Early symptoms of urothelial cancer

Urethral Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a rare cancer that occurs in the urothelial cells. Its early symptoms are usually not obvious, but as the disease progresses, some characteristic symptoms will appear. The following are early symptoms of urothelial cancer:

1.Frequent urination and difficulty urinating: The early stage of urethral cancer may be characterized by frequent urination or difficulty urinating. Patients may feel the need to urinate frequently, or feel discomfort or pain during urination. This is because tumors gradually grow in the urethra, which may affect the patency of the urethra and cause difficulty in urinating.

2.Urethral bleeding: Another common early symptom of urothelial cancer is urethral bleeding. Patients may see bright red or pink blood in their urine, especially after urinating. This bleeding may sometimes be intermittent, but it may also continue or increase. Bleeding is usually caused by the tumor rupturing or invading surrounding tissue.

3.Lumps or hard lumps in the urethra: Urethrothelial cancer may form lumps or hard lumps near the urethra. Patients may feel the presence of lumps when urinating or touching with their hands. These lumps may form from the tumor itself or be caused by enlarged regional lymph nodes.

4.Urethral stricture or infection: As the tumor develops, the urethra may become narrow, making it difficult to pass urine. A narrow urethra may cause urinary tract infection, which may manifest as painful urination, urgency, fever and other symptoms. Frequent urinary tract infections are also a possible sign of urothelial cancer, especially when traditional antibiotic treatments are not effective.

5.Discomfort or pain in the pelvic area: Although early symptoms of urothelial cancer focus on the urethra itself, as the cancer progresses, the tumor may invade surrounding tissue or organs, such as the bladder or genitals. In this condition, patients may experience persistent discomfort or pain in the pelvic area, which is especially exacerbated during urination or sexual intercourse.

These symptoms may mimic other urinary tract diseases or infections, so early diagnosis of urothelial cancer is important. If relevant symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek medical examination as soon as possible to ensure that the condition is detected in time.

(Click to view an introduction to drugs for the treatment of urothelial cancer.)

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Reference materials:

Mayo Clinic. Urethral cancer.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urethral-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350184