Bladder cancer is the abnormal growth of healthy cells in the bladder lining that grows excessively and out of control, forming a mass called a tumour.

What are the tumour types?

• A tumour is of two types malignant and benign.
• A malignant or a cancerous tumour means it can grow and expand to join other body parts.

A benign tumour grows but does not spread to other body parts.

There are three main types of bladder cancers:

Urothelial carcinoma(most common). is the most common type of cancer that estimates for about 90% of all bladder cancers. This type of bladder cancer develops in the urothelial cells that are found in the lining of the urinary bladder. Earlier, this cancer was known as transitional cell carcinoma(TCC).

Squamous cell carcinoma. in response to irritation and inflammation squamous cells develop in the bladder lining (like patients on prolong catheterization). With time these cells become malignant. About 2-4% of all bladder cancers are squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma. About 2% of all bladder cancers are adenocarcinomas that develops from epithelial cells.

Bladder cancer is also defined as muscle-invasive, and non-muscle-invasive depending on whether it has spread into or through the muscle of the bladder wall.

What do stage and grade mean?

• The stage refers to the location of cancer or to the place where it has developed, and whether it is affecting other parts of the body.
• There are 5 stages of any cancer: stage 0 (zero) and stages I to IV (1 through 4). The tumour is also given a grade, that defines how much healthy cancer cells look like when viewed under a microscope.

What is the right treatment for bladder cancer?

The treatment of bladder cancer depends on various factors such as grade, type and stage, of a tumour; potential side effects; and the patient’s decisions considering the overall well-being.

Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC)

This type of cancer is normally fully removed during a procedure called transurethral bladder tumour resection (TURBT).

The urologist may recommend additional treatments to reduce the risk of a recurrence, such as chemotherapy delivered through a catheter or immunotherapy.

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer

• MIBC treatment involves surgical intervention for removing the complete bladder & nearby lymph nodes. This process is also called radical cystectomy.
• The urologist will make way for passing urine out of the body, known as urinary diversion. Talk to the best urologist in Delhi about all treatment options.

Common Terms in Bladder cancer treatments

Biopsy: it is the removal or obtaining of a tissue sample after examining under a microscope by a pathologist to check the growth of cancer cells

Catheter: Catheter is a hollow tube that is put through the urethra for draining the urine or for delivering drugs for intravesical chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy: The method of cancer treatment is extensively used for killing cancer cells

Cystoscopy: Treatment Method where a urologist places a small, hollow viewing tube known as cystoscope into the urethra for viewing into the bladder.

Immunotherapy: The use of materials made either by the body or in a laboratory to improve, target, or restore immune system function

Metastasis: Metastasis refers to the spreading of cancer from its point of origin to another part of the body

Prognosis: Chance of recovery

Radiation therapy: The use of high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells

Tumor: An unusual growth of body tissue is called a tumor.

TURBT(transurethral resection of bladder tumour): Procedure that removes the tumor with a small wire loop, a laser, or high-energy electricity

Urologic oncologist: A Urologic Oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating cancers of the urinary tract. Dr. Ashish Saini is also the best urologist in Delhi who gives the most advanced treatment for all urinary troubles including the bladder cancer.