Genitourinary Cancer

A team approach for your care

The healthcare team at the St. Vincent’s Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care incorporates a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancers of the genitourinary system (GU system).

Our multidisciplinary team of urologic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists work closely with your primary care physician to coordinate your care and keep you safe. 

Genitourinary system includes cancers of the:

• Renal Pelvis/Ureter
• Urinary Bladder
• Urethra
• Adrenal

• Penis 
• Prostate
• Testis
• Kidney

Facts about GU cancer

The genitourinary system is the organ system that produces, stores, and eliminates urine. It includes two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder and the urethra.  The prostate is a gland located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum.  The function of the prostate is to store and secrete fluid that usually constitutes about 30% of the fluid from semen and although not involved in urine production, it is categorized within the GU system or male reproductive system.

It is estimated that nearly 217,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the US (15% of all new cancer cases) and 32,000 will die from the disease.  Kidney cancer accounts for 58,000 cases with 13,000 deaths per year and bladder cancer accounts for 70,000 cases and 15,000 deaths annually. Cancers of the remaining sub-sites are rare.

Prostate cancer is generally a disease of older men.  The median age at diagnosis is 67.  The cause of prostate cancer is unknown.  People who smoke are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as people who are non-smokers. The risk of GU cancers increase with age.

Treating GU cancers at St. Vincent’s

Our comprehensive care approach to treating patients with genitourinary cancers addresses the medical as well as the psychological needs of cancer patients and their families. From diagnosis to treatment to support services and survivorship, our team of physicians, nurses, technicians, therapists and support staff work collaboratively to determine individualized treatment options leading to the most optimal results for the patient.

For those patients with prostate cancer, the Urologist is often the first point of contact and the physician that will diagnose the disease.  A patient is usually referred to an Urologist after having been told that their PSA (prostate specific antigen) or blood test has become elevated or if the primary care physician has noted a change in the digital rectal exam or DRE. 

Furthermore, the Urologist is on the forefront of PSA screening and can provide patients with the appropriate education and knowledge they need prior to proceeding with an invasive procedure referred to as a biopsy to determine in there is cancer inside the prostate gland.

The Urologist serves as a the facilitator of treatment and will ensure that patients receive input from the other related specialties such as Radiology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology prior to any definitive treatment choice. 

For those patients that require surgical resection or removal of the prostate gland as treatment of their cancer, it is the Urologist who will perform this complex procedure.  At the Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care, we have Urologists that are familiar and proficient in the latest surgical techniques for prostate removal including robotic surgery.  Our physicians have the necessary skill, training, and expertise to provide optimal patient outcomes.

For those patients treated with a non-surgical approach such as surveillance or a form of radiation therapy, the Urologist continues to manage and guide patients through their particular treatment and assist in optimizing quality of life issues. The Urologist is clearly a leader in the fight against prostate cancer.

A combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is commonly used to treat cancers of the genitourinary system.  Each patient’s individual needs are assessed by our multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists to determine which combination of treatment options is most appropriate. 

Complex cancer cases are often reviewed at our weekly Tumor Conference attended by physicians and staff from different disciplines ensuring the most thorough assessment of these cases.

Our Prostate Cancer Institute (PCI) provides screening, educational materials and support services for men with prostate cancer and offers screening according to the guidelines as outlined by the American Cancer Society.

At St. Vincent’s, patients are assessed on an individualized basis for specialized treatments including minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, image guided radiation therapy (IGRT),  intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT),  personalized chemotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery or SRS utilizing the Novalis Tx platform. 

Patients receiving chemotherapy may receive treatment in our ambulatory infusion center where they will find a warm, healing environment with state-of-the-art medical equipment and experienced, certified oncology nurses.

A guiding hand - when you need one

At St. Vincent’s Medical Center, our prostate cancer nurse navigator is there to help guide patients through the diagnosis, treatment and survivorship of genitourinary cancer.

You will always be treated with compassion and with the philosophy of treating the whole person – mind, body and spirit – not just the cancer. Compassionate care is our mission.

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care is accredited with commendation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.  

Criteria for accreditation include a relationship with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and a representative from the ACS is a member of our Hospital Committee on Cancer.

Click in for additional information about specific cancers listed by ACS, and call the Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care's referral line: 1-877-231-SWIM (7946) for more informaton.

Contact us

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To speak with a St. Vincent's Care Line representative, call (877) 255-7847

To speak with somone at the front desk of the Medical Center, please call (203) 576-6000

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