Bladder Cancer

What is bladder cancer?

Like all forms of cancer, bladder cancer is characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled cell growth. It usually begins in the cells lining the interior of your bladder, which is the small, hollow, muscular organ that stores urine.

If bladder cancer is not caught in the early stages and effectively treated, it can spread to nearby tissues and organs. If cancer spreads to your lymph nodes or distant areas of your body, your treatment becomes more complicated.

What causes bladder cancer?

Researchers are uncertain of the exact cause of bladder cancer, but some known risk factors increase your chances of developing bladder cancer. These include:

• Age of 55 and above
• Family history of bladder cancer
• Smoking
• Some diabetes medications
• Working with or near certain chemicals
• Chronic bladder infection
• Previous chemotherapy or radiation
  
  

Men are more likely than women to develop bladder cancer, and white men have a higher risk than people of color.

What happens if I am diagnosed with bladder cancer?

You and your doctor have several options when it comes to treating bladder cancer. Your treatment depends on the stage of your cancer and your personal preferences.

Surgery is one option. A transurethral resection is an approach that threads a thin tube through your urethra to remove existing tumors or abnormal cells. Another option is called a cystectomy, which involves surgically removing part or all of your bladder and potentially some of the nearby lymph nodes.

Another treatment option is called intravesical therapy and works by injecting liquid medication directly into your bladder. That medication might be a form of immunotherapy, which works by introducing a germ into your bladder to prompt your natural immune response. The medication might also be a form of chemotherapy, which works by destroying cancer cells.

Radiation is also an option. This treatment uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and can be performed on its own or in conjunction with other treatments.

Receiving a diagnosis of bladder cancer can be overwhelming, but there are ways to treat the condition effectively. That process begins by calling Spokane Urology to set up an appointment. Online booking is also an option and can be done from your home any time of day or night.