Cancer can develop in any organ of the male and female urinary tract or male reproductive system. As with all other forms of cancer, the earlier a urological cancer is detected, the greater the chance of successful treatment and eliminating the cancer before it becomes aggressive and spreads. There are several types of urological cancers including prostate, kidney, bladder, penile cancer and testicular cancer.
Prostate cancer
Prostate is a male reproductive organ and the cancers in this gland are usually slow growing. However, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. A diagnosis of prostate cancer is often suspected on the basis of an abnormal digital rectal examination or an abnormal blood test, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). The level of PSA in the blood at the time of diagnosis. Higher PSA as such does not mean cancer. There are many causes for a high value of PSA, but the urologist should decide if prostatic cancer is to be considered. The diagnosis of prostate cancer is confirmed by obtaining tissue from the prostate gland. This is often done with a needle biopsy of prostate through the back passage (called Trans-Rectal Ultrasound-Guided, TRUS and biopsy). Sometimes the diagnosis is made after an operation called Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) performed via the urethra. The TURP is done in men with significant lower urinary tract symptoms who have difficulty emptying their bladder.Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer can be divided into cancer arising from the kidney cells which is called Renal Cell Carcinoma or cancer arising from the lining of the urine conducting area called Transitional Cell Carcinoma. Patients with kidney cancers usually complains of a mass or swelling in the flank, pain in the flanks or blood in urine. Radiological investigations like ultrasonography or CT scan will diagnose the disease and depending on the stage the treatment will be planned. Surgical removal of the mass is the treatment of choice in most of the cases.
Bladder cancer
Nearly all cancers of the bladder begin in the lining of the bladder – these are called transitional cell cancers. Transitional cell cancers grow from the inside lining of the bladder. They are either superficial or invasive cancers. Most of these bladder cancers are superficial and very few are Invasive cancers, that is if the inner muscle layer is involved. Usually seen in people who are tobacco chewers, chronic smokers or addicts. The most common complaint will be blood in urine. This disease can be diagnosed by radiological imaging, but can be confirmed by cystoscopy and biopsy. Superficial tumors can be treated with bladder sparing protocols, but the invasive tumors need more aggressive and extensive treatment, in the form of radical cystectomy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.