Prostate, Kidney and Bladder Cancer Program at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County
When you’re facing any type of urologic cancer – including prostate, bladder, kidney or testicular cancer – you deserve advanced, compassionate care.
At Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County, we offer leading-edge treatments – from minimally invasive surgeries to groundbreaking radiation therapies – delivered by our expert urologic cancer specialists. Additionally, our oncology nurse navigators are always available to answer your questions and support you before, during and after treatment.
Prostate, Kidney and Bladder Cancer Program at Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County
When you’re facing any type of urologic cancer – including prostate, bladder, kidney or testicular cancer – you deserve advanced, compassionate care.
At Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County, we offer leading-edge treatments – from minimally invasive surgeries to groundbreaking radiation therapies – delivered by our expert urologic cancer specialists. Additionally, our oncology nurse navigators are always available to answer your questions and support you before, during and after treatment.
Cancer Conditions We Treat
We focus on treating patients with urologic cancer, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Urologic cancer
Meet Our Expert Cancer Team
At the Providence Orange County Cancer Institute, our multi-disciplinary team is committed to providing expert care to every patient. We work together to deliver a personalized approach to prevention and treatment, supporting you at every stage. With our collaborative expertise, you receive dedicated guidance and compassionate support throughout your journey.
Testing and Diagnostics
Our care team uses many tools to provide a diagnosis and learn which therapies will work best to treat your cancer type based on your individual needs.
A biopsy involves taking a small tissue sample to determine whether cancer cells are present. It’s a common and reliable diagnostic method used to determine the presence of cancer cells.
An FNA biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure where a thin needle is inserted into a sensitive area to withdraw cells that can be tested, helping to provide more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
Genetic tests, also known as genetic screenings, DNA tests or chromosomal tests, can help determine your risk of developing certain cancers, especially if you have a family history of cancer. We offer treatment, management and prevention plans that are personalized to your unique genetic profile.
There are a few common types of prostate cancer screening tests, including a a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a blood draw called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, usually performed together.
- Digital rectal exam (DRE): DRE is a quick physical exam. Combined with the PSA test, DRE is a vital tool for detecting prostate cancer in men without symptoms.
- PSA test: This blood test measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, which can indicate cancer activity. Elevated PSA levels may require further testing.
The PSMA PET/CT scan is an advanced imaging technique that targets PSMA, a protein found in prostate cancer cells. This highly sensitive scan can detect if prostate cancer has spread more accurately than traditional imaging, helping your care team create a precise and personalized treatment plan.
An ultrasound, sometimes called a sonogram, is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses inaudible high-frequency sound waves emitted through the body to create an image of your internal organs on screen. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.
With the ultrasound, your doctor is able to assess blood flow through various vessels and the overall condition of some of your most vital organs, such as the liver, spleen, gallbladder and kidneys.
Services and Treatments
Each treatment plan is unique, personalized to your cancer type and individual needs. Your care team collaborates with you and discusses your treatment plan in detail, which may include a combination of therapies.
Adjuvant chemotherapy is treatment given after your main therapy, often surgery, to help destroy any cancer cells that may still be in the body. The goal is to lower the chance of cancer recurrence.
Hormone therapy is the use of drugs that inhibit the production or block the effect of certain hormones, typically sex hormones, to help control the growth of cancer cells.
Immunotherapy boosts or restores the body’s natural defenses. Cellular therapies, stem cell transplants and biologic therapies use your own cells to fight disease and support recovery.
Molecularly targeted therapy uses drugs – including oral and intravenous (IV) biologics – to target specific molecules that allow cancer to grow. This therapy enables personalized treatment for patients, especially those who carry certain genetic mutations or abnormalities.
You receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy before your main treatment to help improve outcomes. Starting treatment earlier can sometimes shrink a tumor, make surgery less complex or lower the risk of cancer spreading. For some patients, it may also help reduce long-term side effects or lower the risk of complications, especially if lymph nodes are involved.
