OVERVIEW
The bladder is the organ that stores and eliminates urine. Bladder tumors can arise from the bladder wall as well as the urethra. Treatment for bladder tumors vary and depend on the grade (low or high) and depth of tumor invasion of the bladder wall. The most common type of bladder cancer is urothelial carcinoma.
Symptoms
You may experience the following common symptoms:
- Blood in the urine
- Lower urinary tract symptoms: urinary frequency, urinary urgency
- Bladder pain
- Difficulty passing your urine
Causes
The biggest risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking as well as environmental exposure to certain chemicals and genetic factors.
Diagnosis/Evaluation
- What to know before your visit:
- During your visit, your doctor will ask you questions regarding your medical history and will perform an exam.
- Other tests that may be performed during or after your visit:
- Urinalysis: This evaluates for any blood in the urine or infection
- Labs: Urine culture and cytology may be obtained. A urine cytology evaluates the urine cells for evidence of cancer on a microscopic level. Blood work to assess kidney function may also be obtained.
- Imaging: This will be either a CT scan or MRI scan depending on your history and kidney function. These tests allow us to evaluate the urinary tract and assess for any spread of disease.
- Cystoscopy: This is a procedure performed in the office where the physician inserts a small scope into the urethra to evaluate the urethra, prostate (for males) and bladder
Treatment
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT
Sometimes small low grade or benign tumors are able to be observed after removal.
SURGICAL TREATMENT
Bladder tumors must be excised to determine the depth of tumor invasion. This is performed through a camera in the operating room without any cuts in the skin. Depending on the tumor stage your doctor may recommend treatments with anticancer agents inside the bladder vs. surveillance. More advanced and aggressive tumors may require chemotherapy/radiation, as well as surgery to remove the entire bladder (radical cystectomy) with a rerouting of the urine (urinary diversion).
Schedule an appointment with a MidLantic Urology physician near you today!