Genitourinary

Genitourinary cancers on this page include prostate and kidney cancer. Use the modules below to review symptoms, screening guidance, diagnosis, and treatment considerations in one place.

Disease Information

Use the sections below to review diagnosis, staging, and treatment information for each condition in one place.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer that develops in the prostate gland. The prostate sits below the bladder and in front of the rectum and produces fluid that is part of semen. Except for skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the US.

The American Cancer Society estimates 1 in 8 men in the US will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. Most prostate cancers grow slowly. It’s common for men to live with prostate cancer for years and never know it. Some men with prostate cancer never develop symptoms and live a healthy life. When detected early, prostate cancer is often highly treatable, and long-term survival rates are high.

Current PSA Screening Guidelines for Prostate Cancer

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is the most common test to screen for prostate cancer. A PSA test is mainly used to screen for prostate cancer in men without symptoms. It can also be used as the first test after possible symptoms appear. If higher than normal levels of PSA are detected in the blood, then cancer may be present.

While PSA screenings can help detect cancer early, there are also risks associated such as finding and treating cancers that may never have caused problems. For this reason, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends risk and benefit discussions

about baseline PSA screening and Digital Rectal Exams (DRE) for average risk men to begin at age 45 and continue until age 75.

What is a PSA test?

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test measures the blood level of PSA, a protein that is produced by prostate cells. The higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that he has prostate cancer, although there are other reasons why the PSA may be elevated.

What is a digital rectal exam (DRE)?

A check for abnormal lumps on the prostate gland that may indicate cancer. If your doctor feels something suspicious, he or she may order a biopsy.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Some cases of prostate cancer, especially in the early stages, do not cause symptoms, which is why screening is so important. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

Difficulty starting or stopping urination
Weak or slow urine stream
Frequent urination, particularly at night
Pain or burning during urination
Blood in the urine or semen
Painful ejaculation or erectile dysfunction
Pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis (may indicate advanced disease)
Unexplained weight loss or fatigue

Many of these symptoms can also be caused by non-cancerous prostate conditions, but persistent changes should be evaluated by your doctor.

What are risk factors for prostate cancer?

Age – Prostate cancer diagnoses rise significantly after age 50, and over half of all cases are in men age 65 or older.
Family history of prostate cancer – There is an increased risk of prostate cancer when immediate family members have the disease.
Certain inherited genetic mutations (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2)
Race – African-American men and Caribbean men with African ancestry have greater incidence and higher death rates.
Geography – Prostate cancer is more common in North America, Australia, northwestern Europe, and on Caribbean islands.

Other factors that influence prostate cancer risk:

Overweight or obesity
Diet and lifestyle

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

If prostate cancer is suspected, especially after a PSA test, the following tests may be used to confirm a diagnosis and staging (how advanced the cancer is).

Digital rectal exam (DRE) – Your physician will insert a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate for bumps. This is sometimes used as a screening method along with the PSA test.
Transrectal ultrasound – A small, lubricated probe is inserted through the rectum that sends sound waves to the prostate to create images. This is often used after abnormal results from a PSA test or DRE.

Biopsy – This is the only way to confirm if cancer is present. A small sample of the prostate will be removed and examined under a microscope to look for cancerous cells.

Genetic Testing for Prostate Cancer

About 5-10% of prostate cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, your doctor may recommend genetic testing through our Genetic Risk Evaluation and Testing (GREAT) program to see if you have an inherited gene mutation. This can help you understand your risk for developing other cancers, as well as your family’s risk of developing cancer. This can also help your doctor decide on the best course of treatment.

How is prostate cancer treated?

Waiting/active surveillance – Since prostate cancer grows very slowly, sometimes treatment is not recommended right away. Active surveillance may include regular PSA testing, physical exams, and biopsies.
Surgery – This is a common treatment if the cancer has not spread outside the prostate gland. A radical prostatectomy is often done which removes the entire prostate plus surrounding tissue.
Radiation – Radiation therapy uses high-dose X-rays to destroy cancer cells. This is sometimes used for low-grade cancer that has not spread outside the prostate. It can also be used with hormone therapy for cancer that has spread, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Recent advancements in prostate cancer research have led to the development of several new types of radiopharmaceuticals (drugs), such as Pluvicto®, that target and destroy prostate cancer at the cellular level. The radiation is carried inside the body by a drug and can target specific cancer cells, tissues, or biological processes. Virginia Cancer Specialists is proud to offer a leading-edge treatment combining the use of PET scans and Pluvicto® to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive cancer cells in men with prostate cancer that has spread and become resistant to other forms of treatment.

