At UC Health, our urologists treat several types of genitourinary cancer, including adrenal, bladder, kidney, prostate, penile, and testicular. With new advancements in surgical techniques and treatments, UC Health has more options for patients when it comes to deciding how to treat their urological cancer. Our minimally invasive surgical techniques lead to faster recovery times and have the potential to give the patient less pain throughout the treatment process.
Our physicians have collaborated across specialties to create an innovative program that offers several groundbreaking techniques to treat patients. While our physicians treat the entire spectrum of urologic cancers, our urologists are currently performing techniques and procedures for prostate and kidney cancer that aren’t readily available elsewhere in the region. Click the links below to read more about our advancements in all types of urologic cancers.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Imaging Program Created to Make Diagnosis Faster & Easier
Successful treatment for prostate cancer—the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer in men—relies on a detailed assessment of the disease’s staging and location within the gland. UC Health is working to bring better imaging to the early stages of treatment for prostate cancer to help both doctors and patients.
Current diagnostic procedures for prostate cancer are very outdated compared to other cancers and a diagnosis is only able to be confirmed through a “blind” biopsy of the prostate. The biopsy is considered “blind” because the cancer can’t be seen with an ultrasound. However, with a comprehensive prostate imaging evaluation, much more information can be uncovered, including a sound diagnosis of prostate cancer.
In addition to providing a comprehensive MRI evaluation of the prostate gland, the prostate imaging program offers newer functional imaging techniques that give biochemical and other information about the gland. These pre-operative techniques can help physicians determine the stage of the cancer, plan targeted radiation therapy or decide whether to remove or spare the delicate neurovascular bundles that surround the gland. MRS also allows radiologists to detect both normal and cancer-related chemical compounds in the prostate gland. Ultimately, prostate imaging provides more information about the tumor to our urologists, which helps decrease the risk of post-operative complications, such as incontinence or sexual dysfunction.
New Innovation Set to Increase Comfort, Patient Satisfaction After Cancer Surgery
UC Health is one of two health care systems in the United States and the first in Ohio to offer robot-assisted prostate cancer surgery (prostatectomy) without the need for a penile catheter post-op. In traditional prostate cancer surgery, patients have a penile catheter for up to 10 days to drain urine while the surgical site heals. The no catheter technique involves draining urine directly from the bladder through a small incision above the pubic bone via a small tube. This spares the patient of the irritation of a penile catheter and allows for early bladder training.
Nilesh Patil, MD, a UC Health urologist and assistant professor of surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine cites that almost 80 percent of patients are severely bothered by the presence of a catheter after surgery. “Patients experience less pain with this technique and the outcomes are no different when the surgery is performed at experienced medical centers like UC Health,” adds Patil. Collectively, UC Health’s urology team performs more than 200 robotic radical prostatectomies annually. Patients typically require an overnight stay in the hospital and are able to resume normal activities within a few weeks.
Multiple Radiation Therapy Options Now Available at UC Health
For men with prostate cancer confined only to a small part of the prostate gland, focal therapy is a new treatment option offered at UC Health. Focal therapy is a form of radiation treatment that allows our physicians to pinpoint the exact area where radiation will occur and focus the therapy only on that spot. This minimally invasive method will decrease negative, long-term side effects usually associated with treatment for prostate cancer. Also, healthy, non-cancerous tissue isn’t affected by the radiation, as is usually the case with other radiation treatments.
In cases where focal therapy isn’t appropriate, TomoTherapy® is another radiation treatment option. TomoTherapy® also minimizes exposure to healthy tissue while having the ability to treat prostate tumors that can be difficult to reach with conventional therapies. Similar to focal therapy, this advanced radiation treatment will reduce long-term side effects by maintaining healthy tissue in the organs surrounding the prostate.
Kidney Cancer
Minimally Invasive Techniques Offer More Options for Patients With Renal Tumors
UC Health Urology, in partnership with the University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute, has recently established multiple programs designed to treat kidney cancer. These programs offer treatments that will allow our physicians and surgeons to treat patients with prior medical conditions, as well as offering minimally invasive options for treating their renal tumors.One such treatment, computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous cryoablation (“cryotherapy”), allows our physicians to use 3-D imaging technology to direct a small probe through the skin and into the kidney to freeze the cancerous tissue. Because cryoablation spares patients drastic surgery to treat small kidney tumors, this treatment is especially useful for patients with other medical conditions who may not be able to tolerate major surgery. Patients who undergo this procedure will experience virtually no pain and will only spend one night in the hospital before going home the next day.
Kidney sparing surgery is another innovation that is available to patients with small renal tumors. Only approximately 20-25% of patients with small renal tumors receive kidney-sparing surgery, which allows them to keep their kidney intact instead of having the entire organ removed. In cases of small renal tumors, removing the entire kidney is often unnecessary. At UC Health, we provide more options tailored to each patient so that we can best fit their medical needs.
Bladder Cancer
UC Health Offers Multiple Modes of Therapy for Cancer of the Bladder
There are 55 thousand new cases and 12 thousand deaths attributed to bladder cancer in the United States each year. The average age of diagnosis for bladder cancer is 66, with males being diagnosed two times more frequently than females. The most common sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine; however, a small number of patients also experience urgency, frequent urination, or pain when urinating. While blood in the urine does not immediately signify bladder cancer, it does require immediate attention and evaluation by a urologist to determine the underlying cause.
