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'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Urethral cancer|here]]'''


{{Urethral cancer (patient information)}}
{{Urethral cancer (patient information)}}


{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{SC}}
{{CMG}}; {{AE}} {{SC}}, {{Vbe}}


==Overview==
==Overview==
[[Urethral cancer]] is a rare [[cancer]] that occurs more often in [[men]] than in [[Women's College Hospital|women]]. There are three types of [[urethral]] [[cancer]]. [[Squamous cell carcinoma laboratory tests|Squamous cell carcinoma]] is the most common type. It forms in the flat [[Cells (biology)|cells]] that line the [[urethra]]. [[Transitional]] cell [[carcinoma]] forms in cells near the [[Urethral cancer|urethral]] opening in [[Women's College Hospital|women]] and in the part of the [[urethra]] that goes through the [[prostate]] [[gland]] in [[men]]. These [[cells]] change shape and stretch as [[urine]] passes out of the body. [[Adenocarcinoma]] forms in the [[glands]] near the [[urethra]]. These [[glands]] make and release [[mucus]] and other [[fluids]].
[[Urethral]] [[cancer]] can metastasize (spread) quickly to [[tissues]] around the [[urethra]] and has often spread to nearby [[lymph nodes]] by the time it is diagnosed. [[Signs]] of [[urethral]] [[cancer]] include [[bleeding]] or trouble [[urinating]].


==What are the symptoms of Urethral cancer?==
==What are the symptoms of Urethral cancer?==
Signs of urethral cancer include bleeding or trouble with urination.
[[Signs]] of [[urethral cancer]] include [[bleeding]] or trouble with [[urination]].


These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by urethral cancer or by other conditions. There may be no signs or symptoms in the early stages. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:
These and other [[signs]] and [[symptoms]] may be caused by [[urethral cancer]] or by other [[conditions]]. There may be no [[signs]] or [[symptoms]] in the early stages. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:


* Trouble starting the flow of urine.
* Trouble starting the flow of [[urine]].
* Weak or interrupted ("stop-and-go") flow of urine.
* Weak or interrupted ("stop-and-go") flow of [[urine]].
* Frequent urination, especially at night.
* Frequent [[urination]], especially at night.
* [[Incontinence]].
* [[Incontinence]].
* Discharge from the urethra.
* [[Discharge]] from the [[urethra]].
* Bleeding from the urethra or blood in the urine.
* [[Bleeding]] from the [[urethra]] or [[blood]] in the [[urine]].
* A lump or thickness in the perineum or penis.
* A [[lump]] or thickness in the [[perineum]] or [[penis]].
* A painless lump or swelling in the groin.
* A [[Painless Parker|painless]] [[lump]] or [[swelling]] in the [[groin]].
 
==Who is at highest risk?==
Anything that increases your chance of getting a [[disease]] is called a [[Risk-benefit analysis|risk]] factor. Having a [[Risk-benefit analysis|risk]] factor does not mean that you will get [[cancer]]; not having [[Risk-benefit analysis|risk]] factors doesn’t mean that you will not get [[cancer]]. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at [[Risk-benefit analysis|risk]]. [[Risk-benefit analysis|Risk]] factors for [[urethral]] [[cancer]] include the following:
 
* Having a [[History and Physical examination|history]] of [[bladder]] [[cancer]].
* Having conditions that cause [[chronic]] [[inflammation]] in the [[urethra]], including:
* [[Sexually transmitted diseases]] (STDs), including [[human papillomavirus]] (HPV), especially [[Human papillomavirus|HPV t]]<nowiki/>ype 16
* Frequent [[urinary tract infections]] (UTIs)


==What causes Urethral cancer?==
==Diagnosis==
Tests that examine the [[urethra]] and [[bladder]] are used to detect (find) and [[diagnose]] [[urethral]] [[cancer]].


The following tests and procedures may be used:


==Who is at highest risk?==
* [[Physical examination|Physical exam]] and [[History and Physical examination|history]] : An [[Examination|exam]] of the [[body]] to check general [[signs]] of health, including checking for signs of [[disease]], such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A [[History and Physical examination|history]] of the [[Patient's Guide to Percutaneous Intervention (Video)|patient's]] health habits and past illnesses and [[treatments]] will also be taken.
Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk. Risk factors for urethral cancer include the following:
* [[Pelvic exam]] : An [[Example 1|exam]] of the [[vagina]], [[cervix]], [[uterus]], [[fallopian tubes]],[[ovaries]], and [[rectum]]. A [[speculum]] is inserted into the [[vagina]] and the [[Doctor's lady|doctor]] or [[nurse]] looks at the [[vagina]] and [[cervix]] for [[signs]] of [[disease]]. The doctor or nurse also  inserts one or two lubricated, gloved fingers of one hand into the [[vagina]] and places the other hand over the lower [[abdomen]] to feel the size, shape, and position of the [[uterus]] and [[ovaries]]. The doctor or nurse also inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the [[rectum]] to feel for lumps or abnormal areas.


