Bladder cancer
Diagnosed with bladder cancer? A two-minute overview
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Diagnosed with bladder cancer? Here's your 2-minute overview.
I'm Dr. Jason Lomboy with Advanced Urology. Most bladder cancers are found early, and they're often treatable when found early. Here's what happens next.
The key question
Most bladder cancers start in the bladder lining and are called urothelial cancer. The key question is whether the cancer has reached the bladder's muscle wall. About 3 out of 4 have not, and they can usually be treated without removing the bladder.
Step one
First, our urologists remove the tumor through the urethra, with no incisions, under anesthesia. The lab then tells us the grade and how deep the cancer goes. A CT scan checks the kidneys and the tubes that drain them.
If the cancer has not reached the muscle
If it hasn't reached the muscle, many patients get treatment placed directly into the bladder, most often BCG, an immunotherapy. And there are three newer options: a mitomycin gel called Zusduri, a slow-release gemcitabine device called Inlexzo, and Anktiva, an immune booster given with BCG. They help many people keep their bladder.
Follow-up matters
Bladder cancer can come back, so regular checkups are key. At Advanced Urology, we can do your surveillance cystoscopies under anesthesia in our own surgery centers, so you're asleep and comfortable.
If the cancer has reached the muscle
If it has reached the muscle, treatment usually starts with chemotherapy, then surgery to remove the bladder. This is not very common.
What you can do, and when to go to the ER
Quit smoking. It lowers the chance the cancer comes back. If you pass large clots or can't urinate, go to the ER. At Advanced Urology, you get modern tools for bladder cancer care, our own accredited surgery centers, and a team who will know you by name. Our urologists can usually get patients in fast. Every treatment carries risks, and we'll go through yours together. Call Advanced Urology at 678-344-8900. This article is educational, not medical advice.