Bladder cancer – Stages, symptoms, treatment, and management

When there is multiplication and uncontrolled, abnormal growth observed in the bladder cells, it can be considered as bladder cancer. Just like any other cancer, when invasive, bladder cancer can spread and affect other body parts as well such as the liver, bones, or the lungs. Bleeding during urination is considered to be the most common of bladder cancer symptoms. It is men who are most affected by it as compared to women. Though it can happen at any age, it usually affects older adults. Depending on one’s age, health conditions, and how much the cancer has progressed, bladder cancer can be treated.

The stages of bladder cancer

Depending on the growth of the cancer, how much, and to what extent it has spread in the body, bladder cancer symptoms, and the severity of those symptoms, bladder cancer can be divided into five stages: stage 0, stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV. Let’s take a closer look at each of the stages.

Stage 0: In this stage, the cancer spreads neither to the muscles and tissues of the bladder wall nor the lymph nodes or any other organ near it. Here, the cancer continues to grow at the center of the bladder.

Stage I: In this stage of bladder cancer, the cancer starts growing into the lining of the bladder. However, here it doesn’t invade the bladder muscles and also not any near or distant organs of the lymph nodes.

Stage II: The stage II of bladder cancer refers to the growth of the cancer cells in the bladder muscles as well as the connective tissues. Remember, during the early stages, the bladder cancer symptoms may not be visible in men or women. Though some may witness a little bleeding, pain, or bleeding during urination is unlikely to happen.

Stage III: In this stage, the cancer invades the fatty tissue layer that is there surrounding the bladder. Here, it may start spreading in one’s uterus, prostate, and vagina, in the case of women.

Stage IV: Usually at this very stage the lymph nodes, as well as other distant organs such as the lungs or the liver, start getting affected by the cancer cell growth.

It is by using a method called the TNM system that performing the stage division of bladder cancer has now become possible. In the TNM system, the “T” refers to the spread of the tumor in the bladder, “N” refers to whether the cancer-fighting cells or the lymph nodes have been affected or not, and the “M” refers to the spread of the disease into organs near the bladder.

Know the symptoms of bladder cancer
There are various symptoms of bladder cancer has by which it can be diagnosed. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of it are hematuria or presence of blood or blood clots in the urine, pain in the pelvic area, and burning sensation or excessive pain during urination. Back pain and frequent urination are also bladder cancer signs, but these can happen because of some other health issues as well.

Bladder cancer symptoms in women don’t differ very much from that of men. A decrease in appetite and during the most advanced stage of it, symptoms such as pain in the bones, swelling of the ankle or foot, and inability to normally pass any urine at all are common in both men and women.

Treatment and management options available for bladder cancer
Depending on the severity of bladder cancer symptoms, its stage, and the condition of the patient, there are some treatment options available.

Surgery
Surgery is performed to remove the cancerous tissues from the bladder. There are various approaches available for surgical removal of bladder cancer, such as cystectomy, transurethral resection of bladder tumor, etc.

Chemotherapy
In this particular treatment option, drugs are used for killing the cancer cells. Sometimes one drug based chemotherapy or a combination of two or more is required for treating bladder cancer symptoms.

Intravesical therapy
In this treatment, a liquid drug is injected into the bladder by using a catheter which starts showing its effect on the cancer cells without causing any major effects on any other part of the body.

Immunotherapy
Often referred to as biological therapy, it focuses on signaling the immune system of the body in helping to fight against the bladder cancer cells and tissues.

Radiation therapy
Here the cancer cells are destroyed by using high energy beams from a machine that continues to move around the body of a patient while directing the energy beams only to the precise points.

Remember there are no assured ways of completely preventing bladder cancer. However, following a few healthy practices, such as taking proper caution when around certain chemicals, saying no to smoking, and following a healthy and nutritious diet can be helpful in preventing the risk of developing bladder cancer to some extent. One is suggested to opt for immediate medical attention the moment any bladder cancer symptoms arise. Because the earlier the diagnosis is done, the better chances one has of fighting off the disease.