What symptoms does bladder cancer present with? In most cases, symptoms of bladder cancer can be treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Patients with aggressive bladder cancer may undergo intravesical chemotherapy, a procedure in which fluid is injected directly into the bladder. This can be done without anaesthesia, making the procedure suitable for outpatient treatment. After the treatment, patients may experience recurrence of the disease in the urethra, ureters, or pyelum. Recurrences typically occur within three years.
The stage of the disease determines the treatment options. There are two main types of bladder cancer: superficial and muscle-invasive. In superficial cancers, the tumour remains on the bladder lining, but in muscle-invasive cancer, the tumours spread to the wall of the bladder. Both types require additional imaging to determine whether the cancer has spread outside the bladder. Invasive cancer spreads to distant organs, and this is why it is crucial to have the right type of treatment for the stage of the cancer.
A surgeon will use advanced techniques to assess the stage of the cancer. Invasive chemotherapy is one method, in which a needle is threaded through the urethra. Intravesical chemotherapy is most commonly used in patients with bladder cancer that is nonmuscle-invasive. It can be administered as one or multiple doses. Immunotherapy is another option, in which the patient’s immune system attacks the cancer. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is used in immunotherapy.
Noninvasive bladder cancer, on the other hand, grows superficially and has no spread outside of the bladder. It is the most common type of bladder cancer, and it is the most commonly diagnosed. However, it is not always lethal and can spread to other parts of the body. Both types of cancer can develop aggressive features. But the latter is more likely to be curable. The key is to know the difference. While most cases of bladder cancer are noninvasive, the disease can spread to nearby organs.
Risk factors for bladder cancer include smoking and occupational exposure to chemicals. A family history of bladder cancer also increases your risk by around 2 times. These factors are not absolutes, however, and it’s important to discuss them with your doctor. It is best to get a medical examination if you suspect you might be developing bladder cancer. In the meantime, try to get plenty of fluids and eat a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. These may help prevent or delay the development of the disease.
Treatments for bladder cancer vary. The FDA has approved a drug called erlotinib as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), which inhibits the growth of cancer cells. It is used for patients with advanced bladder cancer with mutations in FGFR. However, patients with metastatic bladder cancer are at high risk if the disease has a family history of it. And the best way to manage bladder cancer is to seek medical care as soon as possible.
