The risk factors are the same as bladder cancers as they are collectively known as urothelial cancers, and include smoking, exposure to chemical and latex industry, increasing age and a past history of bladder or kidney cancers.
Ureteric cancer (ureteral cancer) is a type of cancer that begins in the inside lining of the tubes (ureters) that connects the kidneys to the bladder, known as urothelial lining, and hence sometimes collectively with bladder cancers are called urothelial cancers.
Ureteric cancer is closely related to bladder cancer. The cells that line the ureters are the same type of cells that line the inside of the bladder. People diagnosed with ureteric cancer have a greatly increased risk of bladder cancer, so further evaluation and investigations need to be done to look for bladder cancer.
Ureteric cancer is very uncommon. It occurs most often in older adults and in people who have previously been treated for bladder cancer as bladder cancer also occurs in the inner lining of the urinary tract.
Ureteric cancer seen on ureteroscopy
Symptoms of ureteric cancer include blood in urine, back pain, pain when urinating, unexplained loss of weight and fatigue.
For this reason, blood in the urine is a very important sign that needs full investigations which include CT scan and cystoscopy (scope into the urinary bladder).
Treatment for ureteric cancer involves surgery. In certain cases, chemotherapy may be recommended.
Surgery is often recommended to remove ureteral cancer. The extent of your surgery will depend on your situation.
For very early-stage ureteric cancer at the lower portion of the ureter, surgery may involve removing only a portion of the ureter. For more-advanced ureteric cancer, it may be necessary to remove the affected ureter and the associated kidney (nephroureterectomy) with a portion of the bladder.
Chemotherapy is sometimes used before surgery to shrink a tumor and make it easier to remove during surgery. Chemotherapy may be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may remain.
In cases of advanced ureteric cancer, chemotherapy may be used to control signs and symptoms of the cancer.
It is very important to have follow up after treatment to look for signs that your cancer has returned. These exams also look for signs of bladder cancer, since people diagnosed with ureteric cancer have an increased risk of bladder cancer.
The tests you will undergo and the schedule of exams will depend on your situation. But expect to see your doctor every few months for the first year and then less frequently after that.
Hematuria (blood in the urine) is a very important symptom. As per current guidelines, if you have blood in the urine, you will have to see a urologist preferably within 2 weeks of onset of the symptoms.
Anyone with hematuria need to be properly evaluated and important causes of hematuria ruled out early.
The evaluation consists of upper tract imaging (CT Urography with contrast) AND cystoscopy (endoscopy of your bladder)
Hematuria (blood in the urine) is a very important symptom. As per current guidelines, if you have blood in the urine, you will have to see a urologist preferably within 2 weeks of onset of the symptoms.
Anyone with hematuria need to be properly evaluated and important causes of hematuria ruled out early.
The evaluation consists of upper tract imaging (CT Urography with contrast) AND cystoscopy (endoscopy of your bladder)
One study found that less than 50% of patients with hematuria diagnosed in a primary care setting were subsequently referred for urologic evaluation.
The underuse of cystoscopy, and the tendency to rely solely on imaging for evaluation, is particularly concerning since the vast majority of cancers diagnosed among persons with hematuria are bladder cancers, optimally detected with cystoscopy