At UC Health, treatment for bladder cancer may include several options or a combination or procedures, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The most common category of bladder cancer is “low-stage,” which calls for minimally-invasive surgical techniques to remove any presence of cancer in the bladder. “High-stage” tumors will need more radical therapy and treatment could include surgery to remove the bladder. Removal of the bladder could be done as an open surgery or using robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Testicular Cancer
Surgical Treatment for Testicular Cancer Provides 97% “Cure” Rate
Compared to other types of cancer, the occurrence of testicular cancer is rare; however, it is the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 15-35. Fortunately, it is highly responsive to treatments. Surgical treatments for approximately 97% of all cases of testicular cancer are successful with or without radiation treatment or chemotherapy. Surgery to remove the affected testicle is the preferred treatment for testicular cancer, but radiation and chemotherapy is advisable for patients with more advanced cases.
Pain and/or a lump in the testicle or scrotum, or any change in the way it feels are indications that a urologist should be consulted. Sudden collections of fluid in the scrotum, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum or swelling of the testicle are additional symptoms. Many conditions other than cancer can cause these symptoms, but it is important that an evaluation be conducted to rule out cancer.
To evaluate and diagnose testicular cancer, our urologists will perform a physical exam to feel for swelling, tenderness and/or lumps in the testes. To gain more detailed information, a scrotal ultrasound may also be performed. If it is determined that a solid mass is present, blood tests will be used to check for an increased concentration of protein in the blood that indicates that a tumor is present in the testicle. Testicular cancer is highly responsive to treatments. The earlier the cancer is detected and treated, the better the outcome and radiation or chemotherapy may be necessary for patients with advanced stages or testicular cancer.
Adrenal Cancer
Minimally-Invasive Surgical Techniques Used by UC Health Experts to Treat Adrenal Tumors
The adrenals are small glands situated above each kidney. These endocrine glands secrete several hormones including cortisol, epinephrine, and aldosterone which regulate several important physiologic functions throughout the body including kidney function, blood pressure and metabolism.
Most but not all adrenal tumors are benign (not cancer). Some benign tumors (also known as adenomas) actively secrete hormones in excess causing imbalance of the endocrine system and may lead to high blood pressure, vasoconstriction, fatigue and weight gain. Non-functioning adrenal adenomas are typically asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during imaging studies performed for other conditions. Adrenal cancers are rare but cancers originating in other organs may spread to the adrenal gland.
The preferred treatment for adrenal tumors is surgical removal if possible. This can be performed using traditional open surgery or minimally-invasive laparoscopy. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy involves removal of the entire adrenal and surrounding tissue and is typically used for benign adrenal tumors larger than 5 cm or small tumors that are suspicious for cancer or are producing high levels of hormones.
Currently, open surgery is only performed when the adrenal tumors are larger than 10 cm or in cases when cancer is suspected and it appears to have spread to other organs.
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Urologic Cancer
At UC Health, our urologists treat several types of genitourinary cancer, including adrenal, bladder, kidney, prostate, penile, and testicular. With new advancements in surgical techniques and treatments, UC Health has more options for patients when it comes to deciding how to treat their urological cancer. Our minimally invasive surgical techniques lead to faster recovery times and have the potential to give the patient less pain throughout the treatment process.
Our physicians have collaborated across specialties to create an innovative program that offers several groundbreaking techniques to treat patients. While our physicians treat the entire spectrum of urologic cancers, our urologists are currently performing techniques and procedures for prostate and kidney cancer that aren’t readily available elsewhere in the region. Click the links below to read more about our advancements in all types of urologic cancers.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Imaging Program Created to Make Diagnosis Faster & Easier
Successful treatment for prostate cancer—the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer in men—relies on a detailed assessment of the disease’s staging and location within the gland. UC Health is working to bring better imaging to the early stages of treatment for prostate cancer to help both doctors and patients.
Current diagnostic procedures for prostate cancer are very outdated compared to other cancers and a diagnosis is only able to be confirmed through a “blind” biopsy of the prostate. The biopsy is considered “blind” because the cancer can’t be seen with an ultrasound. However, with a comprehensive prostate imaging evaluation, much more information can be uncovered, including a sound diagnosis of prostate cancer.
In addition to providing a comprehensive MRI evaluation of the prostate gland, the prostate imaging program offers newer functional imaging techniques that give biochemical and other information about the gland. These pre-operative techniques can help physicians determine the stage of the cancer, plan targeted radiation therapy or decide whether to remove or spare the delicate neurovascular bundles that surround the gland. MRS also allows radiologists to detect both normal and cancer-related chemical compounds in the prostate gland. Ultimately, prostate imaging provides more information about the tumor to our urologists, which helps decrease the risk of post-operative complications, such as incontinence or sexual dysfunction.
