Editor’s Note: With the aging population and changes in lifestyle in China, the incidence of urologic cancers has been steadily increasing. Oncology Frontier – UroStream invited Professor Gang Zhu from Beijing United Family Hospital to discuss prevention strategies and personalized medical care in urologic oncology. Drawing from clinical practice, he emphasized the importance of early screening and diagnosis, as well as the unique features of international-standard medical services. Question: Could you introduce the key features and advantages of Beijing United Family Hospital in urology and andrology care?
Professor Gang Zhu: I’m very pleased to introduce the characteristics of the Department of Urology at Beijing United Family Hospital. Since I joined full-time in 2015, the department has gradually developed in a standardized manner. After more than a decade of development, we have established a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment system covering urolithiasis, andrology, and urologic oncology.
We always align with international standards and adopt advanced medical concepts to provide full-spectrum care.
Compared with public hospitals, our key advantage lies in personalized care. We strictly follow a consultation model of 40 minutes for first visits and 20 minutes for follow-ups, ensuring sufficient communication with each patient.
For example, one patient referred from a well-known hospital came with complete medical records but said that due to heavy workload, his previous doctor could not fully explain his condition. Here, I carefully reviewed his pathology report and explained the disease and treatment options in detail. He felt this kind of consultation experience was significantly better.
We prioritize safety and quality while also focusing on patient experience. Under an international healthcare model, we provide a comfortable environment—private consultation rooms and single-patient hospital rooms ensure privacy and comfort. Most importantly, we invest more time in each patient to deliver thorough and attentive care. This is our guiding philosophy.
Question: Could you describe the trends in urologic cancers in China and how early screening is changing diagnostic strategies?
Professor Gang Zhu: This is a very important question. Overall, the spectrum of urologic cancers in China is similar to that worldwide. The most common are prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and kidney cancer. Rare tumors such as urethral cancer are uncommon, and penile cancer incidence is decreasing, likely due to improved living conditions.
Testicular cancer is relatively rare in China. Among the major urologic cancers, prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers are all among the top ten cancers in men, with prostate cancer ranking first.
However, the situation in China differs from many other countries. Globally, prostate cancer ranks first in incidence among men, but in China it is currently ranked sixth. I believe this does not reflect the true situation, because many patients are diagnosed at advanced or metastatic stages. This highlights the urgent need to improve awareness of early screening and diagnosis.
Prostate cancer screening is actually simple—it only requires a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Over 95% of prostate cancers are adenocarcinomas that produce PSA, leading to elevated levels. Following standardized diagnostic pathways, clinicians can detect the disease early.
With early detection and timely treatment, both 5-year and 10-year survival rates improve significantly. Shanghai has achieved excellent results, with 5-year survival exceeding 83%, leading the country. We hope other regions can strengthen early screening efforts. With current technologies and accumulated clinical experience, Chinese urologists are fully capable of effectively treating prostate cancer.
Bladder cancer is strongly associated with smoking. Smokers have an 8–20 times higher risk compared to non-smokers. Therefore, smoking cessation is crucial—not only for lung cancer prevention but also for reducing bladder cancer and other urothelial cancers, as well as kidney cancer risk.
Another important warning sign is painless hematuria—sudden blood in the urine without pain. This should be taken seriously, and patients should seek medical attention immediately. Early diagnosis allows effective control and favorable outcomes.
For kidney cancer, I strongly recommend regular health check-ups, especially ultrasound examinations. Ultrasound is affordable and highly effective for detecting early kidney tumors.
When detected early, we now prefer organ-preserving treatments. Robotic and laparoscopic surgeries allow tumor removal while preserving kidney function and achieving good disease control.
So people should not avoid medical check-ups out of fear. Early detection leads to excellent chances of cure while preserving organ function.
Professor Gang Zhu
