Comprehensive Support and Treatment for Urologic Cancers

Learning you may have cancer can feel overwhelming. You may be dealing with symptoms, uncertainty or questions about what comes next. At Catholic Health, your care team will guide you through every step with compassionate support, advanced treatment options and specialists focused on your physical and emotional well-being.

At Catholic Health Cancer Institutes, our specialists work closely with you to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs, goals and overall health. You’ll have a team of expert specialists by your side, including board-certified oncologists, urologists, surgeons, registered nurse navigators, radiologists, oncology nurses, social workers and spiritual care staff. Together, we provide you and your loved ones with the highest quality care.

Urological cancers affect organs within the urinary and reproductive systems, including the kidneys, bladder, prostate and testicles. These systems help your body remove waste, regulate fluid balance and support reproductive health. Early detection and personalized treatment can play an important role in your recovery.

Conditions We Treat

Our specialists diagnose and treat several types of urological cancers, combining advanced treatment options with patient-centered care.

Types of Urological Cancers We Treat

Bladder cancer develops when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the bladder. Symptoms often appear in the early stages of the disease. Bladder cancer is highly treatable, but the cancer can recur even after successful treatment. Long-term follow up can help physicians detect a recurrence quickly.

Factors that can increase your risk of bladder cancer include:

  • Chronic bladder irritation
  • Exposure to certain workplace chemicals
  • Personal or family history of bladder cancer
  • Previous treatment for other cancers
  • Smoking and tobacco use

Men are more likely than women to develop bladder cancer. Most people diagnosed with bladder cancer are older than 55.

Symptoms:

  • Blood in the urine
  • Frequent urination
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Pelvic or lower back pain

Kidney cancer begins when abnormal cells grow in the kidneys. In many cases, kidney cancer develops slowly and may not cause symptoms in its early stages. Physicians usually diagnose kidney cancer when the cancer is small and has not spread to other parts of the body.

Risk factors:

Smoking is one of the leading risk factors for kidney cancer. Other factors that may increase risk include obesity, high blood pressure and a family history of the disease. Certain inherited conditions can also increase your risk. These include tuberous sclerosis complex, von Hippel-Lindau disease and others.

Symptoms:

  • Appetite loss
  • Blood in the urine — blood may appear pink, red or reddish-brown
  • Fatigue
  • Lump or swelling near the kidney area
  • Unexplained weight loss

Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men, second only to skin cancer. It develops in the prostate gland, which helps produce fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Many prostate cancers grow slowly, but some can spread more aggressively if left untreated. Learn more about prostate cancer causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Catholic Health Cancer Institutes across Long Island provide prostate cancer care - ranging from early detection and diagnosis to advanced treatment and survivorship support.

Testicular cancer develops in the testicles. It is typically highly treatable, especially when detected early. Treatment is often successful even if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Testicular cancer is not common. Males between ages 15 and 45 are at higher risk. Many people first notice changes during a self-exam or routine physical examination. Testicular cancer usually occurs in one testicle, not both.

Risk factors:

  • Abnormal testicle development
  • Age (young adults are at higher risk)
  • Family history of testicular cancer
  • Undescended testicle

It may help to become familiar with how your testicles normally look and feel so you can more easily notice changes. If you detect a lump, swelling or other change that lasts longer than two weeks, schedule an appointment with your health care provider.

Symptoms:

  • Back pain
  • Dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
  • Enlarged or tender breast tissue
  • Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
  • Lump or swelling in a testicle
  • Pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
  • Sudden fluid buildup in the scrotum

How We Diagnose Urological Cancer

Sonogram

Urological symptoms can have many possible causes. We se advanced diagnostic tools and imaging technology to identify whether cancer is present. Then, we determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your needs.

We may begin with a physical exam and a discussion about your symptoms, medical history and personal risk factors. Blood and urine testing can help identify signs of cancer or other urological conditions.

You may also undergo imaging tests to examine the urinary tract and bladder more closely. These may include ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cystoscopy.

If imaging or other tests suggest cancer, your physician may recommend additional procedures to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether the cancer has spread. These may include a biopsy to examine tissue samples or surgery to remove a tumor or nearby lymph nodes for further evaluation.

Urological Cancer Treatment Options

Treatment for urological cancers depends on the type and stage of the cancer, your overall health and your treatment goals. At Catholic Health, our specialists create personalized treatment plans using advanced therapies and minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.

Your cancer treatment plan may include one or more of the following therapies:

  • Active surveillance or watchful waiting for certain prostate cancers
  • Chemotherapy delivered throughout the body or directly to the affected organ
  • Cryoablation, a minimally invasive treatment that freezes cancer cells
  • Immunotherapy to help the body’s immune system fight cancer
  • Radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to destroy cancer tissue
  • Radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells
  • Targeted therapy that focuses on specific cancer cell features
  • Surgery, including robotic surgery, to remove cancerous tissue, tumors or nearby lymph nodes 

Your care team will guide you through every step of treatment and recovery with support tailored to your needs.

Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Blood in the urine can have many causes, including infection or kidney stones. However, it can also be a symptom of bladder, kidney or prostate cancer. If you see blood in the urine, make an appointment with your primary care provider.

Your care team will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan based on the type and stage of cancer, your overall health and your treatment goals. You may work with specialists, including urologists, oncologists, radiologists, nurses and support staff throughout your care.

When should I start getting screened for prostate cancer?

Most men should talk with their health care provider about prostate cancer screening around age 50. However, men with a family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors may benefit from screening earlier, sometimes as early as age 40. Your physician can help determine the right screening schedule based on your age, health history and personal risk factors. Learn more about prostate cancer screenings and PSA testing. 

Minimally invasive treatments use advanced techniques and technology to target cancer while reducing damage to healthy tissue. Depending on your condition, this may lead to smaller incisions, less pain and shorter recovery times.

Catholic Health offers minimally invasive treatment options for certain urological cancers. This includes robotic-assisted surgery and advanced radiation therapies designed to precisely target cancer while protecting nearby tissue and nerves.