology doctor in Springfield, Ohio.

Below we will review each type of urological cancer we treat at Urology Specialist of Ohio. 

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer occurs most often in people who are age 60 or older. The most frequent symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Some patients also feel pain or irritation, or frequent urination.  Small tumors that have not spread beyond the bladder frequently can be removed from the wall of the bladder through surgery. Other treatments for bladder cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy.

Kidney Cancer

The kidneys are two organs, located in the mid-portion of the back, that cleanse the blood through a process that produces urine. Cancer cells may grow in the tissues or tubes within the kidney. Most kidney cancers are identified early before they spread, which makes these tumors easier to treat.

Penile Cancer

Penile cancer is rare cancer that starts in the penis. It is usually made of squamous cells which grow slowly. Men seem to have a higher risk of developing penile cancer if they have HPV or AIDS, or if they smoke. Men who have penile cancer might notice a blister or sore on the penis, A wart-like growth, abnormal discharge from under the foreskin, or bleeding. The most frequent treatment for penile cancer is surgery.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the U.S. Especially men over the age of 50. Prognosis is good for successful treatment when prostate cancer is detected early. 

Testicular Cancer

Most men with testicular cancer seek care because they find a lump or swell in the scrotum or pain or sense of heaviness in the scrotum. Testicular cancer often only affects one testicle.

There are two main types of testicular cancers involving germ cells: seminomas and nonseminomas. Seminomas respond well to radiation therapy. These cells grow and spread slowly. Nonseminomas grow and spread faster.

Testicular cancer is rare but is the most common cancer found in young men. The good news is, testicular cancer is highly curable, especially when caught at an early stage. 

Urethral Cancer

Urethral cancer is a rare cancer that makes up just 1-2% of urologic cancers. It is most commonly found in women or older adults who have had bladder cancer. Most urethral cancer symptoms are similar to other urological cancer symptoms. Seek care if you experience blood in urine, pain in the groin of the pelvis, or painful or frequent urination. 

Cancer Screening With Urology Doctors

Taking care of your health is more important now than ever. One of the best ways to prevent cancer from going undetected is to participate in regular health screening or checkups. Working with a urology doctor will help assure you are staying on top of your health and any symptoms you may be experiencing.