A uro-oncologist specializes in urology and oncology, which includes cancer of the urinary tract and male reproductive system. They treat prostate, kidney, bladder, penile, and testicular cancer. Treatment options mainly include surgery combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Uro-Oncology: Meaning, Conditions Treated, and When You Should See a Specialist
A uro-oncologist treats cancers that develop in the male or female urinary tract or the male reproductive organs, including the kidneys, bladder, urethra, penis, and prostate. It comprises two branches of medicine—oncology and urology. Cancers developing in different organs behave differently.
A uro-oncologist in Navi Mumbai studies how the urinary tract functions and how cancer develops in these organs, affecting the patient’s quality of life. Their main job is to provide the most personalized and effective treatment plan for urological cancers.
What Conditions Do Uro-Oncology Treat?
Here are the common types of cancers treated at a urology clinic in Navi Mumbai.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer, a common malignancy in men, happens when cells start to grow abnormally in the prostate gland, which plays a significant role in semen production. It’s often silent initially, meaning symptoms don’t show up until later.
That’s why regular screening for men above 50 is highly recommended, especially for those with a family history of prostate cancer. Symptoms include difficulty starting or maintaining the urine stream, pelvic discomfort, and blood in the urine.
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer develops in the lining or deeper walls of the bladder. Smoking and chemical exposure are among the common causes. The hallmark symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which also makes it one of the easiest-to-detect cancers.
Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is another form of urological cancer that a uro-oncologist treats. Signs may be subtle or absent in the initial stages, but when symptoms appear, they include side or back pain, blood in urine, and unexplained weight loss.
Testicular or Penile Cancer
Affecting men of younger ages (usually between 15 and 40 years old), testicular cancer grows in the testicles and appears as a hard, painless lump or swelling. On the other hand, a lump, sore, rash, or bleeding beneath the foreskin of the penis can indicate penile cancer.
How are Uro-Oncological Cancers Diagnosed and Treated?
There is no single test that diagnoses urological cancer. It’s rather a combination of tests, usually starting with a blood or urine test, followed by a CT scan, an MRI, and other imaging exams. Sometimes, a biopsy may be needed to identify if the growth is benign or malignant.
Surgery is the most preferred choice of treatment, with minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgical procedures becoming mainstream.
Chemotherapy may be recommended before surgery to shrink tumors and after surgery to destroy the remaining cancer cells. Sometimes, targeted therapy or immunotherapy may be recommended.
These modern therapies are designed to either block the paths that cancer cells use to thrive or strengthen your immune system so it can kill cancer cells effectively. A uro-oncologist works with you to decide on an effective treatment, which can destroy cancer cells while maintaining your sexual and urinary function.
