Articles · Blood in the urine and cancer
What is upper tract urothelial cancer?
It's cancer in the lining of the kidney's drainage system or the ureter, the same type of cell as most bladder cancers.
What it is
It's cancer in the lining of the kidney's drainage system or the ureter, the same type of cell as most bladder cancers.
Signs
Signs include blood in the urine or side pain.
How it is diagnosed
Diagnosis uses CT scans and a scope.
How it may be treated
Treatment may involve laser treatment through a scope or surgery to remove the kidney and ureter.
Next step
If you have blood in the urine, schedule a visit for a full evaluation.
Request an appointment at Advanced Urology.
Questions to bring to your visit
- Which scans and scope tests do I need?
- What would treatment through a scope involve for me?
What happens at your visit with us?
At your first visit, our urologists go over your symptoms, any scans you have had and your urine results. If more detail is needed, they explain the CT scan and the scope exam ahead of time, including what each one is looking for.
When should I call us?
Get in touch if there has been blood in your urine, if a CT mentioned a growth in the kidney or ureter, or if you were treated for bladder cancer before and notice new symptoms. Bring the scan and any prior pathology so our urologists can review them at the Alpharetta / Roswell office. Heavy bleeding, fever or inability to urinate is for emergency care.
How do our urologists approach this?
Our urologists consider the kidney, ureter and bladder together, since they share the same kind of lining. Treatment is planned around the tumor’s size and location and your kidney function, and robotic surgery is one way a kidney and ureter can be removed.
Our urologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners see adults from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Crabapple and Mountain Park at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Related video
To learn how PET/CT imaging is used for kidney and bladder cancers:
Related reading from our team
Related care: bladder cancer care at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Read more from Advanced Urology: Bladder cancer · Blood in urine
For education, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks and benefits. Emergency? Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.