Urologic Cancer

Cancer (Oncology)

Urologic, or urological, cancer is a term that encompasses cancers of the bladder (including the urethra), kidney, prostate, testicles, and penis. These cancers mainly affect older people, although testicular cancer is more likely to affect men under age 40. Urological cancers are much more common in men than in women. Testicular and urethral cancer are relatively rare, but bladder and kidney cancer are more common.

Patients with urologic cancer who receive treatment at NewYork-Presbyterian are cared for by a multi-disciplinary team who determine the best treatment approach for each patient by taking into account the type, location, and stage of the disease as well as the patient's age and physical health.

Often, surgery is the primary treatment for all urologic cancers, but these are complicated surgeries and each case must be assessed individually. For bladder cancer, surgery is the main approach, usually coupled with chemotherapy for those with more invasive disease. Surgery is the primary treatment for kidney cancer, with many new developments in medicines to treat the disease for those unfortunate enough to have developed metastases. For testicular cancer, surgery is usually the first treatment. Some men need additional therapy with more extensive surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are treated with active surveillance, surgery and/or radiation. Sometimes medicines are added. Many recent advances have occurred for the treatment of men with metastatic (spread) prostate cancer. Surgery is the primary treatment for penile cancer, but this cancer often benefits from a team approach.