Bladder cancer

CONDITION

Almost all bladder cancers arise from the lining of the bladder (the urothelium). These are referred to as urothelial cancers or transitional cell carcinomas. Bladder cancers are assessed by the extent of invasion of the cancerous cells and can be categorised into superficial (non-muscle invasive) or muscle invasive.

Most bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive. These can be usually be treated with minimally invasive procedures, such as a transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT), after which you may be offered medicines which are injected into the bladder to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the future. Most people will not die from this form of bladder cancer.

After treatments for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer you will require regular follow up tests to check for recurrence or progression of disease and to manage it promptly, if required.

Cancers that spread into the muscle layer of the bladder have a higher chance of spreading elsewhere in the body. These usually require more radical treatments such as radiotherapy or surgery to remove the bladder (cystectomy).

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which is usually painless.