If you've been diagnosed with bladder cancer or are worried about it, you
likely have a lot of questions.
What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer starts when cells that make up the urinary bladder start
to grow out of control. As more cancer cells develop, they can form a
tumor and, with time, spread to other parts of the body.
Most bladder cancers start in the innermost lining of the bladder, which
is called the urothelium or transitional epithelium. As the cancer grows
into or through the other layers in the bladder wall, it has a higher
stage, becomes more advanced, and can be harder to treat.
Over time, the cancer might grow outside the bladder and into nearby structures.
It might spread to nearby lymph nodes, or to other parts of the body.
When bladder cancer spreads, it tends to go to distant lymph nodes, the
bones, the lungs, or the liver.
What are signs and symptoms of bladder cancer?
Early symptoms of bladder cancer:
Blood in your urine
Bloody urine is often the first sign of bladder cancer. The color of urine
may be pink or deep red, depending on the amount of blood. There may be
clots of blood in the urine
Change in your urinary habits (i.e., increase urinary frequency and urgency)
Learning the basics is a good place to start and the Urology Team at West
Jefferson Medical Center is here to help you navigate those questions
and next steps.
Treatment options for bladder cancer
Treatment options for bladder cancer depend on many factors—including
the stage and type of cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.
Most treatment plans include a combination of treatments, but the vast
majority of of treatments for bladder cancer are managed through a minimally
invasive scope that is inserted into the bladder, where the tumor is then
scraped out.
Here are some other possible treatments for bladder cancer:
Surgery: The most common treatment for bladder cancer is surgery. Bladder cancer
surgery involves removing just the tumor or the entire bladder (called
a radical cystectomy). Sometimes, the surgeon also does a urinary diversion
procedure, which creates a new way for urine to leave the body.
Chemotherapy: With chemo, a combination of drugs helps kill cancer cells. You may get
chemo before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to get rid of
any remaining cancer cells.
Radiation therapy: Radiation can help kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may help with
bladder cancer that is in the muscle layer of the bladder or is more advanced.
Intravesical therapy: With this treatment, a catheter delivers drugs directly to the bladder.
You may get this treatment after surgery to lower the risk of cancer coming
back or to treat early-stage bladder cancer.
To find the best treatment for you, you should work with a provider experienced
in treating bladder cancer. At West Jefferson Medical Center,
our urology team has you covered.
