1. Defining the Urethra
The tube that transports urine from your bladder to the outside of your body is the urethra. The male urethra is located inside the penis, while the female urethra is in front of the vagina. Sometimes cancer arises from the cells that line the urethra. The type of urethral cancer depends where it starts in the urethra. The most common type is squamous cell carcinoma. Two other types are transitional cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
2. Knowing the Risk
Urethral cancer is quite rare, with only 600 reported cases; however, certain people are at greater risk for developing it. A history of bladder cancer is one of the risk factors. Caucasians and women are at greater risk. There are reported cases in people ranging from 13 to 90 years old, but it's most common after age of 60. If you have any disease that causes chronic inflammation of the bladder, such as STD's or UTI's, then you have an elevated risk for urethral cancer.
3. Understand the Symptoms
Early stage urethral cancer doesn't produce many symptoms; however, as the cancer progresses more symptoms appear. Common symptoms associated with urethral cancer include blood in the urine, weakened urine flow, frequent need to urinate, straining to release urine, discharge from the urethra, itching, incontinence, pain during or after sexual intercourse, repeated urinary tract infections and enlarged lymph nodes in the pelvic area.
4. Diagnosing the Cancer
To diagnose urethral cancer, a doctor starts with a complete physical and medical history interview. Blood and urine samples are sent to the lab for analysis. The doctor may also request digital rectal exam as well as a pelvic exam for women. Sometimes doctors use a cytoscopic to get a better look at the urethra and bladder. During this procedure, the doctor may also biopsy the tissue using local anesthesia. Additional imaging tests determine the degree to which the cancer has metastasized. These tests include CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and x-ray.
5. Treating the Cancer
Treatment depends on the patient's health, the stage the cancer has reached and where the cancer was first located in the urethra. If the cancer is still in an early stage, then doctors recommend fulguration and laser therapy to kill the cancer cells. Surgery is the primary treatment for urethral cancer that has reached a more advanced stage. The surgery involves removal of the affected tissue. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are other treatments employed to treat urethral cancer.
