Urologic Cancers

(Bladder / Kidney / renal Cancers)

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the eighth most common in women. Approximately 69,250 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.

There are various risk factors for developing bladder cancer, which include age (increases with age), tobacco use, occupations that expose person to carcinogens, parasite infections, drugs such as cyclphosphamide or arsenic, race (caucasians are more likely to develop bladder cancer), gender (men are more likely to develop it), family history and personal history of bladder cancer.

Symptoms

Bladder cancer symptoms may include the following.

• Blood in the urine (making the urine slightly rusty to deep red),
• Pain during urination, and
• Frequent urination or feeling the need to urinate without results.

Contact a urologist or your physician if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

Treatment

A bladder cancer patient has several treatment options such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy or a combination of these.

Kidney Cancer (Renal Cancer)

Although there is no predictor of who will develop kidney cancer, it is most common among those over the age of 40. Each year, approximately 20,000 men and 12,000 women are diagnosed with kidney cancer, making it more common among males. Aside from gender, other risk factors include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, long-term dialysis, Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome and various chemicals or substances in a workplace.

Symptoms

There are various symptoms that are related to kidney cancer, although many of them could also be something else.

• Blood in the urine (making the urine slightly rusty to deep red)
• Pain in the side that does not go away
• A lump or mass in the side or the abdomen
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Feeling very tired or having a general feeling of poor health

Treatment

Treatment depends on the patient’s health and age as well as the stage of the cancer. Treatments may include surgery, arterial embolization, radiation therapy, biological therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these. Medications to treat pain or other symptoms also may be prescribed.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer that involves cancerous changes in the cells of the renal tubule, is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.

Some risk factors include a history of smoking, family history, von Hippel-Lindau disease and use of dialysis for kidney disorder treatment.

Symptoms

Often, kidney cancer will start with blood in the urine. There are several other symptoms that you have checked out by your doctor.

• Abnormal urine color (dark, rusty or brown)
• Flank pain
• Back pain
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss, more than 5 percent of body weight
• Emaciated, thin, malnourished appearance
• Enlargement of one testicle
• Swelling or enlargement of the abdomen
• Vision abnormalities
• Paleness
• Excessive hair growth (females)
• Constipation
• Cold intolerance

Treatment

Some medications have been known to reduce cancer cell growth. However, nephrectomy, the surgical removal of all or part of the kidney, usually is recommended. This may include removal of the bladder or surrounding tissues or lymph nodes.

Contact your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.

For more information, visit the American Cancer Society or National Cancer Institute.