Cancer

Medical advances are made every day

At Aurora BayCare, urologist specialists remain at the forefront in urinary tract cancer treatment and care.

Urinary tract cancer is cancer in any part of the urinary tract, including the bladder, kidneys, urethra, testes, prostate. Urinary tract cancer treatment options vary depending on the type and stage of cancer, and your overall health.

We have the experience you want in your urologist.  At Aurora BayCare, we’ve been performing robotic-assisted surgery since 2008. Aurora BayCare urologists perform more robotic-assisted urinary tract cancer surgeries that any other health care system in the state of Wisconsin.

And, at Aurora BayCare, you receive treatment from a group of specialists working together to provide team-focused care.  With our multidisciplinary approach, you have access to an entire team of specialists, including urologist specialists, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, genetic counselors and cancer care coordinators, working together to help you beat urinary tract cancer.

At Aurora BayCare, you have many options, non-surgical and surgical, minimally invasive to traditional, for managing your urinary tract health.

Surgical Options for Treating Urinary Tract Cancer

Surgical intervention for urinary tract cancers fall into four general categories:

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer among men in the U.S. Studies show that one in six men develop prostate cancer.  Early detection of prostate cancer is best, when the likelihood of treatment success is greatest.  To be proactive, if you are at high risk for developing prostate cancer, you should have your first prostate test at 40. If you have no known risk, have your first test at 45.

Aurora BayCare urological specialists and cancer experts use diagnostic tools that provide the greatest accuracy, including digital exams, a prostate-specific antigen test, and ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.

We offer advanced surgical treatments for prostate cancer, including nerve-sparing prostatectomy, radical prostatectomy, and robotic surgery.  We also offer CyberKnife radiosurgery, external beam radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, and internal radiation therapy.

Kidney Cancer

At Aurora BayCare we offer the most advanced kidney cancer treatments available today. 

Depending on the size of your tumor, your doctor may recommend a partial nephrectomy, a surgical treatment performed using either minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic-assisted surgery.  Used to help preserve your kidney’s function, only the cancerous part of your kidney is removed.

The most common kidney cancer surgery is the radical nephrectomy, in which your entire kidney is removed.  This can be accomplished with robotic-assistance, or by more conventional means, via an open incision in your side.

Nonsurgical Treatments for Kidney Cancer

If you’re diagnosed with kidney cancer, you also may be a candidate for innovative nonsurgical medical therapies to address your condition. Advances in medical technology, surgical procedures and treatment options give you hope by improving your outcomes and allowing you to maintain a normal lifestyle.

Nonsurgical treatments for kidney cancer include:

Bladder Cancer

There are three types of surgical procedures available to treat bladder cancer, including:

  • Transurethral bladder tumor resection – a flexible tube-like instrument called a cystoscope is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to remove the tumor
  • Partial cystectomy – the tumor and part of the bladder is removed through an open abdominal incision
  • Radical cystectomy—the tumor, the entire bladder, and surrounding lymph nodes and neighboring organs are removed
  • Factors such as your health, the size of your tumor, the stage of your condition, and how many tumors are present in the bladder will be taken into consideration in planning a course of treatment. 

Transurethral Bladder Tumor Resection

Transurethral bladder tumor resection is a minimally invasive surgical treatment typically used to treat very early forms of bladder cancer.  Instruments used in this surgery are passed through the urethra and into the bladder.  A cystoscope helps your doctor see the inside of the bladder to locate the tumor. The tumor may be removed through burning, laser, cutting, or by the application of chemicals that destroy the tumor.

Our urology specialists also offer bladder reconstruction.

Testicular Cancer

While testicular cancer is rare, it is most common in men ages 15 to 40. Cure rates for testicular cancer are high.

Treatment for testicular cancer depends on the type and stage of your tumor, as well as your age and overall health.  If the tumor is found early, before it has spread, it may only be necessary to remove the affected testicle.  In some cases, radiation and chemotherapy may be recommended.

Just as it is important for women to do regular breast self-exams, it is important that men conduct regular testicular self-exams to find possible tumors early, to minimize the extent of treatment needed and to maximize treatment.