Urological Cancer Treatment 

Urological cancer results from the uncontrolled growth of cells in the organs of the urinary tract. This urinary tract includes a set of organs that function together to drain urine from the body. It is located in the abdominal and pelvic regions of the body. Apart from this, the abnormal mutation of DNA in the male’s reproductive system can cause urological cancer. 

It is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Indian men. Each year urologic oncologists diagnose thousands of new cases of urological cancer. However, most of the time, it is difficult to diagnose patients with cancer in the early stages. This is because its symptoms don’t occur until it reaches the advanced stage. But, the advancement of today’s medical science has made the reversal of this disease possible with the right urological cancer treatment.  

Read on to learn more about urological cancer, its stages, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. 

Types of Urological Cancer

The most common types of urological cancer include:

• Bladder Cancer: Bladder cancer occurs in the bladder that stores urine. It most often happens in the urothelial cells that abnormally grow inside your bladder. 
• Renal (Kidney) Cancer: Kidney cancer results from the unnatural growth of cells in the kidney. People with renal cancer often experience blood in their pee, high blood pressure, weight loss, and more.
• Testicular Cancer: Testicular cancer develops when malignant cells form in one or both testicles. Though it is a serious cancer disease, it is curable with the right treatment.
• Penile Cancer: Although penile cancer is a rare disease, it happens when the cells in pens grow out of control. It is most commonly diagnosed in people over 55. However, sometimes, people under 40 are also diagnosed with it.
• Urethral Cancer: Like penile cancer, urethral cancer is a rare disease. It happens when malignant cells form a cancerous tumour in the tissues of the urethra. The urethra is the tube through which the pee comes out of the bladder. 
• Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer results from abnormal cell growth in the prostate gland. However, its real causes are unknown. The factors, such as age, family history, smoking, alcohol, and lifestyle are considered responsible for the disease. 

Symptoms of Urological Cancer

Watch out for the following urological cancer symptoms: 

• Blood in the pee without pain
• Trouble with urination
• Painful urination
• Growths or sores on the penis or testicles
• Anemia 
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite 
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure.

Causes and Risk Factors of the Urological Cancer

Urological cancer causes are unknown despite various research to detect the underlying cause. However, researchers have identified some factors that raise the risk of this disease both in men and women. These risk factors include: 

• Age: In urological cancer, the risk increases with age. The average diagnosis age of the disease is 60. However, sometimes, patients below 40 years old are diagnosed with it. Additionally, testicular cancer is common among younger men, belonging to the age group of 15 and 35 years. 
• Family History: Researchers have identified genetic defects that increase the risk of urological cancer. Simply put, if any man’s brother or father has been diagnosed with urological cancer, he is two or three times at a higher risk of developing the same disease.
• Lifestyle: People who eat a lot of high-processed products or red meat are more susceptible to showing signs of urological cancer.
• Smoking: Patients who have a history of smoking cigarettes or tobacco intake are more prone to become the victim of this disease.
• Gender: In the case of the urological cancer, the gender determines the risk factor. Remember that men are more likely to develop the malignant bladder and cancer diseases. Conversely, women are more likely to develop the symptoms of urethral cancer.
• Previous Cancer Treatment: Those patients who have already undergone cancer treatments, such as radiation to the pelvis always remain on the verge of developing the second cancerous disease. 
• Exposure to Chemicals at Work: Are you one of those having more exposure to industrial chemicals? You have more chances of becoming the victim of the urological cancer. People who are employed in the leather industry, rubber, leather, textiles, and paint products are more likely to face the challenges of cancer. Similarly, job roles such as painter, hairdresser, and machinist increase the risk of this cancerous disease.

Stages of Urological Cancer

Most often, urological cancer is divided into five stages. These stages are:

• Stage 0: The mutation of the DNA cells has just started in the inner layer of any one organ of the urinary tract system. This is a very early stage of the cancer in which high-grade cancer cells are active inside the urinary tract. 
• Stage 1: The cancerous cells have started to grow into the connective tissue beneath the urinary tract’s organ lining.
• Stage 2: The cancer has reached through the tissue into the muscle of the organ of the urinary tract.
• Stage 3: The cancer has grown through the muscle into the fat layer. This time, it has started to grow in other neighbouring healthy organs. Possibly, it has spread to lymph nodes.
• Stage 4: The cancer has reached its advanced stage, meaning it has spread to the walls of the abdomen and between the pelvis. It might have reached distant lymph nodes or other body parts, such as the lungs, liver, or bones. 

