urethral cancer urethral cancer urethral cancer is a rare cancer originating from the urethra. the disease has been classified by the tnm staging system and the world health organization. this article is about cancer of the urethra. for cancer of the ureter, see ureteral cancer. urethral cancermicrograph of a urethral cancer, urothelial cell carcinoma, found on a prostate core biopsy. h&e stain.specialtyoncology urologysymptomsblood in the urine, lump at end of penis, bloody urethral discharge. symptoms include blood in the urine, lump at end of penis, or bloody penile discharge. diagnosis is established by transurethral biopsy. the most common type is papillary urothelial carcinoma. risk factors suggested include prolonged irritations of the urethra due to urinary catheterization, chronic inflammation due to infection, radiation, diverticula of the urethra, and urethral strictures. signs and symptoms symptoms that may be caused by urethral cancer include: blood visible in urine. bloody urethral discharge. weak or interrupted flow of urine. urination occurs often, painful urination, inability to pass urine. a lump or thickness in the perineum or penis. enlarged lymph nodes or pain in the groin or vaginal area. diagnosis diagnosis is established by transurethral biopsy and histological findings. bladder cystoscopy is performed to detect if there is simultaneous bladder cancer. histology types of urethral cancer include the most common type urothelial carcinoma, and others including squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. melanoma and sarcoma are rare. staging the world health organization classification of tumours of the urinary system and male genital organs (4th edn) was published in january 2016. urethral cancer has also been classified by the tnm staging system. tnm classification and 2016 who grading for primary urethral carcinoma t-categorydescription tx primary tumor cannot be assessed t0 no evidence of primary tumor urethra (male and female) ta noninvasive papillary, polypoid, or verrucous carcinoma tis carcinoma in situ t1 tumor invades subepithelial connective tissue t2 tumor invades any of the following: corpus spongiosum, prostate, periurethral muscle t3 tumor invades any of the following: corpus cavernosum, beyond prostatic capsule, anterior vagina, bladder neck (extraprostatic extension) t4 tumor invades other adjacent organs (invasion of the bladder) urothelial (transitional cell) carcinoma of the prostate tis pu carcinoma in situ, involvement of prostatic urethra tis pd carcinoma in situ, involvement of prostatic ducts t1 tumor invades subepithelial connective tissue (for tumors involving prostatic urethra only) t2 tumor invades any of the following: prostatic stroma, corpus spongiosum, periurethral muscle ta noninvasive papillary, polypoid, or verrucous carcinoma t3 tumor invades any of the following: corpus cavernosum, beyond prostatic capsule, bladder neck (extraprostatic extension) t4 tumor invades other adjacent organs (invasion of the bladder or rectum) n—regional lymph nodes nx regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed n0 no regional lymph node metastasis n1 metastasis in a single lymph node n2 metastasis in multiple lymph nodes m—distant metastasis m0 no distant metastasis m1 distant metastasis treatment surgery is the most common treatment for cancer of the urethra. one of the following types of surgery may be done: open excision, electro-resection with flash, laser surgery, cystourethrectomy, cystoprostatectomy, anterior body cavity, or incomplete or basic penectomy surgery. radiation therapy has also been used in some cases. chemotherapy is sometimes used to destroy urethral cancer cells. it is a systemic urethral cancer treatment (i.e., destroys urethral cancer cells throughout the body) that is administered orally or intravenously. medications are often used in combination to destroy urethral cancer that has metastasized. commonly used drugs include cisplatin, vincristine, and methotrexate. side effects include anemia (causing fatigue, weakness), nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores, increased risk for infection, shortness of breath, or excessive bleeding and bruising. epidemiology primary urethral cancer is rare and contributes to less than 1% of all cancers. it is three times more common in men than women and its incidence rises after the age of 75. around half of affected people have locally advanced disease when they first present. 54–65% of cases are of the urothelial carcinoma type. prolonged irritations of the urethra due to urinary catheterization, chronic inflammation due to infection, radiation, diverticula of the urethra, and urethral strictures, may increase the risk of primary urethral cancer. other risk factors include squamous cell carcinoma (scc) and genital lichen sclerosus. prognosis a study of the national cancer database in the united states assessed cases of primary urethral cancer from 2004 to 2013, finding that median survival was 49 months with 5- and 10-year survival rates estimated at 46% and 31% respectively. a study of the rarecare project, aimed at investigating rare cancers in europe, estimated a 5-year relative survival rate of 54% in patients with cancer of the urethra.