Patient education: Bladder cancer (The Basics)

What is bladder cancer? — 

This is when normal cells in the bladder change into abnormal cells and grow out of control (figure 1).

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer? — 

The symptoms can come and go. They include:

●Blood in the urine – This makes urine look pink or red.

●Pain on the sides of the back or above the pubic area

●Problems with urinating – These include pain when urinating, urinating often, or leaking urine.

These symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not bladder cancer. But if you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor or nurse.

Is there a test for bladder cancer? — 

Yes. Doctors can use different types of tests to look for bladder cancer. These include:

●Urine tests – These show what types of cells are in the urine.

●Imaging tests – These create pictures of the inside of the body. Examples include CT and MRI scans. They let the doctor look at the entire urinary tract (figure 1). They can show tumors or other abnormal growths.

●Cystoscopy – The doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube called a "cystoscope" into the urethra. Then, they guide it into the bladder. The cystoscope has a camera on the end and sends pictures of the inside of the body to a computer. The doctor looks at the pictures to see the bladder. They might also take a sample of tissue (called a "biopsy") to look at under a microscope.

How is bladder cancer treated? — 

Treatment depends on the cancer stage and grade. Cancer staging is a way to find out how far a cancer has spread. The cancer grade is based on how the cancer looks under a microscope.

Treatment also depends on your age and your other medical problems.

People with bladder cancer often have 1 or more of these treatments:

●Surgery to remove the cancer – The doctor removes the tumor. In some cases, they might have to remove part or all of the bladder and other nearby organs. This depends on how big your tumor is and how far it has spread.

If your bladder is removed, the doctor will create a new way for urine to leave your body. This can be done in a few different ways (figure 2).

●Medicines – These could include:

•Medicine given directly into the bladder – This is most often used for people with very early bladder cancer that has not spread into the bladder muscle.

•Chemotherapy – These are medicines that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

If you need surgery, you will usually get chemotherapy first. This can shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove.

If the cancer has spread beyond your bladder, you might get chemotherapy after surgery. This can help with symptoms and help you live longer.

•Immunotherapy – These are medicines that work with the body's infection-fighting system to stop cancer from growing.

If the cancer has spread beyond your bladder, you might get immunotherapy after surgery. This can help with symptoms and help you live longer.

•Targeted therapy – These are medicines that "target" cancers with certain characteristics. Your doctor will tell you if targeted therapy is an option for you.

●Radiation therapy – This kills cancer cells. It might be an option for some people instead of surgery. It is often given along with chemotherapy.

What happens after treatment? — 

You will have regular check-ups to see if the cancer comes back. You might need more tests, such as urine tests, cystoscopy, and imaging tests.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Having those symptoms could mean the cancer has come back.

What happens if the cancer comes back or spreads? — 

You might need more treatment. This could include more surgery, medicines, or radiation.

What else should I do? — 

Follow all your doctor's instructions about visits and tests. It's also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment.

Bladder cancer treatment involves making many choices, such as which type of surgery or medicines to have.

Always tell your doctors and nurses how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask:

●What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?

●What are the downsides of this treatment?

●Are there other options besides this treatment?

●What happens if I do not have this treatment?

More on this topic

Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Bladder spasm (The Basics)
Patient education: Urinalysis (The Basics)
Patient education: Cystoscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Retrograde pyelogram (The Basics)
Patient education: Bladder instillation (The Basics)
Patient education: Chemotherapy (The Basics)
Patient education: External beam radiation therapy (The Basics)

Patient education: Bladder cancer diagnosis and staging (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Bladder cancer treatment; non-muscle invasive (superficial) cancer (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Bladder cancer treatment; muscle invasive cancer (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (Beyond the Basics)