Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven: Prostate & Urologic Cancers Program

Prostate & Urologic Cancers Program Photo

Wm. Kevin Kelly, DO, and Joy Burns, PA, examine Michael Cayer at a follow-up visit.

“What separates Smilow Cancer Hospital and its Prostate and Urologic Cancers Program is the multidisciplinary approach to patient care that involves the expertise of physicians from radiation oncology, surgery, medical oncology, radiology and pathology that specialize in the treatment of urologic malignancies and is involved in cutting-edge research in the field.”

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The Prostate and Urologic Cancers Program evaluates, diagnoses and treats cancers of the prostate, bladder, kidneys and testicles. These are common cancers, but very few institutions specialize in them. Smilow boasts a multidisciplinary team of experts, many of them world-renowned, who diagnose and treat patients with these cancers. The team meets and discusses cases among all subspecialties. Smilow has a unique immunotherapy program for renal cell cancer and conducts considerable research in prostate, bladder and renal cancers.

Prostate Cancer
- Symptoms
  Weak or interrupted flow of urine, frequent urination (especially at night), trouble urinating, pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine or semen, pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs, painful ejaculation
  Risk Factors
  While the exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, risk factors include: age (2/3 of cases occur in men over 65), race/ethnicity (highest rates among African American men) and family history
  Diagnosis
  If symptoms or early detection methods – blood test of PSA levels and/or digital rectal exam – suggest prostate cancer, a biopsy is performed.
  Treatments
  “Watchful waiting,” surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, cryosurgery, chemotherapy, biologic therapy and ultrasound
Bladder Cancer
- Symptoms
  Blood in the urine, frequent urination, pain during urination, lower back pain
  Risk Factors
  Smoking, exposure to certain chemicals, diet high in fried meats and fat, being older, male or white, infection caused by a certain parasite
  Diagnosis
  Tests that examine the urine, vagina or rectum
  Treatments
  Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biologic therapy
Kidney Cancer
- Symptoms
  Blood in the urine, a lump in the abdomen, a persistent pain in the side, loss of appetite, weight loss for no known reason and anemia
  Risk Factors
  Smoking, prolonged misuse of certain pain medicines, certain genetic conditions, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease or hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma
  Diagnosis
  Physical exam and history, blood tests, urinalysis, liver function test, intravenous pyelogram, ultrasound, CT scan, PET scan, MRI or biopsy
  Treatments
  Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy and targeted therapy
Testicular Cancer
- Symptoms
  Painless lump or swelling in either testicle, change in how a testicle feels, dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin, sudden build-up of fluid in the scrotum, and pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
  Risk Factors
  An undescended testicle, abnormal development of the testicles, personal or family history of testicular cancer, and being white
  Diagnosis
  Physical exam and history, ultrasound, serum tumor marker test, and radical inguinal orchiectomy and biopsy
  Treatments
  Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy

For a referral to one of our cancer experts

Prostate Cancer

Symptoms

Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatments

Bladder Cancer

Symptoms

Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatments

Kidney Cancer

Symptoms

Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatments

Testicular Cancer

Symptoms

Risk Factors

Diagnosis

Treatments