BLADDER CANCER TREATMENT

Bladder cancer is diagnosed after a physician conducts a thorough medical examination as well as history. Then the patient will be referred to another medical practitioner who is an expert on diseases and infections and who will be able to give a comprehensive bladder cancer treatment. The urologist will then perform a series of tests, starting with cystoscopy.

The urologist passes a lighted fiber-optic tube (known as a cystoscope) through the urinary tract (urethra) to have a look at the bladder. Then a urine sample will be taken, and cytology, as well as brush biopsy, will be carried out. The urologist is expected to perform another two-handed (bimanual) examination to ascertain whether the bladder is fixed or mobile as well as if there is the presence of cancerous tissue. The treatment of cancer is dependent on if the tumor is malignant or not.

A series of test to determine the stage of malignancy of the tumor and to search for carcinogenic cells and infections will be performed. The tests carried out include: urine and blood studies, chest X-rays, a CT scan of the belly and pelvis. A bone scan could also be for to check the extent of the bladder cancer.

Stages of Bladder Cancer

The following are the stages that indicate the extent of bladder cancer:

TX: means the primary tumor cannot be accessed

T0: shows lack of evidence of a primary tumor

Stage Oa: This is an indication to denote non-intrusive papillary cancer

Stage 0: This stage signifies the existence of the early stages of bladder cancer which has just affected the inner lining of the bladder and is referred to as non-invasive.

Stage 1: At this stage, the bladder cancer has sunk deeper into the lining of the bladder, but is yet to affect its muscle wall.

Stage 2: The bladder cancer has been designated as invasive at this time since it has begun to affect the inner parts of the muscles of the bladder.

Stage 3: At this juncture, the bladder cancer must have spread through and beyond the muscle walls of the bladder and begun to have a debilitating effect on the tissues around the reproductive organs or bladder.

Cancer bladder treatment options for Stages 1 & 2 of Bladder Cancer

The following sets of treatments are recommended for the treatment of Stages 1 & 2 of bladder cancer respectively:

a. Drastic removal of cyst via medical operation

b. A combination of chemotherapy and radical cystectomy

c. External-beam radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy

d. Sectional cystectomy (this is to be performed for carefully chosen patients).

e. Partial surgical removal with fulguration (this is also to be performed for designated patients)

The universal treatments of invasive cancer are radiation therapy and radical cystectomy. At present, there is no evidence to show how effective radiation therapy or surgery is, as revealed from a case study of trials of bladder cancer treatment.