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Bladder Cancer Diagnosis

Bladder cancer is a disease that attacks the inner lining of the bladder, typically leading to the growth of stalk-like tumors inside the organ itself. The exact cause of bladder cancer is not known, but risk factors such as cigarette smoking, work-related chemical exposures, long-term bladder infections or the taking of certain drugs such as Actos can increase your risk of contracting bladder cancer. While this disease can be frightening, treatment methods and early identification of the cancer are improving as is the prognosis for those that have received a bladder cancer diagnosis.

Testing for Bladder Cancer

In order to make a bladder cancer diagnosis, a doctor must first have the right information to begin testing. For this to happen, a patient should mention any abnormal symptoms to their primary care physician such as abdominal pain, blood in their urine, painful urination or urine leakage. More detailed information is available to our visitors. Ask us for a free copy of the book '100 Questions and Answers about Bladder Cancer'.

When a patient exhibits one or more of the bladder cancer symptoms their doctor can then order tests to determine if the problem is something benign or if it is in fact bladder cancer. To test for this kind of cancer, your doctor will first perform a physical exam (including a rectal and pelvic exam) and will likely want an abdominal CT scan as well as a cytoscopy, which allows for the examination of the inside of the bladder with a small camera. During the cytoscopy, your doctor may also ask for a bladder biopsy to be done, which involves cutting off a small amount of tissue for testing. Your urine may also be analyzed to see if it contains any evidence of cancer cells.

Bladder Cancer Prognosis

Once all of the tests have been performed, your doctor will be able to determine if your bladder does contain cancer cells. If it does, they will likely have caused the formation of what are known as papillary tumors, which are attached to stalks and have a wart-like appearance. It is also possible to have sessile tumors, which are less common and require more invasive treatment. As part of your cancer diagnosis, your doctor will also try to determine the stage of your bladder cancer. The lowest stage, level zero, includes tumors that are noninvasive and only in your bladder lining, whereas stage three bladder cancer has tumors which reach into the tissue surrounding your bladder. Once a bladder cancer diagnosis has been made, you will next be given a treatment plan as well as a cancer prognosis.

Additional Help

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and are not sure where to turn for help give one of our Patient and Family Advocates a call or request they contact you online. The service is free and there experience with all aspects of bladder cancer can help you find the shortcuts to answers you need.