Genitourinary Cancer

Genitourinary cancers affect the prostate gland, kidneys, bladder, testicles, and penis. If you develop symptoms of these diseases, Arizona Center for Cancer Care’s highly skilled oncologists can help. The practice has offices spread across Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Anthem, Peoria, Fountain Hills, Wickenburg, Apache Junction, Sun City, Sun City West, Goodyear, and Tempe, Arizona. You can benefit from an accurate diagnosis and effective genitourinary cancer treatment by calling the nearest office or booking an appointment online today.

What are genitourinary cancers?

Genitourinary cancers affect the urinary and male reproductive systems. They include:

Prostate cancer

Your prostate gland produces seminal fluid that mixes with sperm when you ejaculate. Prostate cancer is common and often grows slowly, but some types are more aggressive and metastasize (spread) quickly.

Kidney cancer

Your kidneys are behind your abdominal organs on each side of the spine. They’re bean-shaped and about the size of a fist.

Bladder cancer

Your bladder is a muscular bag in your lower abdomen where your body stores urine. Cancer develops in the cells lining your bladder.

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer affects your testicles, the glands inside your scrotum that produce sperm and male sex hormones.

Penile cancer

Penile cancer is rare. It mainly affects the skin (including the foreskin of men who haven’t been circumcised).

What symptoms do genitourinary cancers cause?

Genitourinary cancer symptoms vary depending on the kind of cancer you have but might include:

• Frequent or painful urination
• Hematuria (bloody urine)
• Blood in semen
• Unintentionally losing weight
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pain in the back or side
• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• A lump or enlargement
• A dull abdomen or groin ache
• A rash or slow-healing sore
• Bleeding or discharge

Many cancers cause few or no symptoms until they reach a more advanced stage. If you’re experiencing urinary problems or any other symptoms of genitourinary cancers, contact Arizona Center for Cancer Care.

How are genitourinary cancers treated?

Genitourinary cancer treatments vary according to the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Options your provider at Arizona Center for Cancer Care might discuss with you include:

Surgery

Surgery removes the cancerous growths and some of the surrounding tissue.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy involves transmitting high-powered X-ray energy or other radiation sources into the tissues to kill cancer cells. An alternative is brachytherapy, where your provider inserts tiny seeds containing radioactive material into the tumor.

Ablation

Cryoablation uses very cold gas that, after several cycles of freezing and thawing, destroys cancer cells. Radiofrequency ablation kills the cells by heating them. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) also heats and kills cancer cells.

Hormone therapy

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists stop testosterone production. You usually take them with medications called anti-androgens.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells with potent chemicals.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy helps your immune system identify cancerous cells.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that target the proteins controlling how cancer cells grow and spread.

Patients might also be able to participate in clinical trials for new or improved genitourinary cancer treatments. To find out more, call Arizona Center for Cancer Care or book an appointment online today.