Understanding Your Treatment Options for Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a common and treatable kind of cancer, but you need the help of an experienced urology specialist to prevent a recurrence and protect your urinary tract health.

The medical team at Urology Specialist Group are experts in bladder cancer, and they stay up-to-date on the latest treatment options in bladder cancer at their Hialeah and Miami Lakes, Florida, offices. The staff also offers the latest in on-site diagnostic technologies to continually monitor your bladder health.

An overview of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer develops when abnormal cells form in your bladder and begin to mutate into a tumor. While there’s no clear understanding why cancerous cells grow in the bladder, you may be at increased risk if you have a family history of the disease, experience chronic bladder inflammation, or are exposed to radiation or industrial chemicals.

While both men and women can develop bladder cancer, the disease affects more men. As a tumor forms, it’s likely you’ll experience symptoms like:

• Bloody urine
• Pelvic and back pain
• More frequent need to urinate
• Pain during urination

These symptoms can relate to a number of underlying health conditions, so it’s always a good idea to schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the Urology Specialist Group physicians as soon as possible to confirm or rule out bladder cancer.

Your treatment options for bladder cancer

The treatment plan for bladder cancer depends on how advanced the cancer has become. Typically, cancer treated in the earliest stage has the most successful outcome and for this reason, it’s important you don’t ignore your symptoms.

The team at Urology Specialist Group offer several treatment options for bladder cancer including:

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy uses medications to help your immune system recognize cancer cells in the bladder and destroy them. Treatment involves intravenous infusions of the medications every few weeks.

Surgery

Surgery is a common part of treatment for bladder cancer. There are a number of techniques the Urology Specialist Group surgeons use, including robotic surgery, to address cancer at different stages.

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a treatment for early-stage bladder cancer and involves removing abnormal tissue or tumors with a wire loop.

A cystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part (partial cystectomy) or all (radical cystectomy)of your bladder, and possibly the surrounding lymph nodes, if the cancer has spread into the muscle or into a large area of your bladder.

Following a radical cystectomy, your surgeon performs an additional reconstructive surgery. This involves making a new way for you to pass urine out of your body.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy focus on destroying fast-growing cancer cells in your body using medications or doses of radiation.

Your Urology Specialist Group provider can determine if you need one or a combination of these therapies as part of your treatment plan during your initial evaluation. The team also works closely with you throughout your treatment to protect your urinary tract health.

After receiving treatment for bladder cancer, you will need close monitoring to be sure cancerous cells don’t come back.

If you have a family history of bladder cancer or experience changes in your urinary habits or health, schedule a diagnostic evaluation online or by calling Urology Specialist Group today.