If diagnosed early, success rates for treatmentwhich may involve surgery, chemotherapy, or immunotherapyare high.
With that being said, recurrence is common.
Those that penetrate even deeper into the muscles of the bladder wall are classified as invasive carcinomas.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
These types are considered uncommon and each account for 1% or less of all U.S. cases.
Symptoms
Bladder cancer is often painless.
Family history may also play a role.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
This may include a digital rectal exam andprostate-specific antigen (PSA) testto rule out prostate problems.
Tiny instruments can also be fed through the scope to obtain tissue samples for evaluation in the lab.
Cancer staging is used to determine the appropriate course of treatment depending on the characteristics of the tumor.
It can also help predict the likely outcome (prognosis) of the disease.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
The urologist may also place you on a course of chemotherapy to kill all remaining cancer cells.
Mitomycin C is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent.
While a radical cystectomy is undoubtedly life-altering, newer reconstructive techniques have lessened the functional impact of the procedure.
On the downside, erectile dysfunction is more the rule than the exception.
Less aggressive T2 tumors may sometimes be treated with a partial cystectomy.
This involves the removal of the affected area of the bladder and does not require reconstructive surgery.
Partial cystectomy is rarely used in people with stage T3 cancer.
The figures are simply meant to gauge the effectiveness of treatment.
Anktiva is FDA-approved for the treatment of adults with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC with carcinoma in situ (CIS).
This may involve routine cystoscopy, urinary cytology, and other blood, urine, or imaging tests.
You also need to take the extra steps to decrease your personal risk of relapse.
With that being said, early diagnosis is associated with less invasive interventions.
By contrast, delayed diagnoses places you at increased risk of more invasiveand potentially life-changingmedical procedures.
Whatever you do, dont let embarrassment or discomfort stand in your way of getting the diagnosis you need.
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