Overview:
Urologic cancers affect the urinary system and, in some cases, the male reproductive organs. This includes cancers of the kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicles. These cancers develop when abnormal cells grow in these organs.
Common Symptoms:
- Blood in urine
- Trouble urinating
- Back or side pain
- No early symptoms
Signs of Inherited Risk:
Most urologic cancers occur without an inherited cause. In some cases, genetic factors may increase risk and influence screening or treatment options. Genetic testing and tumor testing can provide additional information to support care decisions when appropriate. You may have a higher inherited risk if you or a family member have had:
- Metastatic or high risk prostate cancer
- Multiple family members with prostate, breast, pancreatic, and/or ovarian cancer
- Kidney cancer diagnosed before age 46
- Bilateral kidney cancer
- Certain rare types of kidney tumors
Treatments & Procedures:
Treatment for urologic cancers depends on the type, stage, and your overall health. Your care plan may include monitoring, advanced surgery, and personalized therapies.
Monitoring & Early Detection:
- Active surveillance for slow-growing cancers
- PSA screening for prostate cancer
- Imaging tests to evaluate and track tumors
Surgical Treatments:
Minimally invasive techniques are used when possible to improve recovery and outcomes.
- Robotic partial nephrectomy with fluorescence imaging
- Laparoscopic nephrectomy or nephroureterectomy
- Robotic prostatectomy
- Prostate ablation (interventional radiology)
Genetic Risk and Prevention:
For patients with inherited risk factors, genetic services help guide prevention and treatment decisions. Genetic testing can identify if a patient and their family members are at an increased risk for different types of cancer including urologic cancer.
- Increased and potentially younger screening including imaging and bloodwork
- Targeted therapy based on genetic results – Uses gene information to guide treatment options, including medicines like PARP inhibitors for certain inherited gene changes (such as BRCA mutations).
- Possible screening or management recommendations for other types of cancer