Overview

Urologic Cancers

The team of Northwestern Medicine urologists has leading expertise in the diagnosis, study and treatment of cancers of the prostate, bladder, testes, penis and kidney.

Cancers of the prostate, bladder, testes and kidney are all fairly common, which makes early detection, diagnosis and screening very important for effective treatment.

Who is affected by urologic cancer?

Urologic cancer includes cancers that may be treated by a urologist, such as:

• Prostate cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Penile cancer
• Testicular cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States, but treatment may be determined by a urologist based on the severity of the disease. In the United States, there are an estimated 72,570 new cases of bladder cancer each year, affecting mostly older men and women.

An experienced urologist can help with both diagnosis and treatment of these forms of cancer.

Coordinated care for urologic cancer

Patients with urologic cancers of the prostate, bladder, kidney, testes and related organs are evaluated and managed with emphasis on an integrated, multidisciplinary and stage-specific approach. All of the team members are recognized leaders in their field of expertise, and all potential therapeutic options are considered and discussed with each patient, including:

• Observation (no active treatment)
• Surgical excision
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy