Urethral Cancer and Its Symptoms
The urethra is a hollow tube that drains the urine stored in the bladder out of the body. The urethra is 8 inches long in men and runs from the bladder through the prostate to the tip of the penis. In women, the urethra, which is 1.5 inches long, is located just above the vagina.
What is Urethra Cancer?
Urethra cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the urethra. Cancer of the urethra is caused by cancerous (malignant) cells in the tissues lining the urethra, a narrow tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. Urethra cancer is the rarest of all urological cancers. The risk of developing urethral cancer, which is more common in men than in women, is higher in those over the age of 60 and in people with a history of bladder cancer. In addition, frequent urinary tract infections and some sexually transmitted diseases such as HPV (human papillomavirus) increase the risk of urethral cancer by causing chronic inflammation in the urethra. Urethral cancer, which can progress insidiously without any symptoms at first, manifests itself in later periods with blood in the urine, frequent, weak or interrupted urine, discharge from the urethra or lymph nodes developing around the urethra.
Urethral Cancer Symptoms
The presence of blood in the urine, which is among the symptoms of urethral cancer, is among the earliest symptoms. Most of the time, patients do not have difficulty urinating and therefore they may not notice the blood. Frequent urination is also among the symptoms of urethral cancer. At the same time, feeling that the bladder is not completely empty after urination or urination at night can be shown among the symptoms of urethra cancer. Apart from that, the symptoms of urethral cancer are:
- Itching: Itching, which is among the symptoms of urethral cancer, can be seen in the genitals.
- Urinary incontinence: Urinary incontinence is among the symptoms of urethral cancer. In addition to frequent urination, urinary incontinence is also seen as a symptom of urethral cancer.
- Pain during or after sexual intercourse: In such cases, the symptoms should be taken seriously. Pain during or after sexual intercourse is a serious condition in itself, and although it is among the symptoms of urethral cancer, it can also be caused by other reasons.
- Painful urination: Pain during urination or difficult urination during urination are among the symptoms of urethral cancer;
- Recurrent urinary tract infection: Although recurrent urinary tract infection is seen as a symptom of other diseases, it is also among the symptoms of urethra cancer.
- Hardening of the tissues on the urethra or in the penis: This condition, which may be more evident in a physical examination or seen in extra imaging tests, is among the symptoms of urethral cancer and can be seen in advanced stages.
