Can my pregnant daughter, 24, get chemo for Hodgkin lymphoma?

Question

Hi doctor,

This might sound weird, but I am asking about prostate cancer because I am a 43-year-old woman and recently found out that women can actually have prostate-like tissue that can develop cancer. My gynecologist found some unusual cells during my pap smear, and when they did more testing, they said it is similar to prostate cancer, but in the female urethra. never heard of this before, and it is really confusing because everything online talks about prostate cancer in men.

The urologist wants to do more biopsies, but said this type of cancer in women is really rare. My PSA level came back at 2.8, which they said is high for a woman. been having trouble with urination - burning and frequent trips to the bathroom, especially at night. Also, some bleeding after sex, which is what made me see a doctor in the first place. They mentioned this might be connected to hormone changes since I went through early menopause at age 40.

I am really scared because I do not understand how women can get prostate cancer and what treatment options exist. Has anyone ever dealt with female prostate cancer before? Are the treatments the same as for men?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

What you are describing is rare but real, and I can understand how unsettling it must feel. Women do not have a prostate gland like men, but they do have Skene’s glands, also called the paraurethral glands, which are located near the urethra and are often referred to as the female prostate because they produce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and share some structural and functional similarities with the male prostate.

In extremely rare cases, these glands can develop cancer, and that is why your PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is elevated, and your doctors are comparing it to prostate cancer in men. Because female prostate or Skene’s gland carcinoma is so uncommon, there is less research and no standardized treatment pathway, but management often parallels that of similar cancers in men or in the urinary tract.

Treatment may include surgery to remove the affected tissue, radiation therapy, and, in some cases, hormone therapy, especially since hormone changes around menopause can influence the growth of these tissues. Chemotherapy is considered in advanced cases. The urinary symptoms you are experiencing, such as burning, frequency, and bleeding, are typical of cancers in this location and reinforce the importance of further biopsies to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.