New Innovation Set to Increase Comfort, Patient Satisfaction After Cancer Surgery
Nilesh Patil, MD, a UC Health urologist and assistant professor of surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine cites that almost 80 percent of patients are severely bothered by the presence of a catheter after surgery. “Patients experience less pain with this technique and the outcomes are no different when the surgery is performed at experienced medical centers like UC Health,” adds Patil. Collectively, UC Health’s urology team performs more than 200 robotic radical prostatectomies annually. Patients typically require an overnight stay in the hospital and are able to resume normal activities within a few weeks.
Multiple Radiation Therapy Options Now Available at UC Health
For men with prostate cancer confined only to a small part of the prostate gland, focal therapy is a new treatment option offered at UC Health. Focal therapy is a form of radiation treatment that allows our physicians to pinpoint the exact area where radiation will occur and focus the therapy only on that spot. This minimally invasive method will decrease negative, long-term side effects usually associated with treatment for prostate cancer. Also, healthy, non-cancerous tissue isn’t affected by the radiation, as is usually the case with other radiation treatments.
In cases where focal therapy isn’t appropriate, TomoTherapy® is another radiation treatment option. TomoTherapy® also minimizes exposure to healthy tissue while having the ability to treat prostate tumors that can be difficult to reach with conventional therapies. Similar to focal therapy, this advanced radiation treatment will reduce long-term side effects by maintaining healthy tissue in the organs surrounding the prostate.
Kidney Cancer
Minimally Invasive Techniques Offer More Options for Patients With Renal Tumors
Kidney sparing surgery is another innovation that is available to patients with small renal tumors. Only approximately 20-25% of patients with small renal tumors receive kidney-sparing surgery, which allows them to keep their kidney intact instead of having the entire organ removed. In cases of small renal tumors, removing the entire kidney is often unnecessary. At UC Health, we provide more options tailored to each patient so that we can best fit their medical needs.
Bladder Cancer
UC Health Offers Multiple Modes of Therapy for Cancer of the Bladder
There are 55 thousand new cases and 12 thousand deaths attributed to bladder cancer in the United States each year. The average age of diagnosis for bladder cancer is 66, with males being diagnosed two times more frequently than females. The most common sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine; however, a small number of patients also experience urgency, frequent urination, or pain when urinating. While blood in the urine does not immediately signify bladder cancer, it does require immediate attention and evaluation by a urologist to determine the underlying cause.
At UC Health, treatment for bladder cancer may include several options or a combination or procedures, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The most common category of bladder cancer is “low-stage,” which calls for minimally-invasive surgical techniques to remove any presence of cancer in the bladder. “High-stage” tumors will need more radical therapy and treatment could include surgery to remove the bladder. Removal of the bladder could be done as an open surgery or using robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Testicular Cancer
Surgical Treatment for Testicular Cancer Provides 97% “Cure” Rate
Compared to other types of cancer, the occurrence of testicular cancer is rare; however, it is the most common form of cancer in men between the ages of 15-35. Fortunately, it is highly responsive to treatments. Surgical treatments for approximately 97% of all cases of testicular cancer are successful with or without radiation treatment or chemotherapy. Surgery to remove the affected testicle is the preferred treatment for testicular cancer, but radiation and chemotherapy is advisable for patients with more advanced cases.
Pain and/or a lump in the testicle or scrotum, or any change in the way it feels are indications that a urologist should be consulted. Sudden collections of fluid in the scrotum, a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum or swelling of the testicle are additional symptoms. Many conditions other than cancer can cause these symptoms, but it is important that an evaluation be conducted to rule out cancer.
To evaluate and diagnose testicular cancer, our urologists will perform a physical exam to feel for swelling, tenderness and/or lumps in the testes. To gain more detailed information, a scrotal ultrasound may also be performed. If it is determined that a solid mass is present, blood tests will be used to check for an increased concentration of protein in the blood that indicates that a tumor is present in the testicle. Testicular cancer is highly responsive to treatments. The earlier the cancer is detected and treated, the better the outcome and radiation or chemotherapy may be necessary for patients with advanced stages or testicular cancer.
Adrenal Cancer
Minimally-Invasive Surgical Techniques Used by UC Health Experts to Treat Adrenal Tumors
The adrenals are small glands situated above each kidney. These endocrine glands secrete several hormones including cortisol, epinephrine, and aldosterone which regulate several important physiologic functions throughout the body including kidney function, blood pressure and metabolism.
Most but not all adrenal tumors are benign (not cancer). Some benign tumors (also known as adenomas) actively secrete hormones in excess causing imbalance of the endocrine system and may lead to high blood pressure, vasoconstriction, fatigue and weight gain. Non-functioning adrenal adenomas are typically asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during imaging studies performed for other conditions. Adrenal cancers are rare but cancers originating in other organs may spread to the adrenal gland.
The preferred treatment for adrenal tumors is surgical removal if possible. This can be performed using traditional open surgery or minimally-invasive laparoscopy. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy involves removal of the entire adrenal and surrounding tissue and is typically used for benign adrenal tumors larger than 5 cm or small tumors that are suspicious for cancer or are producing high levels of hormones.
Currently, open surgery is only performed when the adrenal tumors are larger than 10 cm or in cases when cancer is suspected and it appears to have spread to other organs.