Information and support

UCARE aims to provide information and education about urological cancers.

What is urological cancer?
What are the symptoms?
Further information and support

What is urological cancer?

Urological cancer is cancer that affects the kidney, bladder, prostate, testicles or penis.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms below can be caused by conditions other than cancer. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should see your GP who may refer you for further investigation.

Kidney cancer

Kidney cancer does not always cause symptoms, but if there are symptoms they can include:

Blood in the urine
Pain
A swelling or lump in the area of the kidney
Fevers and night sweats
Tiredness
Unexplained weight loss
Generally feeling unwell

Bladder cancer

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine but there can also be:

muscle spasms in the bladder
a burning pain when passing urine - this could also be a symptom of a non-cancerous bladder infection, which is easily treated with antibiotics

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 20 to 34. It is important for men to be aware of the disease so that they can recognise the symptoms. If caught early there is a 96-100% chance of a full recovery.

Possible signs of testicular cancer include:

A painless lump or swelling in either testicle
Change in how the testicle feels
Dull ache in the lower abdomen or the groin (area where the thigh meets the abdomen)
Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum

Self Examination:

Carry out a fast and simple self-examination which can help you find cancer early. The best time to give your testicles a check-up is after a warm bath or shower once a month, so you can detect any changes in your testicles and get them sorted out as soon as possible!

Place your thumbs on top of your testicle. Put your index and middle fingers under the testicle.
Roll the testicle between the thumbs and fingers.
Feel for any lumps, about the size of a pea.
If you find a lump, see your doctor as soon as possible

Prostate cancer

1 in 11 men will suffer from prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually affects men 50 years and over it is rare in men under 50 but not unheard of. The prostate gland is located just under the bladder, and is about the size and shape of a walnut. The prostate secretes a fluid that contributes 20-30 percent of the total volume of seminal fluid.

It is unclear what causes prostate cancer but it is thought that people who have diets high in animal fats and milk products may have a higher risk of prostate cancer than those with diets which are high in green vegetables which may be protective. In its early stages prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. But when they do occur they may include:

Difficulty in urinating
Delays in urinating
Stopping and starting urinating
A weak stream of urine
Urinating more often than usual
Blood in urine
Pain and stiffness in the lower back and hips

If you have any of the above symptoms it is important that you have them checked by your doctor. But remember, most enlargements of the prostate are not cancer.

Your doctor will examine you. As the rectum (back passage) is close to the prostate gland, your doctor can feel for any abnormalities in the prostate by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum. This may be uncomfortable but should not be painful.

You may be offered a blood test: sample of blood is taken to check for PSA (prostate-specific antigen). PSA is a protein produced by the prostate and a small amount is normally found in the blood. Men with cancer of the prostate tend to have more PSA in their blood.

Download Prostate cancer information leaflet (pdf file)

Cancer of the penis

The first signs of cancer of the penis are usually changes in the skin, either:

Thickening or lump
Growths/sores/ulcers

If you have any of the symptoms outlined above, you should not be embarrassed – don't delay discussing it with your Occupational Health Department or GP.