Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer develops when cells in the bladder begin to grow abnormally. Rather than grow and divide in an orderly way, these cells develop mutations that cause them to grow out of control and not die. These abnormal cells form a tumor.
Bladder cancer is a cancer that starts in the bladder. The bladder is the body part that holds and releases urine. It is in the center of the lower belly area.
Causes of Bladder Cancer
- Smoking and other tobacco use
- Exposure to chemicals, especially working in a job that requires exposure to chemicals
- Past radiation exposure
- Chronic irritation of the lining of the bladder
- Parasitic infections, especially in people who are from or have traveled to certain areas outside the United States
Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in the urine
- Bone pain or tenderness if the cancer spreads to the bone
- Fatigue
- Painful urination
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary urgency
- Urine leakage (incontinence)
- Weight loss
Types of Bladder Cancer
- Urothelial carcinoma previously called transitional cell carcinoma, occurs in the cells that line the inside of the bladder.
- Squamous cell carcinoma is associated with chronic irritation of the bladder, for instance from an infection or from long-term use of a urinary catheter.
- Adenocarcinoma begins in cells that make up mucus-secreting glands in the bladder.
Treatments for Bladder Cancer
Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the severity of your symptoms, and your overall health.
- CHEMOTHERAPY
- BCG IMMUNOTHERAPY:Bladder cancers are often treated with immunotherapy. In this treatment, a medication triggers your immune system to attack and kill the cancer cells. Immunotherapy for bladder cancer is usually performed using the Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine (commonly known as BCG). A medicine called Interferon is sometimes used. It is given through a Foley catheter directly into the bladder. If BCG does not work, patients may receive interferon.
Surgery for bladder cancer includes:
Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the severity of your symptoms, and your overall health.
- Transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB):Transurethral resection (TUR) of the bladder is a surgical procedure that is used both to diagnose bladder cancer and to remove cancerous tissue from the bladder.
- Radical cystectomy: Many people with stage II or III bladder cancer may need to have their bladder removed (radical cystectomy).
- Ileal conduit: A small urine reservoir is surgically created from a short piece of your small intestine
- Continent urinary reservoir:A pouch to collect urine is created inside your body using a piece of your intestine.
- Orthotopic Neobladder: This surgery is becoming more common in patients who had their bladder removed.