Understanding Bladder Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Bladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the bladder.
The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower part of the abdomen. It is shaped like a small balloon that can get larger or smaller to store urine made by the kidneys.
There are three types of tumors that begin in the cells that line the bladder: transitional cell carcinoma, which is the most common type, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.
Like most cancer types, bladder cancer is divided into stages, according to how much it has spread out of the bladder into the rest of your body.

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Signs & symptoms

Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine that causes it to turn pink or red and pain during urination.
These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by bladder cancer or by other conditions.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. The following tests will be done next:
-Urine test- to check for any abnormalities and the presence of cancerous cells in your urine.
-Cystoscopy- a thin tube with a camera will be inserted into your urethra (where the pee leaves the body) in order to look at your bladder and search for any abnormal areas. If the doctor finds a suspicious area, he might take a sample of the tissue (biopsy) so it can be viewed under a microscope.
-Imaging test such as CT scan, or X-RAY

Treatment

There are different types of treatment for patients with bladder cancer. The treatment depends on the type of cancer, its stage and your general health.
-Surgery- this is usually how bladder cancer is treated. There are surgeries in which only the tumor is removed, and the bladder remains in place. This surgery is done using a cystoscope. Sometimes larger surgery is needed in which part of the bladder or the entire bladder comes out.
-Medicine- different medicine are used depending on the extent of the cancer.
-Radiation therapy- high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation used to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital