If you have bladder cancer, the good news is that this type of cancer can almost always be cured with proper treatment. The key is diagnosing and treating cancer in its early stages, as the cancer is harder to treat once it has spread to other areas of the body. According to the American Cancer Society, 5-year survival rates for stage II bladder cancer is roughly 63-percent, while stage III patients have a survival expectancy of approximately 46-percent. As mentioned, later stage bladder cancer is more difficult to treat if it spreads, with stage IV bladder cancer patients survival expectancy at only 15-percent. Common treatment options for bladder cancer include: Intravesical therapy A common treatment for early-stage bladder cancer, intravesical therapy involves a catheter injection of either immunotherapy (which boost the immune system to attack cancer cells), or chemotherapy medication directly into the bladder to directly target and kill cancerous cells. Radiation therapy Radiation is often compared to getting a really potent x-ray. These ongoing treatments employ a powerful form of radiation that eradicates cancer cells. Cystectomy surgery Cystectomy is a form of surgery used to remove cancerous areas in the bladder—either partially (in what’s called a partial cystectomy) or more extensively to remove the entire bladder and any nearby lymph nodes (referred to as a radical cystectomy) and the nearby lymph nodes.

Diagnosing bladder cancer can be a long and frustrating process. This is because many of the symptoms present in early stage bladder cancer (i.e., blood in urine, pain, and frequent urination) are also common to other conditions (i.e., UTIs or bladder stones). In order to make a proper bladder cancer diagnosis, your physician or a specialist will need to conduct a physical exam (including taking a thorough patient health history) and several tests in order to rule out or diagnose bladder cancer, to find out what stage of bladder cancer the patient is in, and to plan a proper bladder cancer treatment plan. The diagnosis of bladder cancer may vary by a specialist, however, the following exams and tests are conducted commonly, and in the order in which they are listed: Physical exam and health history An examination of your symptoms will often start with a personal health history, in which your physician asks about your family history of bladder cancer – if you’re a smoker if you’ve had chemotherapy or radiation to your pelvis, frequency of bladder infections, and if you’ve been exposed to certain chemicals. A physical exam will look for symptoms of bladder cancer, including enlarged lymph nodes (in the neck, abdomen, and groin) and swelling in the liver.

Like many forms of cancer, the symptoms of bladder cancer can mimic other forms of cancer and bladder conditions. According to the American Cancer Society, blood in the urine (or hematuria) is one of the most prevalent and early signs of this form of cancer. The blood may cause discolored pink, orange, or even dark red urine, and it may exist in the early stages without any other pain or symptoms. However, hematuria should prompt an immediate visit to a doctor. The following signs and symptoms of bladder cancer may exist alone or be accompanied by more than one telltale symptom: Blood in urine Blood in urine, or hematuria, often occurs in the earlier stages of bladder cancer. This is actually the most prevalent symptom of bladder cancer, present in an average of 9 out of 10 patients. The urine may be tinged in color (i.e., pink, orange, or red) or it may contain trace amounts of blood or blood clots. Even if the blood disappears for a few days or weeks, patients with bladder cancer will have reappearing hematuria. However, keep in mind that blood in urine can also be present if the patient has benign kidney disease, a kidney infection, or kidney or bladder stones.

Medical professionals look for a number of risk factors when diagnosing any serious health condition or disease. To diagnose bladder cancer or any type of cancer, a doctor will examine the patient’s complete personal health history (i.e., family history of the disease, lifestyle factors, age, gender, etc.) to determine if a risk of bladder cancer exists. Even if you have one or several risk factors for bladder cancer, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop the disease. The same is true for patients with no risks; they can still develop bladder cancer. Also, there are certain risk factors for bladder cancer that you can and cannot change. However, a knowledge of the following risk factors can help you make certain lifestyle choices (i.e., quit smoking) to decrease your chances of developing bladder cancer during your lifetime. Bladder cancer risks beyond your control include: History of chemotherapy or radiation Patients who have a history of radiation treatments, particularly directed at the pelvis, have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Individuals who have undergone long-term chemotherapy treatments with the drug cyclophosphamide (or Cytoxan) are prone to bladder irritation and considered an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer affects the bladder – which is the hollow organ that connects to the kidneys, is responsible for collecting and storing urine, and is located in the lower pelvis (or abdominal region). According to the Mayo Clinic, bladder cancer is one of the more prevalent types of cancer, striking roughly 68,000 American adults. Although bladder cancer can develop at any age, it’s about 3 to 4 times more likely in older male patients. How does Bladder Cancer develop? Cancer of the bladder most typically develops in the cells that line the inner walls of the bladder, which are referred to as the urothelial cells. Bladder cancer occurs when cells grow abnormally (or undergo a malignant change) and multiply into a mass of cancerous cells (or a malignant tumor); which can spread, or metastasize, in adjacent areas of the body or via the lymphatic system (tissue fluid circulation), and also via the bloodstream where they can become destructive in other bodily organs (i.e., the lungs). Luckily, most cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed within the early stage, which means they’re very treatable. What are the 3 most common forms of Bladder Cancer? Urothelial carcinoma The most prevalent type of bladder cancer (roughly 90-percent of all bladder cancers in America) is urothelial carcinoma; which strikes the transitional cells of the urothelium, or innermost lining of the bladder wall, causing abnormal cell growth.