Bladder Cancer refers to the abnormal increase in the size and number of cells of the bladder. It can be restricted to the inner most layer of the bladder or can involve all the layers of bladder and spread to nearby organs like reproductive system, intestines, lungs, bones etc.

A urinary bladder is a hollow reservoir where urine is collected before it is expelled out through the urethra. The innermost layer of the bladder is called the endothelium or the urothelium. After that, is a layer of loose connective tissue called as lamina propria. The smooth muscle of the bladder lies outside the lamina propria. The bladder muscle is surrounded by a layer of fat.

Most of the times the cancer is limited to the urothelium and very rarely it invades the lamina propria and the muscular layer. A person with bladder cancer may complain of blood in urine, pain during urination and increased frequency of urination. A CT scan of the bladder and urine analysis can help to diagnose and confirm the condition.

Treatment of the bladder cancer depends on the stage of cancer. If it is diagnosed recently and is superficial, then chemotherapy, radiotherapy, laser or tumor resection techniques are used.

In case the bladder cancer is large, invasive or at multiple places in the bladder wall, then partial or complete cystectomy may be the only option available. This can be combined with postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy to restrict the spread of cancer to surrounding organs or limit its recurrence.

• Drug Therapy and Radiation Therapy Prior to Surgery : Can shrink the tumour and possibly completely eliminate the cancer. This technique is still in the experimental stage and can hope to offer patients an effective alternative to removing the bladder and an improved quality of life. Radiation therapy involves the use of focused high energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells. The x-rays are delivered from a machine that is outside of the patient. The damaging effect of radiation is cumulative, and a certain dose is required to stop the growth of cancer cells. In order to accomplish this, small radiation doses are administered for a few seconds each day (similar to having an x-ray), five days per week, for several weeks. Treatment is not painful.A chemotherapy drug, such as cisplatin, is usually given once every three weeks into a vein during radiation therapy. Cisplatin makes the tumor cells more sensitive to the radiation treatment, improving the chance of eliminating the cancer. The combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is associated with improved cancer control in the bladder and pelvic region compared to radiation therapy alone.
• Intravesical Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy : Following removal of tumour by TURBT, intravesical chemotherapy or intravesical immunotherapy may be used to try to prevent tumour recurrences. Intravesical means “within the bladder”. These therapeutic agents are put directly into the bladder through a catheter in the urethra (the catheter only stays in for a few minutes), are retained for one to two hours and are then urinated out.
• Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor : This surgery is performed under general or spinal anesthesia. It is a minimally invasive surgery. A thin slender fiber optic tube with a camera at one end called the cystoscope is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. The camera sends images of the size and location of cancer tissue within the bladder. Once the tumor location is confirmed, a thin wire loop is inserted through the cystoscope into the bladder. The loop scrapes of the tumor cells present in the urothelium. This tissue can then be sent for biopsy to grade the tumor.
• Laser Removal : If the tumor cells have invaded into the next layer, but are still localized to the bladder, the high frequency energy can be emitted to the area using a laser probe. The laser probe is inserted through the cystoscope and directed towards the cancerous are in the bladder. High energy radiation destroys the tumor cells completely in that area.
• Partial Cystectomy : This involves partial removal of the bladder wall and is performed when the tumor has invaded the bladder muscle. The affected portion of the wall is cut and removed and the remaining portion of the bladder is stitched up. This surgery reduces the bladder capacity as well as it contractile efficacy. Get Estimate