Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is relatively common, with over 81,000 diagnoses per year. While it affects men and women, males will make up about 62,000 of those cases and women around 19,000.

Bladder cancer usually begins in the inner lining of the bladder, in special cells called transitional cells. It can also grow in other parts of your urinary tract system including your kidneys, ureters, and urethra.

Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are the strongest risk factors for bladder cancer. Cigarette smokers have a 2-3 times greater risk of developing bladder cancer than nonsmokers.

• Age is another risk factor for bladder cancer. Eighty percent of bladder cancer cases occur in individuals 60 and older. Older men have a 2-3 times higher risk than women.
• Working with toxic chemicals regularly also increases the risk for bladder cancer.

Painless blood in the urine is the most common sign of bladder cancer; however, blood in the urine can also indicate other conditions such as a urinary tract infection, kidney stones, or prostate problems.

If your doctor cannot prove that another condition is causing blood your the urine, he or she will perform tests to confirm or rule out bladder cancer. These tests commonly include a study of your urine to look for cancer cells, a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, and a cystoscopy or an examination of the bladder with a lighted scope passed through the urethra into the bladder.

Treatments

Treatment for bladder cancer depends on its stage and grade. Treatment options may include a combination of:

• Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT): A minimally-invasive procedure in which the tumor and other areas of concern are burned away with a special tool that is inserted through the urethra. This procedure may be used to help diagnose bladder cancer or treat it depending on the stage.
  • Review the TURBT post-operative patient instructions.
• Immunotherapy: Biological therapy drugs are inserted into your bladder through a catheter and held there for a period of time before being excreted. These therapies strengthen your immune system so your body can fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy is often used after a TURBT to prevent recurrences of bladder cancer.
• Chemotherapy: Drugs used to kill cancer cells are given through an IV or inserted directly into the bladder. Chemotherapy may be used after surgery or before surgery to shrink the tumor enough to allow for a less invasive surgery.
  Radiation Therapy: High energy x-rays are used to destroy cancer cells.
• Cystectomy: Surgery to remove a portion (partial cystectomy) or all (radical cystectomy) of the bladder. After removing your bladder, your urologist will construct a new way for urine to leave your body. We offer all forms of urinary diversions including neobladders, continent cutaneous diversions, and ileal conduits. Your urologist will help you select the urinary diversion which will best match your goals and lifestyle.
• Clinical Trials: Urology San Antonio regularly participates in clinical trials for bladder cancer that offer patients access to promising new treatments. View current clinical trials.

CIS or TIS: Very early cancer that grows in the bladder’s inner lining.

Ta: Cancer has started to grow, but has not spread beyond the inner bladder lining.

T1: The cancer is growing into the connective tissue under the inner bladder lining.

T2: The cancer has grown through the connective tissue and into the muscle. This stage may be divided into T2a (superficial muscle) and T2b (deeper muscle).

T3: The cancer has grown through the muscle and into the fat layer. This stage can be divided into T3a (microscopic – can only be seen using a microscope) and T3b (macroscopic – can be seen on tests or felt by a doctor during an examination).

T4: The cancer has spread beyond the bladder. This stage can be divided by T4a (spread to the prostate, uterus, or vagina) and T4b (spread to the wall of the pelvis or abdomen)

Are there any support groups or resources for bladder cancer patients?