Bladder cancer - muscle invasive

Bladder cancer (usually) develops slowly that does not cause symptoms immediately. The tumor is usually discovered on accident. Blood in the urine is never a good sign, so please see your physician if this happens to you.

Especially women with bladder cancer experience blood in the urine and recurring urinary tract infections. If you experience these symptoms, please see your general physician for a referral to the hospital for diagnostic tests. 

Symptoms that could signify a late-stage muscle invasive bladder tumor: 

• pain in the pelvis
• pain in the flank 
• weight loss
• noticeable mass in the lower abdomen

If bladder cancer is suspected or if you are at risk of developing bladder cancer, you will need to undergo several diagnostic tests in order to diagnose or rule out bladder cancer. Your general physician can refer you to a urologist. This will happen if blood is found in your urine, or if your medical history is a cause for concern. Your medical history and urinary test alone are not enough to reach a diagnosis. The following tests can be done to reach a diagnosis:

Cancer that returns to the other organs or lymph nodes outside of the groin is called metastatic cancer. At this stage, the treatment no longer aims to cure you but can alleviate the symptoms (palliative treatment). This treatment aims to halt the cancer and keep the symptoms under control. Which palliative treatment is right for you, depends on your symptoms and wishes. We have multiple palliative treatments available. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly used, as is a combination of the two (chemoradiation). In the case of pain, we can offer a radical cystectomy as part of palliative care.  

Selecting a treatment, or opting out of treatment entirely, ca be a tough decision to face. It is important to us that our patients have a clear understanding of the effects of the treatment at their stage, and what the effects are on their quality of life. It may help to discuss all your options and considerations with close family and friends. Peer groups at the patient network and health care professionals at the Survivorship Center can support you during this time. 

After every cancer treatment, follow-up screenings are essential to minimize complications and to detect and treat potential recurrences early. The first check-up appointment will be three months after your treatment. You will schedule the remaining consultations with your urologist. Your urologist can also answer all your questions about your illness or related topics.

Aftercare

Bladder cancer can significantly affect the lives of patients and their loved ones. Bladder cancer patients often face specific problems with urination or sexuality as well as general side effects of cancer and its treatment, like fatigue, pain, social limitations, and mental health issues like anxiety or uncertainty. You can find support at our Survivorship Center.