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Urinary cancers

November 14, 2023 — published by Pyramidale Communication

At Pyramidale Communication Agency, we leverage our expertise across many oncology conditions. Urinary cancers are among them.

Key numbers for urinary cancers

For bladder cancer:

7^th most common cancer ^1.2;
13,074 new cases of bladder cancer diagnosed in France in 2018, 81% of which were in men.
Smoking accounts for 53% of cases in men and 39% in women.

For urethral cancer:

Rare tumors: less than 1% of cancer cases.³

What are urinary tract cancers?

Bladder cancer constitutes the vast majority of urinary tract cancers. In 90% of cases, it arises from cells in the bladder’s mucous lining (urothelial epithelium) and is called urothelial carcinoma. Among these tumors, some do not infiltrate the bladder muscle, while others are invasive.^1,2

Urethral cancer remains rare. It usually occurs after the age of 50 and can affect both men and women.⁴

Diagnostic criteria and medical care

For bladder cancer:

Bladder cancer is suspected when there is visible blood in the urine, but also when there are persistent symptoms such as a frequent urge to urinate or burning during urination without the presence of a urinary tract infection or stones.^1,5,6

To establish a diagnosis of bladder cancer, three tests are prescribed.¹

Ultrasound of the urinary tract;
Urine test to check for the presence of cancer cells;
Cystoscopy: inspection of the inside of the bladder, possibly with cell sampling.

Several types of treatment are available for bladder cancer.^1,5,7

Surgery (the tumor can be removed during cystoscopy).
Neoadjuvant (before surgery) or adjuvant (after surgery) chemotherapy.
Intravesical immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy.
Partial or total removal of the bladder in the most invasive cases of cancer.

For urethral cancer: ⁴

In women, the first symptom is usually blood in the urine. Potentially cancerous growths may be present at the opening of the female urethra. In both men and women, the flow of urine may be obstructed, causing difficulty in urination.

To diagnose the condition, doctors perform a cystourethroscopy to examine the inside of the urethra. A biopsy is also performed to identify cancer.

Treatment depends on the characteristics of the tumor. Options include surgery with surgical removal of the urethra, radiation therapy, or, for advanced lesions, a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

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References:

Institut National du cancer – Cancers de la vessie : les points clés : https://www.e-cancer.fr/Patients-et-proches/Les-cancers/Cancer-de-la-vessie/Les-points-cles
Centre de lutte contre le cancer Claude Bernard – Cancer de la vessie : https://www.cancer-environnement.fr/fiches/cancers/cancer-de-la-vessie/#:~:text=envahissent%2C%20dites%20infiltrantes.-,Epid%C3%A9miologie,et%20de%202%2C4%20respectivement
Avancès C, et al. Tumeurs primitives de l’urètre. Épidémiologie, diagnostic et anatomopathologie. Recommandations du comité de cancérologie de l’Association française d’urologie. Progrès en urologie. 2009;19,165-169.
Manuel MSD – Cancer urétral : https://www.msdmanuals.com/fr/accueil/troubles-r%C3%A9naux-et-des-voies-urinaires/cancers-du-rein-et-des-voies-g%C3%A9nitales-et-urinaires/cancer-ur%C3%A9tral
Lenis AT, et al. Bladder Cancer: A Review. JAMA. 2020;324(19):1980-1991.
Dobruch J, et al. Bladder Cancer: Current Challenges and Future Directions. Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(8):749.
Association française urologie – Fiche patients : Cystectomie partielle pour tumeur de la vessie.