Diagnosis and Screening

The advantages of regular screenings are many. However, one of the most common benefits of undergoing regular screening is that they help you to avert the possibility of the most common dreaded disease cancer. Also, the early detection of the disease assures you the highly responsive treatment. Go over the following the most effective urological cancer methods:

• First Consultation with the Doctor: Your healthcare professional will ask about your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and whether the urological cancer runs in your family. This consultation takes between 45 minutes and two hours. Based on the answers, they determine which type of initial tests you need right now. 
• Cystoscopy or Ureterscopy: Then, they may send you for minor clinical tests called cystoscopy or ureteroscopy to determine the possibility of developing malignant cells in the urinary tract system. The urologist performs this test using a thin tube with a tiny camera that they insert to check the penis, bladder, kidney, and ureter for tumours.
• Lab Tests: Once this examination is done, they may advise some lab tests to detect changes in the blood levels or kidney function that could be the first sign of cancer.
• Imaging Studies: Imaging Tests, such as MRI, X-ray, CT Scan, or angiogram are performed to receive detailed 3D images of the area. They help in detecting abnormal tissue growth in the urinary tract.
• Biopsy: Remove a piece of cells or tissue from the urinary tract to confirm the cancer with a biopsy laboratory test. 

Urological Cancer Treatment Options

Personalised urological cancer treatment depends on several factors, such as the tumour’s grade and stage and the patient’s preference. The most common treatment options include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. However, patients can also receive immunotherapy which empowers their immune systems to fight for diseases. Let’s understand how personalised treatment and care go under the observation of an experienced doctor, who specialises in urological cancer surgery:

• Chemotherapy: The treatment of the urological cancer starts with the chemotherapy.  It refers to the use of drugs for the treatment of cancer. The patient receives this treatment at regular intervals called cycles, meaning several days or weeks can go without treatment. This gap helps normal cells recover from the side effects of chemo drugs.
• Radiation: Radiation therapy may be given with or without chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or hormonal therapy. It often uses high-energy waves, such as gamma rays, x-rays, protons, electron beams, or protons to damage or destroy malignant cells.
• Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Like other treatments, it can be performed with or without hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. 
• Hormone Therapy: Urological cancer depends on hormones to grow. Therefore, hormone therapy includes the treatment that can block or alter such hormones to prevent the further progression of the disease. This is the most effective for the prostate cancer.
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy treatment boosts or stimulates a patient’s immune system so that it works harder to attack abnormal cells.
• Stem Cell Therapy: Also known as a bone marrow transplant, it is used to treat patients with urological cancer. However, sometimes, patients choose surgery instead of stem cell therapy.
• Surgery: The surgeon who specializes in urinary tract-related diseases surgery removes the tumour. Depending on the growth of the disease, they may also remove the penis, prostate, urethra, bladder, lymph nodes, vagina, etc. 

Why Choose Dr. Salanki Prabhu for Urological Cancer Treatment?

Dr. Prabhudev Salanki is a distinguished urologist in Bangalore with an impressive array of qualifications, including MBBS, MS, FRCS, DNB (Urol), FRCS (Urol), FEBU, and a Diploma in Laparoscopic Urology. With extensive expertise in urological surgeries, he specializes in treating conditions related to both the urinary tract and male reproductive organs. His areas of expertise include male and female urology, prostate enlargement, kidney stones, prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and erectile dysfunction (ED).

A fellowship from the International College of Robotics Surgeons highlights his proficiency in advanced, cutting-edge techniques like laparoscopic surgery, PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy), and RIRS (Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery) with intra-corporeal lasers. Patients value his compassionate approach, friendly demeanour, and the care and attention he brings to every consultation.

Post Care Treatment and Follow Up

When your cancer treatment comes to an end, you should contact the cancer team. The doctor will likely call you for periodic check-ups for the first year or so. You may need to undergo some tests or scans during the first year post-treatment. Also, you will be guided on how to watch out for specific symptoms. Hence, when you visit the doctor, you should accompany someone who can write down doctors’ advice on a notepad. 

Besides this, you should follow the following self-care tips post-cancer treatment: 

• Eat the right food
• Do exercise daily
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Get enough sleep
• Take more rest for a few weeks
• Manage your stress
• Abstain from tobacco or smoking
• Avoid/ Have only a moderate quantity of alcohol.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Prabhudev Salanki