Radioligand therapy is a targeted therapy used to treat certain types of cancer, like neuroendocrine tumors and advanced prostate cancer. A radioisotope is attached to an antibody and directed to destroy specific cancer cells, offering more precision and control while potentially minimizing side effects.
Autologous stem cell transplant is a procedure where healthy stem cells are taken from a patient's blood or bone marrow and preserved before being treated for cancer. After radiation or chemotherapy, the stem cells are then returned to the patient to replace damaged cells, helping to restore healthy blood production and rebuild the immune system.
This procedure allows larger than usual doses of chemotherapy to be given, which often improves the cancer response to treatment.
Laparoscopic and open ablation refer to surgical procedures where radiation, chemicals, or microwave and laser technologies are used to destroy cancer cells.
The procedures may be done using a laparoscope that’s inserted through a small incision or traditional open surgery.
Open kidney surgery is the surgical removal of all or part of the kidney.
Palliative surgery is surgical intervention that’s designed to help relieve symptoms of incurable diseases. There are many different types of palliative surgeries, most of which are used to remedy discomfort and/or symptoms of serious and chronic conditions like cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and more.
Partial and radical nephrectomy is surgical removal of an entire kidney as well as nearby glands and surrounding tissue.
Radical inguinal orchiectomy is the surgical removal of a testicle.
Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLN) is the surgical removal of groups of lymph nodes in the abdomen to check for the presence of cancer cells, stop cancer from spreading and/or prevent recurrence.
Robotic kidney surgery is an advanced, ultrasound-guided surgery to remove a kidney tumor while minimizing damage to the healthy part of the kidney.
Robotic nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy is a robotic-assisted procedure to remove the prostate gland, surrounding tissues and seminal vesicles while protecting the nerves.
Robotic-assisted surgery gives the surgeon a clear, magnified view of the surgical area, allowing them to use smaller instruments and move with more controlled precision in a minimally invasive fashion. This method results in a less traumatic experience and quicker recovery for the patient.
Transurethral resection (TUR) is a surgical procedure to remove tissue from an enlarged prostate, which may help with urine flow. The surgeon inserts an instrument called a resectoscope into the urethra through the tip of the penis.
Radiation is effective in killing cancer cells and shrinking tumors. It can be used alone or in combination with other cancer treatments.
Image-guided radiation therapy delivers high-dose radiation, guided by imaging, directly to tumors. It provides precise and accurate cancer treatment while preserving healthy tissue and potentially keeping the side effects that you experience to a minimum.
IMRT and VMAT are advanced types of radiation therapies:
- IMRT uses advanced technology to manipulate the radiation beams to conform to the shape of a tumor.
- VMAT is a subtype of IMRT in which the machine actively delivers radiation beams while moving in an arc around the patient.
The arc-based therapy provided via VMAT delivers high doses of radiation to more focused areas, reducing side effects, toxicity and harm to vital organs and the overall treatment time.
Learn more about intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Radiopharmaceuticals (Lu-177) is a radioisotope that is combined with a delivery molecule to specifically target a type of cancer cell in some neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancers. This radiopharmaceutical compound simulates the action of a naturally occurring substance and binds to cancer cells. This interaction slows the growth of cancer cells, working to destroy them using a radioactive particle inside the cell to damage the cancer cells’ DNA.
The elegance of this therapy lies in its ability to bind the medication directly to cancer cells and to apply radiation from inside the cancer cell – thus delivering a potent dose that doesn’t penetrate very far, potentially sparing the surrounding healthy cells.
3DCRT uses 3D planning and CT imaging to better target tumors and cancerous areas and improve the outcome of radiation treatment. It also limits the damage to healthy tissue, potentially decreasing risks like infection and minimizing side effects.
Learn more about three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT)
Additional therapies may also be part of the treatment plan for a small number of patients.
Cryoablation is a procedure that involves directly freezing and killing cancer cells.
During embolization therapy, a substance called an embolic agent is injected through a catheter to block a targeted blood vessel that is supplying blood flow to a tumor. This procedure helps prevent tumors from growing.
High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a minimally invasive treatment that uses ultrasound waves to destroy tumors. The technology allows the beams to directly target a specific area with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues.
