Urethral Cancer

Advanced treatment for urethral cancer in San Diego

A calm middle-aged woman at the beach represents the full life that can be led after urethral cancer treatment.

Advanced treatment for urethral cancer in San Diego

Scripps Cancer Center oncologists treat urethral cancer with expertise and the most advanced treatment options. Most urethral tumors are treated with surgery, and Scripps physicians provide a range of surgical options including minimally invasive surgery and laser surgery.


Our cancer teams personalize treatment to eliminate cancer while maintaining your quality of life. Our multidisciplinary, collaborative board of cancer specialists reviews complex care plans to ensure patients receive the best possible care from diagnosis to recovery.

Treatment options at Scripps

Urethral cancer is a rare form of genitourinary cancer that starts in the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder. It can affect women and men.


A urethral cancer treatment plan may include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Your Scripps cancer care team will customize your treatment plan based on several factors, including:


  • The location and stage of your cancer
  • Whether your cancer has spread
  • Your age and overall health

Urethral cancer surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment for urethral cancer. Depending on the extent of the cancer, Scripps physicians may use several surgical procedures for urethral cancer treatment. These include:


  • Open surgery to remove the cancerous tumors.
  • Transurethral resection to remove the cancer using a small tool inserted into the urethra.
  • Electrosection with fulguration, which uses high-energy electricity to destroy cancer.
  • Laser surgery, which uses laser beams instead of surgical knives to remove cancer cells.
  • Cystourethrectomy, which is the surgical removal of the urethra and bladder.
  • Cystoprostatectomy, which is the surgical removal of the prostate and bladder.
  • Lymph node removal in the pelvic and groin area.
  • Anterior exenteration, which is the surgical removal of the urethra, bladder and vagina.
  • Penectomy, which is the partial removal of the penis or the entire removal of the penis (radical penectomy).
  • Urinary diversion, which is a procedure where surgeons create a new route for urine to be passed from the body, in cases when the urethra and/or bladder have been surgically removed.
  • Reconstructive surgery may be needed if the vagina or penis is removed. Should you need reconstructive surgery after your treatment, Scripps plastic surgeons have restored function and confidence to many patients.  

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy may be part of a urethral cancer treatment plan before surgery to shrink the tumor, or after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells. It also may be combined with chemotherapy. Scripps provides the most advanced radiation treatments for urethral cancer, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). An advanced form of radiation therapy, IMRT allows the radiation oncologist to specify the dose of radiation for the tumor while restricting the dose to surrounding healthy tissues.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy drugs may be used alone or in combination with other treatments to treat urethral cancer.

Treatment locations

Scripps diagnoses and treats urethral cancer at numerous locations throughout San Diego County. From Chula Vista and La Jolla to Encinitas and beyond, our extensive network of Southern California cancer care centers includes:


  • Four Scripps hospitals on five campuses
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Specialty cancer treatment centers


For details on specific centers and their services, visit cancer care locations.

Support groups, services and resources

As leaders in cancer care, we know what it takes to fight a winning battle. That’s why we equip our patients with the support and resources necessary to achieve their best possible outcome. From connecting you with support groups and services to empowering you with the latest resources and research, Scripps helps you along every step of your cancer journey.

Urethral cancer support groups

In support of our patients, survivors, their family members and the community, we host a handful of cancer support groups as well as a range of free workshops and health and wellness events on a number of topics such as:


  • Nutrition
  • Expressive writing
  • Yoga
  • Meditation


Check the current list of support offerings or contact your oncology social worker or cancer care coordinator.


For info about other cancer support groups in the San Diego community, call the American Cancer Society at 800-227-2345.

Support services for cancer patients

We are here for you — not only as your oncologists, but as a robust multidisciplinary team of experts who understands that your cancer journey is about much more than your medical treatment. Specifically, Scripps Cancer Center offers a variety of patient support services to ensure your physical, psychological and emotional well-being as well as resources for dealing with the logistical and financial aspects of cancer care. Our services and resources include:


  • Oncology nurses and nurse navigators with extensive clinical expertise in cancer care to help guide you and your caregivers to make informed decisions and ensure your optimal care.
  • Palliative care to provide an extra layer of supportive care to manage pain and relieve symptoms, offer emotional and spiritual support, and improve your quality of life. 
  • Oncology social workers specially trained to provide counseling, connect you with community and medical resources, assist with transportation and housing and coordinate care after discharge.
  • Our registered dietitian nutritionists offer individualized nutrition support for patients whose efforts to optimize their nutrition may be affected by cancer symptoms or treatment side effects.
  • Referrals and professional care from experts in psychology, psychiatry and emotional health, including individual and family counseling to help with the emotional challenges of cancer.
  • Physical rehabilitation and occupational therapy services, including wound care, voice therapy and swallowing therapy, lymphedema therapy, balance and vestibular rehabilitation, yoga and more.
  • Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine for patients interested in mind-body healing through acupuncture, biofeedback, herbal nutrition, massage therapy, integrative cancer care and more.
  • Nondenominational spiritual care offered by our chaplains to help coordinate spiritual care with your own clergy, rabbi or spiritual advisor.
  • Visiting patient services if you reside beyond San Diego and want help arranging appointments or learning more about short-term lodging.


For the full spectrum of offerings, please visit our cancer patient support services section.