by Dr. Lauren Hendrix
Urological cancers are cancers found in any of the organs that make up the urinary system and the male reproductive system. Many of these cancers show no signs during early stages, emphasizing regular screenings by a urologist.
Different types of urological cancer include:
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and eighth most common in women. Americans over the age of 55 account for 90% of all bladder cancer cases. Smoking is estimated to cause 50% of all cases in the U.S.
Bladder cancer’s main symptom is blood in the urine. Other symptoms include painful urination, lower back pain or increased urinary frequency. These symptoms may also be a sign of urinary tract infections, kidney stones or other complications.
Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer, or renal cancer, is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. The average age of Americans diagnosed with kidney cancer is 64. Risk factors have been tied to smoking, obesity, genetic conditions, a family history of kidney cancer and diet.
Renal cancer’s symptoms include: blood in the urine, a lump in the abdomen, loss of appetite, fever, weight loss and anemia.
Cancers Specific to Men
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. Age, family history and high fat diets are risk factors for prostate cancer. When caught early, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and, in many cases, cured.
Symptoms may include: difficulty urinating, frequent or painful urination, blood in the urine or semen, loss of appetite, weight loss and pain in the lower back, abdomen, hip or pelvis.
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer found in men between the ages of 20-34. In 95% of cases, it’s treated successfully.
An undescended testicle, or cryptorchidism, is the leading risk factor for testicular cancer, alongside Klinefelter syndrome, genetic disorders and a family history of the disease.
Symptoms include painless swelling in the testes, dull aches, heaviness in the scrotum and pressure or pain in the lower back, belly or groin.
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