Pelvic floor therapy is a type of physical therapy that helps you strengthen and/or relax the pelvic floor muscles, including your bladder, rectum and reproductive system. When the pelvic floor weakens, either through age, pressure, childbirth, cancer treatment, etc., conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse, fistulas, bladder and bowel disorders can occur.
Pelvic floor therapy helps prevent, treat and/or manage symptoms of these conditions.
Sperm banking is a way for patients to preserve their sperm for future use before undergoing treatment that may cause infertility. The healthy sperm cells are frozen and safely stored.
Patient Resources & Support
Get a second opinion from our world-class cancer experts, so that you can make important decisions about your treatment plan and move forward with confidence. Our web page will walk you through the next steps and let you know how to prepare for your appointment.
Are you looking for a clinical trial, either for yourself or a patient? Currently, Providence Cancer Institute of Orange County is involved in over 100 ongoing clinical trials.
We offer comprehensive support services – including oncology nurse navigators, transportation services and financial counseling – to help you and your loved ones throughout your cancer journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your cancer was diagnosed in its early stages and hasn’t spread to other parts of the body, surgery may be all that your care plan requires.
However, surgery can also be accompanied by medical oncology treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy to give you the best chance at a successful outcome.
Radiation may also be recommended to help shrink tumors prior to surgery or following surgery to decrease the likelihood of cancer reoccurring.
Incontinence can be a temporary side effect after certain prostate or urological surgeries, especially a procedure like radical prostatectomy. It’s common to experience some urinary leakage in the weeks or months following surgery as your body heals.
For most patients, this improves over time with pelvic floor exercises and physical therapy. In some cases where incontinence persists, additional treatments may be recommended. Your care team can help manage any urinary issues that you might experience.
Some urologic cancer treatments can affect sexual function, but the impact varies based on the type of cancer, the treatment plan and your overall health.
We understand how deeply personal this is, and your care team will talk openly with you about what to expect. If you experience changes, we’ll offer support through medications, therapies or counseling to help manage any effects and maintain your sexual health during and after treatment.
Your pelvic floor is all the muscles and tissues that support the organs surrounding the base of your pelvis, located at the bottom of your spine. These organs include the bladder and the male reproductive system.
Urologic cancer, and the treatments for urologic cancer, can have a significant impact on your pelvic floor. The impact can lead to symptoms like incontinence, pain and sexual dysfunction.
Although these symptoms might feel embarrassing, they are common. Our care teams want to know if you're experiencing these side effects and are prepared to discuss how pelvic floor therapy can help.
Pelvic floor therapy can help if you're experiencing symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) or seeking specialized care for pelvic health concerns.
By focusing on toning and strengthening weak or damaged muscles, pelvic floor therapy can decrease tissue tightness and sensitivity to help alleviate the painful symptoms that you might be experiencing.
Yes, our support services at Providence include financial navigation to help ease your way through financial concerns and barriers.
Our staff can help you:
- Evaluate insurance health plans to ensure the right choices are made for your care
- Leverage available programs and services, such as co-pay assistance and patient assistance programs to help reduce financial barriers
- Optimize external assistance programs, such as patient financial support programs
Your oncology nurse navigator can refer you to a social worker, who can connect you with financial support as needed.
An oncology nurse navigator is a nurse or registered clinician who personally guides you from diagnosis through survivorship. They are your advocate, here to provide support and reassurance tailored to your needs – whether that's occasional conversations or daily check-ins.
Your navigator can coordinate your appointments, speak directly with your primary care physician, provide support to lower your stress, talk to your loved ones and help you access all the resources that you need.
Many people assume that if you’re joining a clinical trial, other treatment options have failed, but that’s not always the case. Your care team may know of clinical trials that offer promising, innovative therapy options that are best suited to treat your cancer type. Your participation in a clinical trial also offers a way to help others by advancing cancer research. If you’re curious, you don’t need to wait. Ask your care team as many questions as you need to, as soon as you’d like.
We’re proud to offer a variety of clinical trials with the most advanced types of therapies.