What is Bladder Cancer Treatment?

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.

The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower pelvis. It has flexible, muscular walls that can stretch to hold urine and squeeze to send it out of the body. The bladder’s main job is to store urine. Urine is liquid waste made by the 2 kidneys and then carried to the bladder through 2 tubes called ureters. When you urinate, the muscles in the bladder contract, and urine is forced out of the bladder through a tube called the urethra.

Types of bladder cancer

Urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma): Urothelial carcinoma, also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), is by far the most common type of bladder cancer. These cancers start in the urothelial cells that line the inside of the bladder.

Squamous cell carcinoma: Only about 1% to 2% of bladder cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Seen with a microscope, the cells look much like the flat cells that are found on the surface of the skin. Nearly all squamous cell carcinomas of the bladder are invasive.

Adenocarcinoma: Only about 1% of bladder cancers are adenocarcinomas. These cancer cells have a lot in common with gland-forming cells of colon cancers . Nearly all adenocarcinomas of the bladder are invasive.

Small cell carcinoma: Less than 1% of bladder cancers are small-cell carcinomas. They start in nerve-like cells called neuroendocrine cells. These cancers often grow quickly and usually need to be treated with chemotherapy like that used for small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Sarcoma: Sarcomas start in the muscle cells of the bladder, but they are very rare.

What are symptoms of bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include:

Bladder Cancer Treatment Options

Treatment options for bladder cancer depend on a number of factors, including the type of cancer, grade of the cancer and stage of the cancer, which are taken into consideration along with your overall health and your treatment preferences.

Bladder cancer treatment may include:

Surgery, to remove the cancer cells. Approaches to bladder cancer surgery might include:

• Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT): TURBT is a procedure to diagnose bladder cancer and to remove cancers confined to the inner layers of the bladder – those that aren’t yet muscle-invasive cancers.
• Cystectomy: Cystectomy is surgery to remove all or part of the bladder.
• Neobladder reconstruction: After a radical cystectomy, your surgeon must create a new way for urine to leave your body (urinary diversion). One option for urinary diversion is neobladder reconstruction.

How is Bladder Cancer Treatment done?

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT)

During the procedure, a surgeon passes an electric wire loop through a cystoscope and into the bladder. The electric current in the wire is used to cut away or burn away the cancer. Alternatively, a high-energy laser may be used.

Cystectomy

During a partial cystectomy, your surgeon removes only the portion of the bladder that contains a single cancerous tumor. A radical cystectomy is an operation to remove the entire bladder and the surrounding lymph nodes.

Radical cystectomy can be performed through an incision on the lower portion of the belly or with multiple small incisions using robotic surgery. During robotic surgery, the surgeon sits at a nearby console and uses hand controls to precisely move robotic surgical instruments.

What is the Recovery after Bladder Cancer Treatment like?

You may need to stay in the hospital for up to five or six days after surgery. This time is required so that your body can recover from the surgery. During the first six to eight weeks after surgery, you may need to restrict activities such as lifting, driving, bathing, and going back to work or school. You’ll gradually regain your strength, and your energy level should increase.

Ask your doctor when it’s safe to resume sexual activities. You should wait about six weeks before sexual intercourse to allow proper healing to take place.

What Results Can I Expect from Bladder Cancer Treatment?

The results are gratifying after the surgery and the treatment. Cystectomy has the potential for a big impact on quality of life, but even so, you can still lead a pretty normal life after cystectomy surgery.