Having a history of bladder cancer.
* [[Digital rectal exam]] : An [[Example 1|exam]] of the [[rectum]]. The doctor or nurse inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of the [[rectum]] to feel for lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
Having conditions that cause chronic inflammation in the urethra, including:
* [[Urine]] [[cytology]] : A [[laboratory]] [[test]] in which a sample of [[urine]] is checked under a [[microscope]] for abnormal cells.
* [[Urinalysis]] : A [[test]] to check the [[color]] of [[urine]] and its contents, such as [[sugar]], [[protein]], [[blood]], and [[white blood cells]]. If [[white blood cells]] (a sign of infection) are found, a [[urine culture]] is usually done to find out what type of [[infection]] it is.
* [[Blood]] [[chemistry]] studies : A procedure in which a [[blood]] sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by [[organs]] and [[tissues]] in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a [[substance]] can be a [[Sign (medicine)|sign]] of [[disease]].
* [[Complete blood count]] (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of [[blood]] is drawn and checked for the following:


Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV type 16.
:* The number of [[Red blood cell|red blood cells]], [[white blood cells]], and [[platelets]].
Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
:* The amount of [[hemoglobin]] (the protein that carries oxygen) in the [[red blood cells]].
:* The portion of the blood sample made up of [[red blood cells]].


==When to seek urgent medical care?==
* [[CT scan]] (CAT scan): A [[procedure]] that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the [[pelvis]] and [[abdomen]], taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a [[vein]] or swallowed to help the [[organs]] or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
* [[Ureteroscopy]] : A procedure to look inside the [[ureter]] and [[renal pelvis]] to check for abnormal areas. A ureteroscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. The ureteroscope is inserted through the urethra into the [[bladder]], [[ureter]], and [[renal pelvis]]. A tool may be inserted through the ureteroscope to take tissue samples to be checked under a [[microscope]] for [[signs]] of [[disease]].


==Diagnosis==
* [[Biopsy]]: The removal of [[cell]] or tissue samples from the [[urethra]], [[bladder]], and, sometimes, the [[prostate gland]]. The samples are viewed under a [[microscope]] by a [[pathologist]] to check for [[signs]] of [[cancer]].


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
There are different types of [[Treatment-resistant depression|treatment]] for [[patients]] with [[urethral]] [[cancer]].
Four types of standard [[Treatment-resistant depression|treatment]] are used:
* [[Surgery]]
* [[Radiation therapy]]
* [[Chemotherapy]]
* Active surveillance


==Where to find medical care for Urethral cancer?==
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
The [[prognosis]] of [[urethral cancer]] depends on the following factors:


==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
* [[Anatomical]] location
* [[Size consistency|Size]]
* [[Stage fright|Stage]]
* Depth of [[invasion]]


==Possible complications==
Superficial [[tumors]] located in the distal [[urethra]] of both the [[female]] and [[male]] are generally curable. However, deeply invasive lesions are rarely curable by any combination of [[Therapies for multiple sclerosis|therapies]]. In men, the [[prognosis]] of [[tumors]] in the [[Distal|dista]]<nowiki/>l (pendulous) [[urethra]] is better than for tumors of the proximal (bulbomembranous) and prostatic urethra, which tend to present at more advanced stages. Likewise, distal urethral tumors tend to occur at earlier stages in [[Women's College Hospital|women]], and they appear to have a better [[prognosis]] than [[proximal]] [[tumors]].


==Sources==
==Sources==
http://www.cancer.gov/types/urethral/patient/urethral-treatment-pdq


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[[Category:Overview complete]]
[[Category:Overview complete]]
[[Category:For review]]
[[Category:For review]]
[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Urology]]
[[Category:Nephrology]]
[[Category:Surgery]]

Latest revision as of 17:35, 22 January 2019

Urethral cancer

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Urethral cancer?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Urethral cancer On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Urethral cancer

Videos on Urethral cancer

FDA on Urethral cancer

CDC on Urethral cancer

Urethral cancer in the news

Blogs on Urethral cancer

Directions to Hospitals Treating Urethral cancer

Risk calculators and risk factors for Urethral cancer

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shanshan Cen, M.D. [2], Vindhya BellamKonda, M.B.B.S [3]

Overview

Urethral cancer is a rare cancer that occurs more often in men than in women. There are three types of urethral cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type. It forms in the flat cells that line the urethra. Transitional cell carcinoma forms in cells near the urethral opening in women and in the part of the urethra that goes through the prostate gland in men. These cells change shape and stretch as urine passes out of the body. Adenocarcinoma forms in the glands near the urethra. These glands make and release mucus and other fluids.

Urethral cancer can metastasize (spread) quickly to tissues around the urethra and has often spread to nearby lymph nodes by the time it is diagnosed. Signs of urethral cancer include bleeding or trouble urinating.

What are the symptoms of Urethral cancer?

Signs of urethral cancer include bleeding or trouble with urination.

These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by urethral cancer or by other conditions. There may be no signs or symptoms in the early stages. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:

Who is at highest risk?

Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk. Risk factors for urethral cancer include the following:

Diagnosis

Tests that examine the urethra and bladder are used to detect (find) and diagnose urethral cancer.

The following tests and procedures may be used:

  • CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, such as the pelvis and abdomen, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography.
  • Ureteroscopy : A procedure to look inside the ureter and renal pelvis to check for abnormal areas. A ureteroscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. The ureteroscope is inserted through the urethra into the bladder, ureter, and renal pelvis. A tool may be inserted through the ureteroscope to take tissue samples to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease.

Treatment options

There are different types of treatment for patients with urethral cancer. Four types of standard treatment are used:

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

The prognosis of urethral cancer depends on the following factors:

Superficial tumors located in the distal urethra of both the female and male are generally curable. However, deeply invasive lesions are rarely curable by any combination of therapies. In men, the prognosis of tumors in the distal (pendulous) urethra is better than for tumors of the proximal (bulbomembranous) and prostatic urethra, which tend to present at more advanced stages. Likewise, distal urethral tumors tend to occur at earlier stages in women, and they appear to have a better prognosis than proximal tumors.

Sources

http://www.cancer.gov/types/urethral/patient/urethral-treatment-pdq

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