Urologic Cancer Care

Find advanced treatment options for urologic cancers with the specialized team at Marble Valley Urology.

Rutland Regional Medical Center’s urologic oncology specialists treat prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer and testicular cancer. Our expert team provides advanced treatment options and compassionate support throughout your cancer journey.

What is Urologic Cancer?

Urologic cancers affect the organs of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, prostate, and testicles. Symptoms depend on the type of cancer and often don’t appear until cancer is more advanced, but can include blood in the urine, urination changes, and swelling.

Types of Urologic Cancer

There are many types of urologic cancer depending on where the cancer is found. While we often don’t know what causes these types of cancer, there are things that can put you at higher risk including smoking, diet, family history, age, and ethnicity. Having a risk factor doesn’t mean you’ll get cancer – but knowing your risks can help when it comes to prevention and early detection.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer develops when cells in the bladder grow out of control and form a tumor. This type of cancer affects white people (both men and women) over the age of 55 at higher rates.

Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys, a pair of organs in the abdomen that remove waste from the blood (as urine). There are many risk factors for kidney cancer, including smoking, obesity, family history, and more. Men are twice as likely to get kidney cancer as women, and African Americans are slightly more at risk than other races.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer happens when cells in the prostate gland grow into tumors. Men over age 50 are more at risk than younger men, and African American men are more at risk than men of other races.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. Undescended testicles are a known risk factor. About half of those with testicular cancer are between 20 and 34, but it can affect men of any age. White men also get testicular cancer more often than other races.

Urologic Cancer Stages

After your diagnosis, cancer doctors use a staging system to describe how far your cancer is spread. Urologic cancer doctors usually use the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system:

T (tumor): Describes the size of the tumor
N (nodes): Describes whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes
M (metastasized): Describes whether or not the cancer has spread

Cancer stages range from 0 to IV (4), depending on how much the cancer has spread. There are more staging categories within TNM and the staging number ranges – which your care team will explain in detail.

Diagnosing and Treating Urologic Cancer

Rutland Regional’s specialized urologic cancer team uses the latest technology to find and diagnose cancer. We work to find your cancer at the earliest stage, when it’s easiest to treat.

Tests for Urologic Cancer

If your doctor notices signs of urologic cancer, there are multiple options for diagnosing your symptoms. Rutland Regional uses advanced diagnostic technology to find cancer including CT scans, MRI scans, and X-rays. We also use specific procedures to find and diagnose urologic cancers, including:

Cystoscopy: A procedure used to see inside your bladder and urethra
Transurethral resection for bladder tumor (TURBT): A procedure used to diagnose bladder cancer and remove cancerous tissue

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TUR or TURBT)

During this procedure, your doctor removes a tumor from the inner wall of your bladder. That's the organ that holds your urine. Transurethral resection can help your doctor diagnose and treat bladder cancer.

Treatments for Urologic Cancer

Depending on your diagnosis, your cancer care team will customize a treatment plan for you. Our team provides minimally invasive surgical techniques and plans your care with your comfort, results, and recovery in mind. Treatments for urologic cancers include:

Cystectomy: The surgical removal of all or part of your bladder
Nephrectomy: A common surgery that removes all or part of your kidney
Orchiectomy: A common procedure to remove the testicles
Radical retropubic prostatectomy: A surgery to remove the entire prostate gland and some surrounding tissue
Hormone therapy: The use of medicines to reduce testosterone to very low levels, which can control the spread of cancer

If you have symptoms of urologic cancer or a urologic cancer diagnosis, the expert urologic cancer care team at Rutland Regional is ready to care for you. Contact us to learn more or make an appointment: 802.775.6006.