Virginia Cancer Specialists is proud to offer a leading-edge treatment combining the use of PET scans and Pluvicto® to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive cancer cells in men with prostate cancer that has spread and become resistant to other forms of treatment.

What is Pluvicto® (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan)?

Pluvicto® is a prescription used to treat adults with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PSMA-positive mCRPC) already treated with:

hormone therapy and are considered appropriate to delay chemotherapy or
hormone therapy and chemotherapy

Hormone therapy – Drugs with hormone-blocking capabilities are used to treat prostate cancer to reduce the levels of male hormones. This is often used for cancer that has spread too far for radiation or surgery, or if cancer comes back after these treatments.
Chemotherapy – Drugs are administered through an IV or in pill form which enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body to kill cancer cells. This is not common as an early treatment for prostate cancer, but can be used for cancer that has spread if hormone therapy has not worked.
Cryotherapy – Very cold temperatures are used to freeze and kill cancer cells. This is not commonly used as a first treatment, but can be an option if cancer comes back after radiation.

Kidney Cancer

Kidney Cancer

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, is a cancer that forms in tissues of the kidneys—two bean-shaped organs that filter waste from the blood and help regulate fluids and blood pressure. Kidney cancer includes renal cell carcinoma (cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products), the most common type, and renal pelvis carcinoma (cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects). It also includes Wilms tumor, which is a type of kidney cancer that usually develops in children under the age of 5.

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most commonly diagnosed cancers in both men and women in the US.

What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer often has few or no symptoms early on and is frequently discovered incidentally during imaging tests performed for another reason. When detected early, many people can be treated successfully.

As the disease progresses, symptoms can include:

Blood in the urine (pink, red, or cola-colored)
Lower back pain on one side that does not go away
A lump or mass in the side or lower back
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Persistent fever not from an infection
Swelling of the ankles or legs

These symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer, but persistent or unexplained symptoms should be evaluated by your doctor.

What causes kidney cancer?

There are no recommended screening tests for kidney cancer in people who are not at increased risk. Sometimes kidney cancer is detected when imaging tests such as CT scans or MRIs are performed for other illnesses, such as gallbladder disease. For patients with an increased risk of kidney cancer, imaging tests may be recommended to specifically screen for kidney tumors.

Screening Tests for Kidney Cancer

If you are experiencing signs or symptoms indicative of kidney cancer, your doctor may want to do additional testing. These tests may include:

CT scan: Uses x-ray technology to take a closer look at potential cancer.
MRI: May be used to see if cancer has grown into blood vessels or has affected the brain or spinal cord.
Ultrasound: Provides information on whether a mass is malignant or benign.
PET scan: Uses a special camera to capture photos of cancer in the body. The PET scan can be performed in conjunction with a CT scan.

How is kidney cancer prevented?

These prevention activities may help lower your risk of developing kidney cancer.

Quit smoking. Risk level is related to how much a person smokes, so quitting smoking can reduce risk over time.
Maintain a healthy weight. Speak to your doctor about appropriate diet and exercise to maintain your health.
Manage your blood pressure. Take steps to keep your blood pressure low, like eating a low-sodium diet.

Other risk factors include:

Advanced kidney disease: People with advanced kidney disease, particularly those who need to be on dialysis, are at a higher risk.
Gender: Men are about twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Family history: A family history of kidney cancer, especially in siblings, may mean you have a higher risk of developing kidney cancer.

How is kidney cancer treated?

Treatment depends on the type and stage of kidney cancer, overall health, and whether the cancer has spread. Options may include:

Surgery for Kidney Cancer

Surgery is often the primary treatment for localized kidney cancer.

Partial nephrectomy (removal of the tumor while preserving the kidney)
Radical nephrectomy (removal of the entire kidney), when necessary

Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer

Targeted therapy uses drugs that target specific features of cancer cells, and is commonly used for advanced kidney cancer.

Immunotherapy for Kidney Cancer

Some cancers need hormones to grow. Hormone therapy, a form of systemic therapy, helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, and keeps cancer cells from getting or using the hormones they need. It may also be called endocrine or hormonal therapy. Immunotherapy is widely used in advanced or metastatic kidney cancer. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers, such as prostate and breast cancer, synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes a certain hormone. The side effects of hormone therapy depend on the type of therapy. Side effects may include weight gain, hot flashes, nausea, and changes in fertility.

