An abnormal growth in the lining of the bladder is known as bladder cancer. Each stage is distinguished based on the size, location, period of the cancer.
Treatments for bladder cancer according to the stage:
People suffering from stage 0A or low-grade non-invasive bladder cancer need to be treated through TURBT initially. This type of bladder cancer rarely becomes metastatic or aggressive. However, people throughout their lives are at risk of developing more low-grade cancers. It needs checkups for a long term; this is known as surveillance. To bring down the risk of developing tumors, people may need to get local immunotherapy or intravesical chemotherapy after TURBT.
Most cases of high grade noninvasive, non-muscle invasive carcinoma in situ bladder cancer require TURBT which is then treated by local intravesical immunotherapy through Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. This type of treatment is recommended to minimize the risk of recurrence and the development of muscle-invasive disease. Before receiving BCG, people may need to have one more session of TURBT to ensure that the cancer will not spread to the muscles.
The first BCG treatment is provided every week for six weeks. After this, a cystoscopy will be performed and there are times when a bladder biopsy may also be needed. This confirms if the cancer has been completely removed. In case the cancer is not cured, the patient will mostly have to go through maintenance therapy alongside BCG. This would be given once every three months or every six months for one to three years. The next step is the long-term surveillance.
On the other hand, people suffering from non-muscle-invasive high-grade bladder cancer may have a higher possibility of a recurrent tumor. At an advanced stage, the tumor may recur and also develop metastatic cancer of the bladder. To avoid this, the urologist will suggest to remove the entire bladder. This is known as radical cystectomy. This is also suggested if the patient is young, has a big tumor, or many tumors during the time of diagnosis.
When the bladder cancer grows in the muscle walls of the bladder, it is known as the muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Usually, surgery is recommended at the start of the treatment. The bladder, tissues surrounding the bladder, and lymph nodes are removed. Sometimes, TURBT may be recommended to determine the extent of cancer in the body.
Some people suffering from muscle-invasive bladder cancer may need to be given systemic chemotherapy before undergoing surgery. They may even have to undergo urinary diversion and radical cystectomy along with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
