Urethral Cancer Introduction

People with urethral cancer now have more treatment choices and more hope for survival than ever before. Doctors keep finding new treatments for urethral cancer and ways to help people with urethral cancer have better lives. We are continually learning more about urethral cancer, its prevention, detection, and treatment. Urethral cancer is a rare type of cancer that starts in the urethra.

Anatomy of the Urethra

The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to an opening on the outside of the body. In women, the urethra is about 1-1/2 inches long, reaching from the bladder to an opening above the vagina. In men, the urethra is about 8 inches long. It passes through the prostate and the penis to an opening on the glans, or the tip of the penis.

Click to Enlarge - Bladder and urethra of a male (left) and female (right)