Urological Cancers

Around 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year. It often happens because harmful things like cigarette smoke can damage the bladder lining.   

The most common symptom is blood in the urine. If you have this see your GP immediately.  

The first step to treatment is finding out what stage your cancer is at. This is usually done with an operation called TURBT to remove the growth from the bladder to see how deep in the bladder wall it is (Day case TURBT (Transurethral Resection of the Bladder Tumour).  You may also have a scan of the rest of the body. 

Treatment for bladder cancer depends on how deep it is in the bladder wall. If it is just inside the bladder it is called intravesical.  

If it involves the lining and muscles of the bladder this is called invasive. This is a serious diagnosis and often you will need both chemotherapy and surgery to treat it. 

Find out more about treatments for bladder cancer: 

• Treatment for bladder cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support
• Action Bladder Cancer UK
• Fight Bladder Cancer 

Treatment for bladder can include surgery. Bristol Urological Institute has the most experienced surgeons in the country who provide robotic surgery for bladder cancer. Robotic assisted surgery allows smaller incisions (cuts), less blood loss, and less anaesthesia needed. This means patients recover far more quickly.

Our consultants Mr Koupparis and Mr Rowe were the first in the country to remove a patient’s bladder due to cancer and reconstruct a new bladder out of bowel using the Da Vinci robotic surgical platform. 

Kidney cancer is also known as renal cancer and is most common in people over 60.  

Find out more about kidney cancer, symptoms, treatment, and recovery:

• Home - Kidney Cancer UK
• Kidney cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support 

Cancer of the penis is quite rare. If you have any symptoms you will need further tests like a biopsy, lymph node aspiration, and scans like a CT scan.  

Once we have the results of your tests, we will work out the right treatment with you. This may be a combination of treatments that could include: 

• Surgery to remove the cancer, and possibly to reconstruct the penis.
• Radiotherapy.
• Chemotherapy.  

Find out more about penile cancer, symptoms, treatment, and recovery: 

• Penile cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support.
• Orchid Fighting Male Cancer 

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Slow-growing prostate cancer is more common and does not always cause symptoms or shorten life. It is often found on a routine blood screening. More aggressive prostate cancer can cause problems urinating (peeing) and can spread to other parts of the body like bones. 

At Bristol Urological Institute we have some of the most experienced prostate cancer specialists in the country. We work with our oncology colleagues and a team of specialist nurses. 

Find out more about treatments you may have for prostate cancer:

• Brachytherapy
• External radiotherapy
• Active surveillance
• High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)
• Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy   

Find out more about prostate cancer, treatments, and support on the websites below:

• Prostate Cancer UK | Prostate Cancer UK
• Prostate cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support
• Prostate cancer - NHS

Testicular cancer is most common in males aged 15-40. The risk of testicular cancer over your lifetime is roughly 1 in 250 (0.4%).

It has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers. More than 90% will be cured.  

Testicular cancer is often suspected if you find a lump. Not all lumps on the testicles are tumours, and not all tumours are malignant (cancerous).  If you find a lump, get it checked by your GP. Find out more about testicle swellings and lumps: Testicle lumps and swellings - NHS.

If your GP suspects your lump is a cancer, they will refer you for scans and blood tests. You may then meet a surgeon at Bristol Urological Institute to discuss removal of the testicle – this is called an orchidectomy.

Some important things to discuss with your surgeon

• Your blood test results (tumour markers) before your operation
• Prosthesis insertion.
• Pre-operative sperm banking.

Most people will have surgery within the next 2 weeks, and you will usually go home on the same day (day case). You will be given all the information you need including when and where to go, and when to stop eating and drinking.

It is usually done under general anaesthetic (you will be asleep). When you wake up you will have a dressing on the wound on your groin. The stitches in the incision (cut) are usually dissolvable so don’t need to be removed.

Find out more about testicular cancer, symptoms, treatment, and recovery:

• Testicular cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support
• Testicular Cancer Charity | It's in the Bag