Ureter Cancer Care in New Jersey

You have access to the most advanced imaging technology at Hackensack Meridian Health. Our uroradiologists are radiologists who specialize in diagnosing conditions of the urinary tract, including cancer of the ureter and renal pelvis. Imaging tests may include:

• CT  
• MRI
• CT Urography – CT with contrast dye to outline the structures of the kidneys, ureters and bladder
• Intravenous Pyelogram – series of X-rays taken with contrast dye to outline the structures of the kidneys, ureters and bladder

Digital flexible ureteroscopy is performed in the operating room under anesthesia. The urologist inserts a long, thin, flexible tube with a small video camera into your urethra and passes it through the bladder into the ureters and renal pelvis. This allows the urologist to see the lining of your ureters, identify any tumors, and take some tissue biopsies for testing.

Hackensack Meridian Health offers the advanced flexible scope for patient comfort, with high-resolution imaging for the most accuracy and improved cancer detection. 

Testing your blood and urine can help determine cancer and non-cancerous reasons for your symptoms.

• Urine Cytology: Urine is viewed under a microscope to identify any pre-cancer or cancer cells.
• Urinalysis: Urine is tested for traces of blood and other substances that help diagnose cancer or another condition such as kidney stones or urinary tract infection (UTI). 
• Urine Culture: Bacteria in a urine sample is allowed to grow to determine if a UTI, not cancer, is causing your symptoms.

The kidney and ureter are removed, along with nearby lymph tissue and fat if necessary.

If the tumor is small and cancer hasn’t spread, we can remove the cancer and preserve the ureter and kidney.

Our surgeons have taken robotic surgery one step further by developing a single-port approach, which means all surgical tools and camera are inserted through a single incision. Hackensack University Medical Center was among the first hospitals in the world — and the first in New Jersey — to use the da Vinci SP® single-port robotic surgery system for urologic surgeries.

Compared to traditional surgery, surgery for ureter and renal pelvis cancer with the da Vinci SP® single-port robotic surgery system offers:

• One incision, and less tissue damage
• Increased precision and flexibility for complex surgeries
• Decreased blood loss, reduced need for transfusions, and less risk of infection
• Less pain after surgery
• Smaller external and internal scars
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster recovery and return to normal activities

Holmium laser can be effective in treating cancer if detected early or found only on the surface of the ureter.

The urologist inserts a long, thin, flexible tube with a small video camera called a ureteroscope into your urethra and passes it through the bladder into the ureters and renal pelvis. The laser is emitted through the tube and destroys cancer cells. 

Novel compounds have been shown effective in treating cancer that is found only on the surface of the ureter. Chemotherapy medications such as mitomycin and gemcitabine are installed through a catheter into the kidney, ureter or bladder to treat cancer and prevent recurrence. 

Chemotherapy uses medications to kill cancer cells. Our team of urologists works with medical oncology colleagues at the John Theurer Cancer Center to determine if systemic chemotherapy is appropriate for you. We offer the latest, most promising chemotherapy treatments designed to target ureter cancer, either:

• Chemotherapy prior to surgery, to shrink your tumor or tumors.
• Chemotherapy following surgery, to kill any remaining cancer cells and prevent recurrence.

The most common symptom is blood in the urine (hematuria). Other potential signs include persistent back pain (not related to injury), pain during urination, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue.

If you experience any of those symptoms, visit a urologist who can diagnose the cause and offer a treatment plan.

Diagnosing ureter cancer involves several steps to examine the urinary tract and confirm the presence of cancer cells. A physician may use a combination of tests, including:

• Urinalysis and Urine Cytology: To check for blood and abnormal cells in the urine.
• Imaging Scans: A CT scan or MRI is used to create detailed images of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder to locate any tumors.
• Ureteroscopy: This is a key diagnostic procedure where a doctor inserts a thin, lighted scope into the ureter to see the lining directly and take a tissue sample (biopsy) for analysis.

The urologists at Hackensack Meridian Health treat ureter cancer using the best approach for you. Some of the most common treatment options include:

• Nephro-Ureterectomy
• Segmental Ureterectomy
• Single Port Robotic Kidney Surgery
• Laser Therapy
• Medication
• Chemotherapy

Hackensack Meridian Health offers treatment for ureter cancer at locations across New Jersey — from Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Sussex and Union counties in the north to Middlesex, Monmouth, Burlington and Ocean counties in the central and south. Find a care location now.