Can Females Get Prostate Cancer or a Similar Cancer?

Females do not have a prostate gland and therefore cannot develop prostate cancer in the usual medical sense. However, small glands near the urethra, called Skene’s glands, are sometimes described as the female equivalent of the prostate and can very rarely develop cancer.

Can females get prostate cancer?

No. Females do not have a prostate gland, so they cannot get prostate cancer as it is diagnosed in males and in other people who have a prostate. The prostate is a small gland below the bladder that surrounds part of the urethra and produces fluid that contributes to semen.

Some female anatomy includes small glands around the urethra called Skene’s glands, also known as paraurethral glands. These glands have developmental and biological similarities to prostate tissue and may produce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in small amounts. Cancer arising in these glands is extremely rare and is not usually called standard prostate cancer.

A person may also hear the phrase “female prostate” used informally when discussing Skene’s glands. This can be confusing. A doctor will identify the exact organ and cell type involved, because diagnosis, staging, and treatment are based on where a cancer began rather than on an informal anatomical comparison.

Rare cancers that may affect Skene’s glands

Skene’s gland cancers are rare cancers of tissue beside the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body. They may be classified as periurethral, paraurethral, urethral, or Skene’s gland cancers depending on their location and microscopic features. Some may show markers that are also found in prostate tissue, including PSA.

Because these cancers are uncommon, symptoms are much more likely to have another explanation, such as a urinary tract infection, a cyst, irritation, vaginal dryness, a urethral diverticulum, or another gynecological condition. Even so, persistent or unusual symptoms deserve a clinical assessment.

Possible symptoms can include difficulty passing urine, pain or burning during urination, recurrent urinary infections, blood in the urine, bleeding from the urethra, a lump near the urethral opening, or ongoing pelvic pain. These signs do not confirm cancer, but they help guide the need for examination and testing.

• New blood in urine should be assessed promptly.
• A growing lump, unexplained bleeding, or difficulty emptying the bladder warrants medical review.
• Urinary symptoms that do not improve after appropriate treatment should be reassessed.

How diagnosis is made

A clinician will begin with a discussion of symptoms, medical history, and any previous urinary, gynecological, or cancer conditions. Examination may include a pelvic examination and assessment of the urethral area. Depending on the concern, care may involve a gynecologist, urologist, urogynecologist, or cancer specialist.

Tests may include urine testing to look for infection or blood, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or cystoscopy, which uses a narrow camera to inspect the bladder and urethra. If a suspicious mass is found, a biopsy is generally needed to confirm whether cancer is present and identify its cell type.

Pathology testing is particularly important when a tumor appears near Skene’s glands or the urethra. The laboratory may use specialized staining and other tests to distinguish among possible cancer types. If cancer is confirmed, imaging may be used to determine whether it remains local or has spread, helping the team plan care.

Treatment and outlook for rare paraurethral cancers

Treatment for cancer involving Skene’s glands or nearby urethral tissue is individualized. The plan depends on the exact diagnosis, tumor size and location, whether lymph nodes or distant organs are involved, previous treatments, general health, and the person’s preferences.

For a small, localized tumor, surgery may be considered to remove the cancer while preserving urinary and sexual function where possible. Radiation therapy may be used instead of, or alongside, surgery in selected situations. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone-based treatment, or targeted medicines may be considered for particular cancer types or more advanced disease, guided by the pathology results.

Because these tumors are rare, care is often best coordinated by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in urology, gynecologic oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, radiology, and pathology. Acıbadem Health Point’s multidisciplinary specialists and JCI-accredited hospitals can assess and treat complex urological and cancer conditions for international patients.

Outlook varies widely. A cancer found early and confined to its original site may have more treatment options than cancer that has spread. A treating specialist can explain the individual outlook using the tumor’s stage, grade, biology, response to treatment, and overall health rather than relying on general comparisons.

Can stage 2 prostate cancer be cured?

For people who have a prostate, stage 2 prostate cancer is generally confined to the prostate gland but may be larger, involve more of the gland, or have higher-risk features than stage 1 disease. Many stage 2 cancers can be treated with curative intent, meaning treatment aims to eliminate the cancer and prevent it from returning.

Common options may include surgery to remove the prostate, radiation therapy, or carefully selected active surveillance for some lower-risk cancers. The best option depends on PSA level, biopsy grade group, imaging findings, age, other health conditions, urinary and sexual function concerns, and individual preferences.

Doctors cannot promise a cure for any individual, because cancer behavior differs from person to person. However, localized prostate cancer often has favorable treatment outcomes, and follow-up PSA testing helps monitor for any evidence of recurrence. More information about prostate cancer can help patients understand the usual evaluation and treatment pathway.

Which lymph nodes does prostate cancer spread to first?

When prostate cancer spreads through lymphatic channels, it commonly reaches lymph nodes in the pelvis first. These can include obturator, internal iliac, external iliac, and presacral lymph nodes. The precise pattern is not identical for every person, and cancer may involve different pelvic node groups depending on tumor location and extent.

More extensive disease can spread to lymph nodes higher in the pelvis or abdomen, including common iliac and para-aortic nodes. Prostate cancer can also spread through the bloodstream, most commonly to bone, and less often to other organs. Modern imaging, including MRI, CT, bone scanning, and prostate-specific PET imaging where appropriate, can help assess spread.

Finding cancer in lymph nodes affects staging and treatment planning, but it does not automatically mean there are no effective treatment options. Doctors may recommend combinations of radiation, hormone therapy, and other systemic treatments depending on the individual situation.

What stage of prostate cancer requires hormone treatment?

Hormone treatment, also called androgen deprivation therapy, lowers or blocks the effect of male sex hormones that can stimulate many prostate cancers. It is not required for every stage. Some people with low-risk localized cancer may have active surveillance, surgery, or radiation without hormone therapy.

Hormone treatment is commonly used for higher-risk localized disease together with radiation therapy, for locally advanced cancer, for cancer involving lymph nodes, and for metastatic prostate cancer. It may also be used when cancer returns after initial treatment. The duration and type of treatment depend on the stage, risk category, treatment goal, and response over time.

Possible effects include hot flushes, tiredness, changes in sexual function, mood changes, bone thinning, weight changes, and metabolic effects. Doctors monitor these risks and may recommend measures to protect bone, heart, and general health. In appropriate cases, prostate cancer treatment may combine hormone therapy with radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, or newer medicines.

When to seek medical care

Medical care should be sought for blood in the urine, unexplained bleeding from the urethra, a new lump near the urethral or vaginal opening, persistent pelvic pain, repeated urinary infections, or a continuing change in urine flow. These symptoms are often caused by non-cancerous conditions, but assessment can identify the cause and guide appropriate treatment.

Urgent medical attention is appropriate for an inability to pass urine, severe pain with fever or chills, heavy bleeding, or symptoms of serious illness. A clinician can determine whether urgent testing or referral is needed.

People with a prostate should discuss prostate cancer screening and any new urinary symptoms with a clinician, particularly if they have a strong family history of prostate, breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or related cancers. Screening decisions should reflect age, personal risk, health status, and the potential benefits and limitations of PSA testing.

Frequently asked questions