Urological cancer

Urological cancer of the bladder and kidney can affect both men and women. Prostate cancer in men is the most common type of urological cancer, affecting 1 in 10 men in the UK (www.ucanhelp.org.uk). 

Testicular cancer on the other hand is relatively rare with around 2,000 cases affecting men in the UK each year (www.ucanhelp.org.uk) but is the most common form of cancer amongst men aged 20-44.

Smokers are at a five times greater risk of bladder cancer (www.ucanhelp.org.uk) with the longer a person smokes resulting in a direct increase in risk.

Many symptoms of urological disease can be harmless and often turn out to be so, however, if you experience anything different or if you are concerned about any changes you should contact your GP in the first instance.

Symptoms vary across the five cancers, and in the case of penile and testicular may involve changes in tissue appearance and lumps. Key indicators for other urological cancers can include:

• blood in urine (haematuria)
• urgent need to pass urine
• back pain
• weight loss
• fatigue
• sweats
• general bone pain or ache 

There are a number of different treatment options for each cancer within the urological cancer field. These can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, radio frequency ablation, cryotherapy, and a number of the urological cancers, particularly testicular cancer, generally respond well to treatment (www.ucanhelp.org.uk). Radiotherapy and brachytherapy treatment is delivered at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and can be arranged by your consultant.  

At Spire Murrayfield Hospital we have consultants who practice across a range of specialities including those in the urological cancer field, particularly in prostate, kidney, bladder, penile and testicular cancers. 

You can ask your GP for a private referral to one of our consultant urologists at Spire Murrayfield Hospital. During your initial consultation your consultant may wish to examine you and, if necessary, send you for further investigation, which may include CT, MRI, X-ray, endoscopy or blood tests.

Treatment for urological cancer can include chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and brachytherapy. If radiotherapy or brachytherapy is identified as the best treatment for you, or as a possible adjunct to another treatment, your Spire consultant will arrange for your radiotherapy or brachytherapy treatment to be carried out at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

Your treatment pathway will be identified and delivered with the support of our multidisciplinary team of consultant oncologists, cancer nurses, and supportive clinical colleagues, which includes a consultant palliative care physician, urological cancer nurse specialist and counsellors.