Other Approaches

Ablation techniques for selected small tumors
Radiation therapy may be used to relieve symptoms, though it is not a primary treatment for most kidney cancers

Virginia Cancer Specialists provides multidisciplinary, personalized care for patients with kidney cancer, offering access to medical oncology expertise and modern systemic therapies close to home.

Cancer Treatment Options

Most treatment plans combine several of these approaches. Your Virginia Cancer Specialists care team builds a plan around your specific diagnosis — explore each option below, or browse all treatments & services.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses powerful medicines to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth, and it remains one of the most widely used and effective cancer treatments. It can be given on its own or alongside surgery, radiation, or other therapies.

Given by IV infusion or as pills, in planned cycles with recovery time between
Delivered in our offices by our medical oncology team, close to home
Often used to shrink a tumor before surgery or lower the risk of recurrence after

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses precisely targeted, high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells while sparing nearby healthy tissue. Virginia Cancer Specialists offers advanced, state-of-the-art radiation for a wide range of cancers and select benign conditions.

Painless outpatient treatments that usually take only minutes a day
Planned and delivered with image guidance by our APEx-accredited radiation oncology team
Can be the main treatment, or support surgery and chemotherapy

Surgery to Treat Cancer

Surgery is one of the oldest and most effective treatments for cancer. For many cancers, removing the tumor offers the best chance for a positive outcome, often combined with other therapies before or after the operation.

Used to diagnose, stage, and treat cancer, and to relieve symptoms
Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques when appropriate
Coordinated with your medical and radiation oncologists as one care plan

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy helps your body’s own immune system recognize, target, and destroy cancer cells. Over the past decade it has transformed treatment for many types of cancer.

Works with your immune system rather than attacking cells directly
Usually given by IV infusion in our offices
May be used alone or with chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy focuses on the specific genes, proteins, and other molecular features that help cancer cells grow and survive. By attacking what makes a cancer unique, it can be highly effective with fewer effects on healthy cells.

Guided by biomarker and genomic testing of your cancer
Taken as pills or given by infusion
Often paired with chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or immunotherapy

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy treats cancers that use the body’s natural hormones to grow — most commonly breast and prostate cancers — by lowering hormone levels or blocking their effects.

Usually pills or injections rather than infusions
Can lower the risk of recurrence after surgery or radiation
Managed by your medical oncology team, sometimes over months or years

Specialized Programs

CAR T-Cell Therapy Program — one of the most advanced treatments for certain blood cancers: your own immune cells, re-engineered to fight the disease.

Scalp Cooling — cold-cap therapy that can significantly reduce hair loss during many types of chemotherapy.

Clinical Trials & Research — access to tomorrow’s treatments today through the Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute.

Physicians

Find physicians and care teams who support this specialty area.

Locations

Find Virginia Cancer Specialists locations connected to patient care across the region.

Arlington

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone
571.350.8400

Fax
703.528.0338

Address
1100 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 1600, 3 Ballston Plaza

Arlington, VA 22201

Bristow

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone
571.350.8400

Fax
571.222.2202

Address
9450 Innovation Drive

Manassas, VA 20110

Fair Oaks

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone
571.350.8400

Fax
703.620.0952

Address
3700 Joseph Siewick Drive, Suite 408

Fairfax, VA 22033

Fairfax

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

Phone
571.350.8400

Fax
703.280.9596

Address
8613 Route 29

Fairfax, VA 22031

Our Supportive Cancer Care Team

The Supportive Cancer Care Team works in close partnership with each patient’s primary oncology team to ensure patients receive coordinated, comprehensive, seamless support that complements their current medical treatment. Patients have easy access to a team of compassionate experts – palliative care physicians, pain management specialists, social workers, nutritionists, nurse navigators, clinical coordinators, research coordinators, financial counselors, and many others who provide guidance, education, and emotional support every step of the way.

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Goals of Supportive Cancer Care

Virginia Cancer Specialists’ Supportive Cancer Care Program has 3 key goals:

Hallmarks of Our Supportive Cancer Care Program

While the primary goal is to improve quality of life for the patient and family throughout the treatment process, there are various ways in which this can be accomplished:

Focusing on symptom management, including treating pain, insomnia, anxiety, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems
Fostering open and honest communication
Understanding the patient’s hopes and expectations
Facing the realities of treatment and how it affects one’s life, including finances, employment, and more
Providing support to caregivers and family