What are the types of urologic cancers?

Some cancers of the urinary tract can occur in both men and women:

• Bladder cancer.
• Kidney (renal) cancer Others are specific to men
• Prostate cancer
• Penile cancer

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer, the most common form of which is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) or urothelial carcinoma, is a cancer of the inner lining of the bladder. It is responsible for approximately 3% of all malignancies diagnosed in Australia each year. At an early stage of growth it may not produce any noticeable signs or symptoms, but may cause microscopic blood on a routine urine test.

Common symptoms of bladder cancer include blood visible in the urine (haematuria) which is usually painless and appears intermittently, a burning sensation during urination, and urinary frequency/urgency. It is important to note that these symptoms are similar to those of a urinary tract infection, and therefore should be further investigated if such an ‘infection’ does not resolve with antibiotics.

Types Of Bladder Cancer:

• Superficial bladder cancer
• Non-invasive bladder cancer
• Superficially invasive bladder cancer
• Carcinoma in situ (CIS) bladder cancer
• Muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Kidney Cancer

The kidneys are essential organs that filter the blood, removing waste products through the urinary tract as urine. Like any other organ, the kidney can be affected by cancer.

How Common Is Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer accounts for around 3% of all cancers diagnosed in Australia each year. The commonest form of cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which grows from cells lining the microscopic tube system within the kidney. The cancer can grow slowly over a number of years and because of the kidney’s location in the body, usually causes no symptoms until it becomes quite large. For this reason, RCC is now most often detected incidentally on scans performed for other reasons, and when found at an early stage has an excellent chance of cure with surgical removal.

Prostate Cancer

The prostate gland is a small, solid gland roughly the size of a walnut, located behind the pubic bone. It is situated beneath the bladder, surrounding the first part of the urethra. Approximately 0.5ml of each ejaculate is fluid made by the prostate, containing a number of substances that nourish the sperm and are necessary for fertility. Two small pouches, the seminal vesicles, sit directly behind the prostate, and provide a further 2ml of ejaculatory fluid via small tubes that run through the prostate into the urethra.

Penile Cancer

Penile cancer happens when malignant cells in your penis grow out of control. Treatment in the early stages can keep the cancer from progressing. Penile cancer that’s spread to other parts of your body is harder to treat.

Penile cancer develops when malignant cells in your penis grow out of control. Your penis is a rod-shaped reproductive organ that allows you to pee and have sex. Its main parts include the rod-like part (shaft) that extends from your low belly to the tip of your penis, called the head, or glans. If you’re uncircumcised, a layer of skin called the foreskin covers the head. If you’re not circumcised, the head of your penis is exposed.

What Are The Types Of Penile Cancer?

Ninety-five percent of penile cancers are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This type of cancer forms in the top part of your skin layer called the epithelium. Other, less common types of penile cancer form in different types of tissue:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): Cancer begins in the bottom layer of your epithelium. BCC is a slow-growing form of penile cancer.
• Melanoma: This cancer begins in cells that control how dark or light your skin is, called melanocytes. Melanoma is a more aggressive form of cancer.
• Sarcoma: Cancer develops in muscle or connective tissue. It’s an extremely rare form of penile cancer.