Oncourologist

An oncourologist is a highly specialized doctor who identifies and treats malignant and benign tumors of the human urinary system, as well as the male genital organs.

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Who is an oncourologist?

An oncourologist solves the complex problem of treating tumors of the urinary system (kidneys, bladder, urethra) and male genital organs. Minimally invasive endoscopic surgeries are used when possible, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted radiation therapy.

Oncosurgery is very traumatic. But thanks to minimally invasive surgeries, this problem has gradually become a thing of the past.

What surgical interventions does an oncologist perform?

1. Removes the testicle (orchiectomy).
2. Removes the prostate.
3. Removes the bladder.
4. Removes the kidney affected by the tumor.
5. Removes the adrenal gland affected by both benign and malignant tumors.
6. Performs installation of a uro-stent in patients after prostate removal, which allows them to urinate independently.
7. Treats a side effect of radiation therapy - radiation cystitis.

A qualified oncourologist has a full range of treatment methods accepted by international standards.

The main medical problem that oncourologists face is prostate cancer. Every year, 90,000 new cases of this disease are detected in the EU countries. In our country, most patients die within a year. A risk factor for its development is old age. Heredity also plays a certain role. It is recommended to limit animal fats in the diet for prevention. There is also an increased risk of developing prostate cancer in people working in hazardous industries that have contact with cadmium.

Neither prostate cancer nor bladder cancer, previously considered very serious, is a death sentence today. Cancer can be prevented by completely giving up bad habits. Blood in the urine, or more frequent urination than usual, or pain when urinating should not be ignored. These are not always signs of cystitis, sometimes cancer manifests itself this way.

When should you see a urological oncologist?

The specialty of oncourologist is very relevant today. Malignant tumors of the genitourinary system have become widespread even in developed European countries and the USA. The situation here is not very good due to the unfavorable environmental conditions.

The risk of developing prostate cancer increases after age 60. It is more common in black men, and least common in Asians. Warning signs of prostate cancer include: frequent urination, pain during urination, frequent need to get up at night to urinate, pain during ejaculation, and weight loss.

An oncourologist can suspect prostate cancer using a rectal examination. The diagnosis can be confirmed by ultrasound or MRI.

Another insidious disease, bladder cancer, is characterized by blood in the urine. The diagnosis is confirmed by cystoscopy or ultrasound of the bladder in a filled state. Bladder cancer can also be diagnosed by urine analysis. After the tumor or the entire organ is removed, the BCG vaccine is administered to prevent relapses, stimulating the immune system. Immune cells attack the remaining cancer cells and kill them. The cancer does not return. In men, the prostate is removed along with the bladder, and in women, the uterus. The bladder is formed from the intestine. The operation is quite technically complex, so there is another option - the ureter is brought out into the rectum.

What tests should be taken when visiting an oncologist?

An oncourologist will individually draw up an examination plan for you: you may need a blood test for tumor markers, a puncture of the testicle or prostate, cystoscopy, ultrasound, CT, X-ray of the genitourinary system using a contrast agent. A digital rectal examination of the prostate gland, mandatory once a year for all men over 50, has enormous diagnostic value. A special blood test from a vein - PSA - helps to clarify the diagnosis of prostate cancer. On the day before taking this test, you must exclude alcohol and coffee. The test result may be distorted by prostatitis, prostate adenoma, after a recent cystoscopy or prostate massage. Increased PSA test results do not always mean that you have cancer, but they should be a warning sign. Cancer can only be confirmed after an ultrasound or MRI.

What does an oncourologist do?

An oncourologist is a doctor who studies how urogenital system tumors develop and are treated, and prevents these diseases. Oncourology deals with cancer treatment with medications, surgical methods, and radiation.

Oncourology is not a branch of urology, but a separate science. Pirogov also devoted several of his works to this area of medicine. Other famous scientists also developed oncourology: Kosinsky, Fedorov, Kadyan.

