Bladder Cancer

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Bladder cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the 10th most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. Bladder cancer is most common in older adults - less than one percent of cases occur in people under 40. Bladder cancer that is limited to just the inner lining of the bladder is called superficial and is the easiest form of bladder cancer to treat. About 75 percent of all bladder cancers are detected at this early stage, and the survival rate is greater than 90 percent. Treatment becomes more difficult and the survival rate decreases if the cancer has spread beyond the bladder's inner lining. Surgical removal of the bladder (radical cystectomy) is the most effective treatment for bladder cancer that has invaded the muscle wall of the bladder.

For most people, the first symptom of bladder cancer is hematuria, blood in the urine. Hematuria is either gross (visible) or microscopic.

• Gross/Visible: can be seen with the naked eye
• Microscopic : blood is only visible if a sample is examined under a microscope

Irritative urination symptoms are also associated with bladder cancer such as:

• Pain
• Burning
• Frequency of urination
• Incomplete emptying of the bladder
• passage of tissue fragments in urine is another symptom though not as frequent

The presence of one or all of these signs does not mean you have cancer, but means more that you should be seen by a physician as these are abnormal bodily functions. Sometimes those diagnosed with bladder cancer did not experience any bleeding or pain, thus emphasizing the importance of routine screening and physicals.

The majority of bladder cancers arise from the lining of the bladder. Over 75 percent of these tumors remain confined to the linin layer and do not invade into the bladder wall.

These tummors are called superficial transitional cell cancers. Advanced bladder cancer is cancer which has invaded into the bladder wall or outside the bladder.

Advanced cancer treatment options are different than those for superficial bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer treatment is determined due to the stage and grade of the tumor(s).

Procedure:

Robotic Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy