What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer refers to a form of cancer that generally begins with cancer-afflicted cells originating in your bladder. Your bladder is the organ located in your lower abdomen responsible for storing urine.
Several different types of cells in your bladder can become cancerous. Diagnosing what type of bladder cancer you have and where it originated helps the team at Metro Renal Associates determine which treatments may be most effective. Different types of bladder cancer include:
Urothelial carcinoma
This type of bladder cancer occurs in the cells lining the inside of your bladder, which are called urothelial cells. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer in the United States.
Squamous cell carcinoma
This form of bladder cancer is associated with chronic irritation of the bladder, generally from an infection or long-term use of a urinary catheter. It's more common in parts of the world rife with a parasitic infection called schistosomiasis, which causes bladder infections.
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma begins in cells that make up the mucus-secreting glands of your bladder. This type of bladder cancer is rare in the United States.
What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
Despite there being different forms of bladder cancer, many of the signs and symptoms overlap, including:
- Blood in your urine
- Painful urination
- Pelvic pain
- Mass in your bladder
Symptoms like back pain and frequent urination can also be signs of bladder cancer, but they’re also often indicators of other health conditions. The most common bladder cancer symptom, and the one that warrants a checkup right away, is blood in your urine.
How is bladder cancer treated?
When dealing with bladder cancer, early detection is critical. Catching it early on provides the team at Metro Renal Associates with more potentially effective treatment options. They may recommend several different treatment options, including:
- Surgery to get rid of cancerous tissue
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Immunotherapy
Unfortunately, if you have bladder cancer, even an early diagnosis and ensuing treatment may not prevent recurrence. That’s why a key part of bladder cancer treatment is ongoing monitoring and follow-up tests to ensure the cancer doesn't return and surprise you.
To find out more about bladder cancer treatment options, call Metro Renal Associates or schedule an appointment online today.
