Urethral Cancer

Urethral cancer is a rare cancer (Read about "Cancer: What It Is") that starts in the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside. It is under two inches long in women and about eight inches long in men. In men, it runs through the prostate (Read about "The Prostate") and also serves as the passageway for semen.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) calls urethral cancer, a rare cancer that occurs more often in women than in men. It begins in the cells that line the urethra. If the cancer spreads to other organs, it is still called urethral cancer because that is where it started.

There are different types of urethral cancer that are named for the types of cells where the cancer begins. NCI says they are:

• Squamous cell carcinoma - the most common type of urethral cancer, forms in cells in the part of the urethra near the bladder in women, and in the lining of the urethra in the penis in men.
• Transitional cell carcinoma - forms in the area near the urethral opening in women, and in the part of the urethra that goes through the prostate gland in men.
• Adenocarcinoma - forms in glands near the urethra in both men and women.

Urethral cancer is often found in nearby lymph nodes (Read about "The Lymph System") by the time it is diagnosed.

Risk Factors

One of the major risk factors for urethral cancer is a history of bladder cancer. (Read about "Bladder Cancer") According to NCI other risk factors include:

• sexually transmitted diseases (Read about "STD's")
• frequent urinary tract infections (Read about "Urinary Tract Infections")
• being 60 or older
• being a white female

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The symptoms of urethral cancer often mimic the symptoms of other conditions. NCI does however list the following:

• bleeding from the urethra or blood in the urine
• weak or interrupted ("stop-and-go") flow of urine
• frequent urination
• a lump or thickness in the perineum or penis
• discharge from the urethra
• enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area

Sometimes there are no symptoms in the early stages.

Diagnosis involves any number of methods including physical exams to look for lumps, lab tests to look for blood and other substances in the urine such as abnormal cells that can be spotted under a microscope. (Read about "Laboratory Testing") Other procedures such as a cystoscopy or a biopsy (Read about "Endoscopy" "Biopsy") can also be done, according to NCI. With a cystoscopy, a thin, lighted tube is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.

Treatment

If urethral cancer is found the next step is to stage the cancer. That involves ascertaining how far the cancer has spread. Stages range from being confined to the lining of the urethra to having spread to lymph nodes or other organs.

The treatment (Read about "Cancer Treatments") selected depends on the stage of the cancer and other factors. Treatment can range from so-called watchful waiting, to surgery, of which there are numerous types, to radiation and chemotherapy. (Read about "Radiation Therapy") The type of surgery depends on exactly where the cancer is and how far it has spread. Discussing treatment options with your doctor is crucial.