Scientists have made particular progress in treating kidney cancer. It is not always necessary to completely remove it. Doctors try to perform organ-preserving surgeries, removing only the tumor. Of course, in the later stages it is necessary to remove the kidney, but if the disease is detected early, the tumor and some surrounding tissue are excised through laparoscopic access. And in the future, such a kidney will serve the patient for many years. Long-term monitoring of the patient and dispensary registration are mandatory. With timely detection, the 15-year survival rate is 85%. Smokers, hypertensive patients, those suffering from obesity and diabetes, people whose relatives have had kidney cancer, people with chronic renal failure and non-oncological kidney diseases, those taking diuretics for a long time, working with varnishes, paints, fertilizers are especially at risk of getting sick. As the tumor grows, complaints of pain in the abdomen or lower back are possible, then tumor metastases to the lungs cause shortness of breath and coughing up blood. Neurological symptoms appear with brain metastases. Loss of appetite, weight, or hemoglobin levels in the blood are possible. Kidney cancer diagnostics always begin with ultrasound. If cancer is suspected, an MRI of the kidneys is prescribed.

In case of kidney cancer, surgical treatment is supplemented by immunotherapy. The patient is then observed by an oncourologist for several years. Every year, blood and urine tests and ultrasound examinations are required. Severe renal failure after removal of one kidney develops very rarely. With one kidney, you cannot take medications for a long time, especially aspirin, paracetamol, you need to monitor your weight, blood pressure and blood sugar levels for life.

Most cancers do not show any symptoms at first! Kidney and bladder cancer is a real threat to artists and chemical industry workers. The peak of kidney and bladder cancer detection is at the age of 50. It can be suspected by the presence of blood in the urine. Unfortunately, bladder cancer often recurs.

The situation is completely different with testicular cancer. It is detected already at the age of 25-30. Testicular cancer is well treated with chemotherapy, so it is often possible to do without surgery at all.

They cope well with genitourinary cancer in Israel, where the prices are lower than in the US, and the quality is the same. But we also have good specialists, for example, at the Kiev Cancer Institute.

An oncourologist also treats prostate cancer. Its symptoms are pain in the perineum and genitals. To confirm the diagnosis, a blood test for tumor markers and a puncture, ultrasound, and MRI are needed.

What diseases does an oncologist treat?

An oncourologist studies the course of urogenital tumors. The urinary organs include the kidneys, ureters and bladder. The male genital organs are also within the competence of this doctor - the testicles and their appendages, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis.

Smoking, obesity, taking estrogens, and working with heavy metals increase the risk of developing kidney cancer.

Testicular cancer often occurs with infertility and congenital malformations of the testicles. Oncologist examinations should be carried out regularly after the age of 55. Men should undergo regular digital rectal examination of the prostate gland.

Also, an oncourologist deals with issues of bladder plastic surgery after its removal, radiofrequency ablation of kidney tumors, chemotherapy and radiation therapy of all types of cancer in urology.

Advice from an oncologist

In the early stages, malignant tumors can always be completely cured. There is no single test that can immediately diagnose cancer. Yes, some forms of cancer can be suspected by the presence of specific proteins in the blood. They are called tumor markers. The problem is that cancer, especially in the early stages, has no symptoms that would allow the patient to accurately say that he or she has cancer. That is why preventive examinations are so important.

The use of vitamins in oncological processes is a rather controversial aspect. For example, antioxidants can prevent damage to cancer cells by radiation therapy. Enteral nutrition may be recommended if the condition is very severe.

Moderate physical activity is safe for cancer patients, reduces the state of asthenia and weakness. If you led a sedentary lifestyle before the disease, start with minimal activity. Walking is useful.

Weakness, neuropathy, and taste changes may persist for months after treatment. People who are obese have an increased risk of cancer recurrence.

In this article, we touched upon the issues of such a complex medical specialization as oncourology. An oncourologist is a specialist who can give you a professional opinion, developing tactics for treating tumors of the genitourinary organs.