Bladder Cancer

The cancer is present in the inner layer of cells (transitional epithelium) but has not spread to deeper layers.

The cancer grows into the lamina propria or even deeper into the muscle layer. Invasive cancers are more likely to spread in the body.

It begins in the urothelial cells lining the bladder. This usually happens when cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) pass out in the urine.

Squamous cells develop in the bladder lining in response to irritation and inflammation. Over time, these cells may become cancerous.

It begins in the fat or muscle layers of the bladder that make up mucus-secreting glands. It is a rare type of bladder cancer and is likely to spread to other parts of the body.

This tumor often grows toward the center of the bladder without growing into the deeper bladder layers. Very low-grade, non-invasive papillary cancer is sometimes called papillary neoplasm.

Surgery is the most common form of treatment for bladder cancer. There are various forms of surgery that can be used at different stages of bladder cancer.

In this treatment, a type of rigid cystoscope called a resectoscope is placed into the bladder which removes any abnormal tissues or tumors. Any remaining cancer may be treated by fulguration (burning the base of the tumor) using the cystoscope.

When bladder cancer is invasive, all or part of the bladder may need to be removed. There are two types of cystectomy.

• Partial Cystectomy – It removes the part of the bladder wall as well as the nearby lymph nodes.
• Radical Cystectomy – It removes the entire bladder and nearby lymph nodes. In men, the prostate is also removed. In women, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and a small portion of the vagina may be removed.

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by stopping their ability to grow and divide. The patient may receive one drug at a time or a combination of different drugs at the same time.
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to destroy cancer cells. There are two types of radiation treatment – external beam (given from outside the body) and brachytherapy (given using implants).
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses a medication that triggers the immune system to attack and kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy for bladder cancer is usually performed using the Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine (commonly known as BCG).