Your bladder is a balloon-shaped organ responsible for storing urine. Cancer of the bladder often begins in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Bladder cancer can occur at any age, but it typically affects older adults.

When diagnosed in an early stage, bladder cancer is highly treatable, yet bladder cancer is prone to reoccur. A bladder cancer survivor will need to undergo follow-up tests to check for the reappearance of cancer. You doctor will evaluate your individual case, but will most likely recommend a screening of the inside of your urethra and bladder every three to six months for the first five years after the occurrence of bladder cancer. At that point, it is still recommended that you undergo an annual cystoscopy.

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

• Blood in the urine
• Darker than normal urine
• Pain when urinating
• Frequent need to urinate
• Back pain
• Abdominal Pain

Stages of Bladder Cancer

• Stage I
  During stage one, the cancer remains in the lining of the bladder and has not progressed inside the muscular wall of the bladder. Early detection during stage one gives a patient the best chance of survival.
• Stage II
  During stage two, your cancer has invaded the bladder wall, yet it has not spread outside the bladder and is still confined.
• Stage III
  During stage three, cancer cells have spread outside the bladder to surrounding tissue. In men, this often means spreading to the prostate, and, in women, it can mean spreading to the uterus or vagina.
• Stage IV
  During stage four, cancer cells have spread far beyond the bladder walls and have invaded the lymph nodes and other vital organs, such as the liver, the lungs, etc.

Treatment Options

• Surgical procedures
• Biological therapy
• Immunotherapy drugs
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

Your treatment options will be determined on an individual basis, depending on what stage your cancer is in when it is detected. Procedures available to you may also be determined by other factors, such as your overall health.

Cystoscopy

A cystoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to look at the inside of the bladder and the urethra using a thin, lighted instrument called a cystoscope.

The cystoscope is inserted into your urethra and slowly advanced into the bladder. Cystoscopy allows your doctor to look at areas of your bladder and urethra that usually do not show up well on X-rays. Tiny surgical instruments can be inserted through the cystoscope that allows your doctor to remove samples of tissue (biopsy) or samples of urine.

Small bladder stones and some small growths can be removed during a cystoscopy. This may eliminate the need for more extensive surgery.