Urological Cancers

Cancer occurs when cells in the body begin to grow in an uncontrolled fashion. When the cancerous cells are contained in the organ which they originated from, often times surgery is used to remove the cancer. If, however, the cancer has left the original organ, the cancer is considered metastatic and often times other therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy of immunotherapy may be utilized.

In urology, the various cancers that we encounter are kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and penile cancer.

Prostate Cancer: Is one of the most frequent cancer diagnosed in men and is the third highest (behind lung and colon cancer) cause of cancer related death in men. Prostate cancer does have a familial connection -- so men who have first degree relatives (e.g. fathers, brothers) with prostate cancer are at a higher risk of contracting the disease themselves. African American men are also at a higher risk for prostate cancer. Screening for the disease is done with a blood test called PSA as well as a digital rectal exam. If concerned, a prostate biopsy may be performed to obtain prostate tissue to look for cancer. Fortunately there are numerous treatment options for prostate cancer, including robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery.

Kidney Cancer: The kidneys make urine as they filter the blood. They are paired organs that sit in the back of the abdomen just below the ribs. The kidneys have an outer rim as well as an inner lining and cancer can occur in either of these areas. Often, surgery is required and part or all of the kidney is removed. This is sometimes done through an open incision and at other times a laparoscopic approach is appropriate. There are also other treatment options for renal tumors including cryotherapy (where the lesion is frozen) as well as radio-frequency ablation.

Bladder Cancer: The bladder's function is two-fold: first it stretches to accommodate urine and then it squeezes down to expel the urine from the body. The bladder wall is made up of a number of layers. The most common form of bladder cancer usually originates from the inner lining of bladder. This lining is made up of transitional cells and the cancer is often diagnosed as transitional cell carcinoma. Symptoms of bladder cancer can include blood in the urine as well as a sense of urgency and frequency. A telescope can be placed into the bladder to allow for visual inspection of the bladder. This is called cystoscopy and is often performed in the doctor’s office. If a tumor is identified, often times a surgical procedure is performed to remove the tumor to confirm whether or not it is cancerous. There are numerous treatment options that effectively treat bladder cancer. Which treatment option is most appropriate often depends on whether the cancer had invaded the deeper muscular layers of the bladder.

Testicular Cancer: Testicular cancer is a cancer that usually affects young men between the age of 18 and 35. It usually manifest as a painless growth to the testicle, but is sometimes identified following trauma to the testicle. We have had great success treating testicular cancer with cure rates as high as 97%. Testicular cancer is often most effectively treated with multi-modal therapy; that is, utilizing various forms of therapy such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy in a coordinated fashion to combat the cancer. Lance Armstrong is a perfect example of the successes that can be achieved. He has authored a book on his experience with diagnosis and treatment for testicular cancer which is an excellent resource for anyone newly diagnosed with the disease.

Cyberknife: Cyberknife is a new techonology that helps doctors deliver a high dose of radiation to the targeted cancer while helping them avoid the healthy tissue that surrounds the cancer. For more information please see www.denverck.com

For more information on urologic oncology, please refer to the following links:


Pediatric Urology, Female Urology/Incontinence, Vasectomy/Infertility, Benign Prostatic Conditions, Urological Cancers, Men's Health, Robotic Surgery/Research