Urologic Cancers

Our urology oncology team provides a multidisciplinary, coordinated approach to the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and management of benign and malignant tumors of the male genitourinary system and female urinary system.

When diagnosed with cancer, many patients are faced with a variety of consultations, mounds of information and complicated decisions to be made concerning treatment options. Our center is designed to assist and support patients through their cancer journey so they can choose the most appropriate treatment plan based on their particular diagnosis and needs. Additionally, our physicians have offices in many locations throughout East Tennessee to better serve patients with urologic cancers.

Our team treats the following conditions:

• Bladder
• Kidney
• Penis
• Testis
• Ureter
• Urethra

The Cancer Institute at The University of Tennessee Medical Center offers the broadest spectrum of cancer specialists and services to care for our patients with urologic cancers. Cancer patients receive all of their cancer care including surgical consultations, radiation therapy, genetic counseling/testing, chemotherapy infusions, and supportive/integrative health services, all on the campus of UT Medical Center.

Patients are reviewed at our weekly multidisciplinary conference where urologists, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, nurses and clinical trials coordinators gather to determine the best individualized treatment plan for each patient. This level of coordination ensures that patients are receiving the highest level of care, offering the best outcomes and quality of life.

Treatment options are provided towards comprehensive education, prevention, risk reduction and diagnostics that include:

• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Clinical Trials
• Radiation Therapy
• External beam radiation including IMRT and IGRT
• High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy
• Permanent Seed Implants
• Radiofrequency Ablation

Surgery

• Bladder reconstruction surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures (laparoscopic & endoscopic)
• Robotic surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System
• Standard or “open” surgery

Our team of board-certified urologists specialize in the surgical and medical treatment for cancers of the male and female urinary tract system and the male reproductive system. Urologists often are on the cutting edge of surgical techniques and are well trained in minimally-invasive techniques (including robotic assisted surgery), employing real-time ultrasound guidance, fiber-optic endoscopic equipment, and various lasers in the treatment of multiple benign and malignant conditions. They participate in the multidisciplinary approach with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and other specialists to provide individualized, state of the art care for each patient.

A radiation oncologist is a board certified physician who uses radiation to treat cancer.  Radiation can be given to cure cancer either alone or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. It may also be given to relieve symptoms.  In some cases, radiation may also be used to treat benign tumors.  Our highly experienced team of radiation oncologists offer multiple treatment options including 3D conformal radiation, intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), rotational RapidArc therapy, high and low dose brachytherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery. The radiation oncologists are part of the multidisciplinary team that reviews each patient’s case to determine an individualized treatment plan for each cancer patient.

At the University of Tennessee Medical Center, our board certified medical oncologists are experts in the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of cancer including solid tumors and hematologic malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma.  A medical oncologist is a physician who specializes in the medical treatment of cancer with chemotherapy as well as biological and hormonal therapy. Our medical oncologists work closely with the multidisciplinary oncology team to determine an individualized care plan and to coordinate the patient’s care.  Evidence based treatment guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and other peer-reviewed, nationally recognized organizations are used as guidelines to ensure adherence to clinical practice standards (“best practices”) and to optimize the quality of care and patient outcomes.

The University of Tennessee Medical Center’s Department of Pathology provides expert surgical pathology services which are critical to the diagnosis and classification of urologic cancers. An accurate diagnosis involving both gross and microscopic examination of tissue, body fluids and cells is a requisite to determining an individualized treatment plan for each patient.  Special tests and molecular markers are also performed by the Pathology Department which provide additional information important to the multidisciplinary team when recommending the most appropriate treatment. The Department of Pathology also offers a second review and opinion of slides and reports from other facilities. Our team of board certified pathologists includes pathology faculty members who specialize in ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­specific cancers and have extensive experience evaluating and accurately characterizing cancerous tissue specimens.

The Integrative Healthcare program at The University of Tennessee Medical Center Cancer Institute is designed to provide supportive and integrative therapies for cancer patients and their caregivers during all stages of cancer care from diagnosis, treatment and beyond.

Cutting-edge treatment is offered to patients along with opportunities to participate in National Cancer Institute and pharmaceutical clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies made available to patients that offer the newest treatments and test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat diseases.

For more information, visit the Clinical Trials page or call 865-305-9773.

If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed with a urologic cancer, our Cancer Institute team is here for you in what can be a very stressful time. When diagnosed with cancer, many patients are faced with a variety of consultations, mounds of information and complicated decisions to be made concerning treatment options. Our center is designed to assist and support patients through their cancer journey so they can choose the most appropriate treatment plan based on their particular diagnosis and needs. Additionally, our physicians have offices in many locations throughout East Tennessee to better serve patients with urologic cancers. 

We have two practices who treat patients with urologic cancer, University Urology, and Urology and Urologic Surgery.

Please don’t hesitate to ask questions and request help when you need it. Our new patient section will provide you additional information about the Cancer Institute and everything you need to know to prepare for your first visit.