Urologic cancers include cancers of the kidney, ureters, bladder, penis, and prostate. Prostate cancer is the most common urologic cancer, and the most common cancer found in men. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer. Below are urologic cancers includes:
Bladder cancer is a urologic cancer in which cancerous cells grow uncontrollably within the tissues and layers of the bladder. It generally starts growing on the inside of the bladder (bladder lining). Over time, it can grown to penetrate into deeper layers of the bladder. The deeper it permeates, the more difficult it can become to treat. There are several different types of bladder cancer, with the most common form being urothelial carcinoma or transitional cell carcinoma.
Bladder cancer is more common in men, ranking as the fourth most common type of cancer among males. Typically, it is diagnosed in older adults, with 90% of patients being diagnosed after the age of 55. In fact, statistics indicate that the average age of diagnosis is 73 years old.
By far, smoking is the number one risk factor for developing bladder cancer. Other risk factors include:
Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys, and like all cancers, has the capacity to move into other areas in the body. There are several different types of kidney cancers, with the most common being renal cell carcinoma. This type of cancer is also referred to as renal cell adenocarcinoma, renal cell cancer, or simply renal cancer. Statistics indicate that nine out of ten patients are diagnosed with renal cancer.
Similar to bladder cancer, kidney cancer generally affects older adults. Likewise, males are more often diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Smoking is a huge contributor to the development of kidney cancer. In fact, it is suggested that smoking can double the risk of developing this type of cancer. Additional risk factors include:
Prostate cancer is a common cancer among men that develops within the prostate gland. Current statistics indicate that one in seven men will develop prostate cancer sometime during their lives. It is recommended that men begin prostate cancer screening in their 50s. However, for men who have a family history of prostate cancer, or are African American, it is recommended that screening begins at 40. Screening starts with a PSA blood test, and a digital rectum exam.
Prostate cancer is a known hereditary cancer. In fact, the most important risk factor is close family history. Other risk factors include:
Testicular cancer is a cancer found in male testicles. This type of cancer is known as a young man’s disease since it is most prevalent in males between the ages of 15 to 35. Fortunately, when caught early, it is a very curable cancer. An important part of early detection is performing regular testicular self exams.
As noted, the most common risk factor for testicular cancer is age. Other risk factors include:
The ureters are the small tubes that run between the kidneys and the bladder. Their primary purpose is to act as conduits for moving urine from the kidneys to the bladder for storage. Ureteral cancer is a disease that forms within the lining of the ureters.
Urethral cancer is a form of cancer found within the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. This type of cancer is relatively rare.
Because urethral cancer is rare, there are very few definitive risk factors. Those that have been recognized include:
Penile cancer is a type of cancer that develops on the skin or tissues of the penis. For men living in North America and Europe, this is a relatively rare form of cancer. In reality, statistics indicate that only one in 100,000 American men are diagnosed with penile cancer each year. Of the different types of penile cancer, the most common is squamous cell carcinoma.
There are several different risk factors associated with the development of penile cancer. Among these factors include:
The adrenals are glands that sit on top of each kidney. Adrenals are made up of two components: the cortex and the medulla, which have different functions. When cancer originates in the adrenals, it is commonly found in the cortex. However, research shows that adrenal tumors are oftentimes the result of cancer that has spread from another area within the body.
Not every mass that develops within the adrenal cortex is cancerous. With further examination and testing, the tumor may be diagnosed as Adenomas (a non-cancerous tumor), or Carcinomas (a cancerous tumor).
Cancer that originates within the adrenal glands have few known risk factors. Some risk has been identified with the following:
