Common tests & procedures
“There are no perfect guidelines for how quickly surgery should be done after diagnosis of bladder cancer,” says Dana Rice, MD, a board certified urologist and creator of the UTI Tracker mobile app, which helps patients catalogue daily urinary tract symptoms, medication and behavioral patterns, and offers personalized tips for UTI prevention.
How quickly should surgery be done after diagnosis of bladder cancer?
These visits might include urine tests, blood work, and other tests. If you still have your bladder, you will need regular exams of your bladder, too. The time between doctor visits may be longer after a few years if no new cancers are seen.
How often should I see a doctor for bladder cancer?
If no other treatment is given, many people will later get a new bladder cancer, which often will be more advanced. This is more likely to happen if the first cancer is high-grade (fast-growing). Even if the cancer is found to be low grade (slow-growing), a second TURBT is often recommended several weeks later.
What happens if no treatment is given for bladder cancer?
Take care of yourself by adjusting your diet to include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling rested. Talk with other bladder cancer survivors.
How can I Manage my bladder cancer on a daily basis?
How soon should cancer treatment begin?
Cancer treatment should start very soon after diagnosis, but for most cancers, it won't hurt to wait a few weeks to begin treatment. This gives the person with cancer time to talk about all their treatment options with the cancer care team, family, and friends, and then decide what's best for them.
Is bladder cancer treatable if caught early?
Bladder cancer is highly treatable when it is diagnosed in the early stages. The main types of treatments for bladder cancer include: Surgery : Bladder cancer treatment almost always has a surgical component that may be combined with other non-invasive approaches, including those listed below.
What happens after bladder cancer diagnosis?
Right after TURBT you might have some bleeding and pain when you urinate. You can usually go home the same day or the next day and can return to your usual activities within a week or two. Even if the TURBT removes the tumor completely, bladder cancer often comes back (recurs) in other parts of the bladder.
At what stage of bladder cancer is chemotherapy used?
Chemo (with or without radiation) is typically the first treatment when bladder cancer has spread to distant parts of the body (M1). After this treatment the cancer is rechecked. If it looks like it's gone, a boost of radiation to the bladder may be given or cystectomy might be done.
What are the signs that bladder cancer has spread?
The signs and symptoms of bladder cancer that has spread to other parts of the body include:tiredness or weakness.pain when urinating.difficulty urinating or inability to urinate.pain in the lower back on one side of the body.weight loss.swollen feet.bone pain.
What are the odds of beating bladder cancer?
5-year relative survival rates for bladder cancerSEER Stage5-year Relative Survival RateIn situ alone Localized96% 70%Regional38%Distant6%All SEER stages combined77%Mar 1, 2022
Can you live a normal life with bladder cancer?
The general 5-year survival rate for people with bladder cancer is 77%. However, survival rates depend on many factors, including the type and stage of bladder cancer that is diagnosed. The 5-year survival rate of people with bladder cancer that has not spread beyond the inner layer of the bladder wall is 96%.
What is the treatment for stage 1 bladder cancer?
Most commonly, people with high-grade noninvasive (stage Ta), carcinoma in situ (stage Tis), or non-muscle-invasive (stage T1) bladder cancer are treated with TURBT, followed by local intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (or BCG, see “Immunotherapy” in Types of Treatment).
What is the follow up treatment for bladder cancer?
For people treated for bladder cancer, follow-up care typically includes a general physical examination, cystoscopy (if the bladder has not been removed), urine cytology, type of x-rays, and routine blood and urine tests to make sure the bladder is working well and to check for any signs that the cancer has come back.
Are most bladder cancers curable?
The prognosis depends on the following: The stage of the cancer (whether it is superficial or invasive bladder cancer, and whether it has spread to other places in the body). Bladder cancer in the early stages can often be cured. The type of bladder cancer cells and how they look under a microscope.
Can chemo alone cure bladder cancer?
In the study, treatment with chemotherapy and radiation allowed 67% of patients who were still alive to be free of all disease in their bladders -- including superficial cancer -- two years after treatment, compared with 54% of people who received radiation alone.
Is a 5 cm bladder tumor large?
CONCLUSIONS: Larger tumor size (>5 cm) is associated with greater length of stay, reoperation, readmission, and death following TURBT. Patients should be counseled appropriately and likely warrant vigilant observation prior to and following hospital discharge.
How long can you live with stage 1 bladder cancer?
Among people diagnosed with localized bladder cancer (sometimes called Stage 1) in the United State, the average five-year survival rate is around 70%. This five-year survival rate means that on average, around 70 out of 100 people diagnosed at that stage are alive five years after being diagnosed.
Is bladder cancer usually caught early?
Bladder cancer can often be found early because it causes blood in the urine or other urinary symptoms that cause a person to see a health care provider. In most cases, blood in the urine (called hematuria) is the first sign of bladder cancer.
What is the difference between stage 0 and stage 1 bladder cancer?
Stage 0: The cancer has only grown into the center of your bladder. It hasn't spread into the tissues or muscle of your bladder wall itself. It hasn't spread to your lymph nodes or other organs, either. Stage I: The cancer has grown through the inner lining of your bladder, but not the muscle of your bladder wall.
Does bladder cancer ever go away?
This is very common if you've had cancer. For other people, bladder cancer might never go away completely or might come back in another part of the body. Some people may get regular treatment with chemotherapy , immunotherapy, or other treatments to try to keep the cancer in check.
Treating Stage 0 Bladder Cancer
Stage 0 bladder cancer includes non-invasive papillary carcinoma (Ta) and flat non-invasive carcinoma (Tis). In either case, the cancer has not inv...
Treating Stage I Bladder Cancer
Stage I bladder cancers have grown into the connective tissue layer of the bladder wall but have not reached the muscle layer.Transurethral resecti...
Treating Stage II Bladder Cancer
These cancers have invaded the muscle layer of the bladder wall. Transurethral resection (TURBT) is typically the first treatment for these cancers...
Treating Stage III Bladder Cancer
These cancers have reached the outside of the bladder and might have grown into nearby tissues or organs.Transurethral resection (TURBT) is typical...
Treating Stage IV Bladder Cancer
These cancers have reached the abdominal or pelvic wall (T4b tumors) or have spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body. Stage IV ca...
Treating Bladder Cancer That Progresses Or Recurs
If cancer continues to grow during treatment (progresses) or comes back (recurs), your treatment options will depend on where and how much the canc...
How Does The Doctor Know I Have Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer might cause symptoms such as: 1. Having trouble peeing 2. Feeling pain when peeing 3. Needing to go more often than normal 4. Seeing...
Tests to Look For Bladder Cancer
Your doctor may do other tests to find out more about the cancer. Some of them are:X-ray: Dye is put into a vein for a special x-ray of the kidneys...
How Serious Is My Cancer?
If you have bladder cancer, the doctor will want to find out how far it has spread. This is called staging. Your doctor will want to find out the s...
What Kind of Treatment Will I Need?
There’s more than one way to treat bladder cancer. You might want to get a second opinion about the best treatment plan for you. Doctors may have d...
What Will Happen After Treatment?
You will be glad when treatment is over. But it’s hard not to worry about cancer coming back. Even when cancer never comes back, people still worry...
How to remove bladder cancer?
This can be done during a cystoscopy. A a cystoscope with a looped wire on the end is used to remove the tumor. When the cancer is more invasive, the cancer is removed along with part of the bladder or the entire bladder.
Where does bladder cancer start?
Bladder cancer usually starts in the lining or inner layer of the bladder wall. As the cancer grows through the layers of the bladder wall, it becomes harder to treat. The "transitional epithelium" on the picture is the lining layer where most bladder cancers start. Over time they can spread deeper into the other layers.
What is the test for cancer?
Urine tests: For these tests, you'll be asked to pee in a cup. Your urine is then tested for cancer cells, blood, or certain proteins (called tumor markers). Cystoscopy: For this exam, a doctor called a urologist looks at the inside of your bladder using a tool called a cystoscope.
What is the blue light on a cystoscopy?
Blue light cystoscopy: Sometimes, special drugs are put into the bladder during the exam. Cancer cells soak up these drugs and then glow when the doctor shines a blue light through the scope. This can help the doctor see cancer cells that might have been missed with the normal light.
Why do you need a cystoscope?
More than one sample may be taken because sometimes cancer starts in more than one part of the bladder. Salt water washings of the inside of your bladder may also be collected to look for cancer cells.
What is the best test to find out if you have bladder cancer?
Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to make pictures of the organs inside your body, like your bladder and kidneys. It can help show the size of a bladder cancer and if it has spread. Bone scan: A bone scan can help show if bladder cancer has spread to the bones. This test is not done unless you have bone pain.
What tests are done to check for bladder cancer?
This might include a rectal exam, during which a gloved finger is put into your rectum. If you are a woman, a pelvic exam might also be done.
How to diagnose bladder cancer?
Tests and procedures used to diagnose bladder cancer may include: Using a scope to examine the inside of your bladder (cystoscopy). To perform cystoscopy, your doctor inserts a small , narrow tube (cystoscope) through your urethra. The cystoscope has a lens that allows your doctor to see the inside of your urethra and bladder, ...
How to get a follow up on bladder cancer?
Get a schedule of follow-up tests and go to each appointment. When you finish bladder cancer treatment, ask your doctor to create a personalized schedule of follow- up tests. Before each follow-up cystoscopy exam, expect to have some anxiety. You may fear that cancer has come back or worry about the uncomfortable exam.
What is a cystoscope?
Cystoscopy allows your doctor to view your lower urinary tract to look for abnormalities, such as a bladder stone. Surgical tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat certain urinary tract conditions.
How does radiation therapy help bladder cancer?
Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses beams of powerful energy, such as X-rays and protons, to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation therapy for bladder cancer usually is delivered from a machine that moves around your body, directing the energy beams to precise points.
What is a low grade bladder cancer?
Low-grade bladder cancer. This type of cancer has cells that are closer in appearance and organization to normal cells (well differentiated). A low-grade tumor usually grows more slowly and is less likely to invade the muscular wall of the bladder than is a high-grade tumor. High-grade bladder cancer.
What tests can be done to determine if you have bladder cancer?
Tests may include: CT scan.
How is bladder cancer classified?
Bladder cancers are further classified based on how the cancer cells appear when viewed through a microscope. This is known as the grade, and your doctor may describe bladder cancer as either low grade or high grade:
Detection and Diagnosis
Finding cancer early, when it's small and hasn't spread, often allows for more treatment options. Some early cancers may have signs and symptoms that can be noticed, but that's not always the case.
Stages and Outlook (Prognosis)
After a cancer diagnosis, staging provides important information about the extent (amount) of cancer in the body and the likely response to treatment.
Questions to Ask About Bladder Cancer
Here are some questions you can ask your cancer care team to help you better understand your cancer diagnosis and treatment options.
Bladder Cancer Grading
Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose bladder cancer and determine its grade and stage. These include blood tests, imaging tests that look inside the body, and samples of the tumors called a bladder biopsy, usually taken during surgery.
The TNM System of Bladder Cancer Staging
The size of the tumor and whether it has spread are used to ascertain the stage. Cancer staging specifics are determined by guidelines set by the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s system, named the TNM staging system. 2
Stage 0 Bladder Cancer
Stage zero bladder cancers are called noninvasive papillary carcinoma and carcinoma in situ. They’re precancerous lesions that could develop into more serious cancers if not treated. 3
Stage I Bladder Cancer
Stage I bladder cancers are cancerous tumors that have spread from the inner layer of the bladder into the connective tissue layer just under it. 3
Stage II Bladder Cancer
Stage II bladder cancer is also known as muscle-invasive bladder cancer. These tumors have spread into the muscular walls of the bladder. Stage II cancers are more likely to spread to other parts of the body. 3
Stage III Bladder Cancer
Stage III bladder cancers have started to spread away from the bladder itself into either local or regional organs or into lymph nodes in the pelvis. It’s divided into stage IIIA and stage IIIB. 3
Stage IV Bladder Cancer
Stage IV cancer has metastasized or spread to major organs in other parts of the body. This is often called metastatic cancer. About 5% of bladder cancer cases are diagnosed after they’ve already spread to distant organs, according to SEER. 6
What type of doctor treats bladder cancer?
As with radiologists, you may not meet your pathologist. Oncologist (MD) This type of doctor specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Oncologists in Stanford’s Bladder Cancer Program have years of training and experience in bladder cancer care.
What is radiation therapy for bladder cancer?
These cancer specialists have subspecialty training in high-energy X-rays and other radiation therapy. Radiation can destroy or prevent the spread of bladder cancer. Using advanced technologies, radiation oncologists can precisely target cancer cells to minimize damage to nearby healthy tissue.
What is the job of a pathologist for bladder cancer?
Working closely with your oncologist, your pathologist performs and reads laboratory tests to determine the type and stage of cancer present. These doctors have special training to detect and diagnose bladder cancer. They use a microscope to examine tissue samples taken during a biopsy. As with radiologists, you may not meet your pathologist.
How does bladder cancer affect your mobility?
Bladder cancer treatment can affect your strength and mobility. Physical therapists work with you and your family to recover your physical function after treatment, such as improving your: Strength, to allow you to return to normal activities. Sensation, to relieve numbness in treated areas.
What is Stanford's cancer program?
Oncologists in Stanford’s Cancer Program have years of training and experience in cancer care. The treatments we offer include: Surgery to remove all or part of cancer tumors, or all or part of the affected body areas. Radiation therapy using high-energy radiation to destroy or prevent the spread of cancer cells.
Can a surgeon remove bladder cancer?
They also surgically remove cancers and surrounding tissues. If you have non-invasive bladder cancer or if surgical removal of the bladder is part of the treatment plan for your invasive bladder cancer, the surgeon will be your main health care provider, coordinating your treatment among several specialists.
Is Stanford a cancer center?
