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Urethral Cancer

Urethral Cancer – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Urethral Cancer is a painful and potentially lethal condition in which a cancer originates from the urethra, mainly in the form of a urethral tumor, which is the tubular part of the excretory system of the human body which connects to the urinary bladder and discharges the urine from the body through the urethral canal.

Causes of Urethral Cancer

The occurrence of urethral cancer in any part of the body is not explained. Most probably the development of urethral cancer is associated with a chromosome problem that causes the appearance and growth of malignant cells also knows as urethral tumors. This could be caused as a result from exposure to certain carcinogenic agents, stimuli or substances which could cause urethral cancer and the symptoms of urethral cancer.

However, while discussing the causes of Urethral Cancer, it is important to know who are at risk of this disease and in what conditions cause urethral cancer. People who have been suffering from bladder pain and bladder cancer are more likely to develop Urethral Cancer and a urethral tumor than any other people. People who develop frequent inflammations of the urethra, those above the age of 60, especially white females, have a tendency to develop Urethral Cancer and urethral tumors than most other people.

Symptoms

The Symptoms of Urethral Cancer include the following.

· Frequent urination

· Blood in urine

· Bleeding in the urethra

· Discharge from urethra

· Lump in the perineum or penis

· Weak flow of urine

· Interrupted flow of urine

Diagnosis

There are several tests that could be carried out for determining that a person is suffering from Urethral Cancer. First of all, the patient will be examined physically by the physician in which he or she will be examined for the apparent signs and symptoms of urethral cancer such as lumps or enlarged lymph nodes. Then, further tests and screenings will be prescribed to determine the presence of cancerous cells and urethral tumors. These tests include laboratory tests and examinations such as rectal and pelvic exams which are carried out for the signs of the disease.

Laboratory tests for the diagnosis of Urethral Cancer include Urinalysis and Urine Cytology, which respectively check for the nature of problem through the analysis of the properties and composition of urine and the presence of malicious cells respectively. Complete Blood Count test is also recommended to check for urethral cancer. Cystoscopy could be carried out which involves inserting a thin tube into the urethra and the urinary bladder to check for the presence of cancerous cells and urethral tumors. In most cases, a biopsy of the tissues will be taken for examination to confirm the presence of urethral cancer or urethral tumors.

Scans such as X-rays, MRI and CT scans are used to determine the size and staging of the present urethral cancer to prescribe proper treatment. The staging is determined according to the part of urethra that is affected by the urethra tumor. Anterior Urethral Cancer is not too advanced or deep, while the Posterior Urethral Cancer is deep rooted and in advanced stage. Anterior parts are closer to the body opening, while the posterior part of the urethra is next to the urinary bladder and in males, the prostate gland.

Treatment of Urethral Cancer

Once the presence of Urethral Cancer is determined, the appropriate treatment for the particular stage of the urethral cancer tumor is prescribed. There are various treatment options available for Urethral Cancer. The type of treatment depends on the stage of the urethral cancer and the damage done to the tissues around the urethra, especially when the urethral cancer has reached other organs like the urinary bladder.

Surgery is one of the most widely practiced treatments for Urethral Cancer and treating urethral tumors. There are quite a few surgery types used in this regard.

-Open Excision: Surgical removal of the urethra.

-Laser Surgery: Using laser beams for surgery and removing urethral cancer cells in the urethral cancer.

-Lymph Node Dissection: Removal of the lymph nodes in the groin area affected from the urethra cancer.

-Electro-resection: Using electric current for the removal or destruction of the urethral cancer cells.

-Cystourethectomy: Surgical removal of the urethra and urinary bladder affected by the urethral cancer.

-Radical penectomy: Surgical removal of the penis affected by the urethral cancer tumors.

Cystoprostatectomy: Surgical removal of the prostate and bladder affected by the urethral cancer in males.

Radiation therapy is another method of treatment in which X-rays of very high energy are used to destroy the urethral cancer cells. Alternatively, or combined with surgery

, chemotherapy is also administered to control the growth of the urethral cancer.

Urethral Cancer is a rare type of cancer which occurs more frequently in females ( Female Urethral Cancer ).

Urethral Cancer

Find Out More About Non-Specific Urethritis

Sexually transmitted infections are becoming quite common among sexually active men and women. You can get infected with a sexually transmitted infection through unprotected sexual intercourse or by sharing your sex toys with an infected partner. Non-specific urethritis primarily affects men, but can also affect women. This infection is spread by chlamydia or through damage of the male and female urethra, caused by vigorous sexual intercourse. The name given is because of the fact that the direct cause of this infection is not yet known to us. But nonetheless, this infection can prove to be quite harmful if left treated.

You are more likely to get infected with this STI if you have had unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sexual intercourse with a person who is already infected with a sexually transmitted infection. It can then lead to non-specific urethritis symptoms such as inflammation, pain, redness and swelling of urethra. Apart from the bacterium that causes to chlamydia, the other organisms that can lead to this problem include the human papilloma virus that causes genital warts, herpes simplex virus causing genital herpes and trichomonas vaginalis protozoan that causes trichomoniasis.

What are the symptoms of non-specific male and female urethritis?

Non-specific urethritis usually do not show any symptoms, and even if the symptoms do appear, they are so mild in nature that they are often overlooked. The symptoms that can be experienced by a man include red, raw or sore appearance of the penis, white cloudy discharge from the penis and an urge to urinate frequently. Women can experience such symptoms only when the infection actually reaches the urethra, womb and the fallopian tubes. If the infection does reach these places, then you are likely to experience pain and discomfort. If you are unsure of whether you are infected with non-specific urethritis, you can diagnose it through the non-specific male and female urethritis test kit or by using the full STI screen test.

What are the risks of of this infection?

When left untreated, this problem can lead to serious pelvic inflammatory disease in women. At times, women can also experience other severe health problems such as irregular vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, vomiting, vaginal bleeding between periods and feverish symptoms. Some women can also experience thinning and a permanent blockage of the fallopian tubes, and in rare cases have ectopic pregnancy. It can lead to infections of the testicles in men and in the cervix in women. On leaving non-specific urethritis symptoms untreated, men and women can also suffer the risk of damage to their fertility levels.

How can non-specific urethritis be treated?

Unfortunately for those who are infected with this disease, it can not be completely cured but can be treated with the help of antibiotic medications such as Azithromycin and Doxycycline. You can take a single dosage of Azithromycin for treating this infection. You can also take a bit of a longer treatment by taking Doxycycline, which is required to be taken twice a day for a span of 7 days. Both these medications are equally effective but you are likely to experience certain side effects on taking a single dosage of Azithromycin. It is also recommended that you finish your course even if the symptoms have disappeared before the completion of the treatment.

Non-specific urethritis is a sexually transmitted infection whose direct cause is unknown to us. It is usually spread by chlamydia, another sexually transmitted infection. Read further to learn more about non-specific urethritis.

Non-specific urethritis is a sexually transmitted infection, which is spread by another such infection known as chlamydia. It can also affect a person because of a damaged male and female urethra. Learn more about its symptoms and treatment by reading further.