Cystoscopy and biopsy A cystoscopy is a common procedure used to diagnose bladder cancer by examining the inside of the bladder using a thin tube with a light and camera on the end called a cystoscope. If abnormal tissues are detected, a tissue sample (biopsy) will then be taken.
Blood in your urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. The medical name for blood in your urine is haematuria and it's usually painless. You may notice streaks of blood in your urine or the blood may turn your urine brown. The blood isn't always noticeable and it may come and go.
It is not uncommon for patients diagnosed and treated for cancer to experience mood changes and to go through some periods when they feel anxious or depressed. Other common emotions experienced by patients with bladder cancer include: Feeling overwhelmed or confused. Feeling shocked or numb.
Tests to diagnose bladder cancer
Blood test: Blood samples are used to measure certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual amount of a substance (higher or lower than normal) can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that makes it.
Ultrasound scan for bladder cancer
The scan looks at your urinary system (the bladder, kidneys, ureter and urethra). The ultrasound scan can show if there are any signs of cancer in your bladder. It can also show any blockages in the tubes that move urine between your kidneys and bladder (the ureters).
The most common way is to look at the cells under a microscope, called urinary cytology. There are other urine tests using molecular analysis that can be done to help find cancer, usually at the same time as urinary cytology. Cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is the key diagnostic procedure for bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer symptoms are usually clear and easy to notice. If any of these symptoms are present, it may be worth making an appointment to see a doctor: Blood in the urine, frequent urination, painful urination or back pain.
Other symptoms of advanced bladder cancer may include pain in the back or pelvis, unexplained appetite loss, and weight loss. If you are concerned about any changes you experience, please talk with your doctor.
Can bladder cancer go undetected for years? If symptoms such as blood in the urine and changes in urinary habits are ignored by an individual and/or repeatedly misdiagnosed, it's possible that bladder cancer may not be detected for months or, in some cases, even years.
Bladder cancer occurs mainly in older people. About 9 out of 10 people with this cancer are over the age of 55. The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 73. Overall, the chance men will develop this cancer during their lifetime is about 1 in 28.
Stage I: The cancer has grown through the inner lining of the bladder and into the lamina propria. It has not spread to the thick layer of muscle in the bladder wall or to lymph nodes or other organs (T1, N0, M0). Stage II: The cancer has spread into the thick muscle wall of the bladder.
Bladder cancer can be benign or malignant. Malignant bladder cancer may be life threatening, as it can spread quickly. Without treatment, it can damage tissues and organs.
Bladder cancers may spread into the nearby organs. They may also travel through the pelvic lymph nodes and spread to the liver, lungs, and bones. Additional complications of bladder cancer include: Anemia.
The 5-year relative survival rate of people with bladder cancer that has not spread beyond the inner layer of the bladder wall is 96%. Almost half of people are diagnosed with this stage. If the tumor is invasive but has not yet spread outside the bladder, the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%.
When bladder cancer spreads, it first invades the bladder wall, which is made up of four distinct layers. It can take some time for cancer to penetrate all of these layers, but once it has, it can then spread into the surrounding fatty tissues and lymph nodes.
CT Scans. A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to create three-dimensional, cross-sectional pictures of the bladder, as well as the ureters and kidneys. A CT scan may be used to see whether bladder cancer has invaded the bladder wall or has spread to other organs or nearby lymph nodes.
The doctor might do a digital rectal exam (DRE), during which a gloved, lubricated finger is put into your rectum. If you are a woman, the doctor might do a pelvic exam as well. During these exams, the doctor can sometimes feel a bladder tumor, determine its size, and feel if and how far it has spread.
Doctors may suspect bladder cancer if a patient has symptoms such as blood in the urine or pain when urinating—or if lab tests done for another reason show abnormal results.
Other symptoms
These include: weight loss for no reason. pain in your back, lower tummy or bones. feeling tired and unwell.
Feeling weak or fatigued: You may feel lethargic and extremely tired a lot of the time. Bone pain: If your cancer has spread to the bone, it can cause bone pain or a bone fracture. Swollen feet: Bladder cancer that has spread (metastasized) to your lymph nodes, for instance, could cause your feet to swell.
For the present, cystoscopy remains the gold standard for detecting bladder cancers.
The likely outcome or course of a disease is called prognosis. Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer can often be cured. For muscle-invasive bladder cancer, prognosis also depends on whether carcinoma in situ is also present.