The Stanford Cancer Center is designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. The cancer teams at these centers use the knowledge they gain from research to treat cancer more effectively. The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of cancer needs to be treated right away?
You have a type of cancer that needs to be treated right away, like some leukemias, lymphomas, and certain other cancers that tend to be aggressive (grow and spread very fast). You have a tumor that's pressing on an organ or other vital part of the body, and treatment is needed to relieve the pressure.
Do you need to make adjustments before starting treatment?
You want more time to get a second opinion. It's important to know each person's case is different.
Can you wait to get lab results back?
You are waiting to get lab results back that will help decide what treatment option is best. You have already had surgery to remove a tumor, and you need time to recover before starting more treatment. You need to make adjustments at home, work, or for child care before starting treatment.
Does cancer need to be started right away?
Does cancer treatment always need to be started right away? Sometimes, it's important to start treatment as quickly as possible, but that's not always the case. Planning cancer treatment can be complex and might take some time, depending on the type and stage of your cancer.
What is the best treatment for bladder cancer?
If you have muscle-invasive bladder cancer, radical cystectomy with urinary reconstruction is your standard of care. Although the doctor's main focus is to treat cancer, it's important for you to address quality of life issues following your surgery.
How does bladder cancer affect your financial health?
You may incur a whole range of expenses along with your treatment costs, but resources are available to help you come up with a financial plan and, if eligible, obtain financial assistance.
Why is it important to have emotional support with bladder cancer?
It's important for you to receive emotional support to help you cope with these feelings and emotions.
Can you keep your personality after cancer?
When struggling with cancer, individuals frequently turn their identity to that of "being sick," becoming a patient rather than a survivor. Just because you have an illness doesn't mean you can't keep your personality and retain the spirit you had before you received your diagnosis. Remember, you're much more than your cancer.
Can you have side effects after chemo?
Having to live with the treatment's side effects is often one of the hardest aspects of dealing with cancer. For instance, you could experience certain side effects during chemotherapy at different points. Or, you could experience side effects after your chemo, and some could be long-lasting. Consult with your doctor about coming up with a complete plan for addressing the problems you experience. Try to make sure the plan suits your lifestyle and needs. Consider the following:
Can bladder cancer affect fertility?
It's always good to know what to expect. If bladder cancer affects your sexuality, you're at least prepared for it and can have a discussion beforehand with your partner and possibly talk with your doctor about certain remedies. If you want to get pregnant, knowing whether or not bladder cancer will affect your fertility is critical. Again, there may be options that can help you.
Is it easy to find out if you have bladder cancer?
Finding out that you have cancer is certainly not easy, and you'll likely have questions. You might not even know what questions to ask or where to begin, but just gaining a better understanding of your bladder cancer diagnosis and your plan of treatment can help you feel more in control and worry less about what lies ahead.
What is the treatment for bladder cancer?
Options for treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy.
What is the first line of treatment for metastatic bladder cancer?
Then, the physician may perform a radical cystectomy to remove cancer that has invaded beyond the bladder wall. Metastatic bladder cancer: Platinum-based chemotherapy is the first line of treatment for this type of bladder cancer.
What is the difference between high grade and low grade bladder cancer?
Low-grade cancers: Less aggressive cancers have a low chance of becoming high grade and do not require aggressive treatments, such as radiation or bladder removal.
How long do people with bladder cancer live?
Overall, 70 to 90 percent of people with localized bladder cancer will live for at least five years or more . The physician calculates this with the help of survival rates. Survival rates indicate the percentage of people who live with a certain type of cancer for a specific time. The physician often uses an overall five-year survival rate.
What is the procedure to remove bladder cancer?
Tumors in the bladder muscle: In case of bladder cancer that has invaded the muscle wall but hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes, the physician recommends radical cystectomy. In this procedure, the physician removes the bladder, nearby lymph nodes and other nearby organs.
Can bladder cancer be preserved?
Only certain patients qualify for this therapy, and the major advantage is that the bladder can be preserved. More extensive tumor: This type of tumor is first reduced in size with radiation and chemotherapy. Then, the physician may perform a radical cystectomy to remove cancer that has invaded beyond the bladder wall.
Is bladder cancer treatable?
Thus, bladder cancer, if detected in the early stage is treatable and has higher survival rates. However, if the cancer is detected in the advanced stages, treatment becomes difficult and the survival rate is low.
Initial Surgery and a Second Surgery for Treatment
Dr. Rice explains, “The initial surgery is a TURBT (transurethral resection of bladder tumor) and +\- random bladder biopsies to look for CIS (carcinoma in situ) which you can’t see with the naked eye.
Bladder Removal
Bladder removal brings to mind lifelong dependency on an external tube and bag that collects urine.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Coping and Support
Preparing For Your Appointment