1 Bladder Cancer Treatments Hospitals In Kansas City, Kansas

Bladder Cancer Treatments (click for worldwide facilities list): Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in your bladder — a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. Bladder cancer begins most often in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Bladder cancer typically affects older adults, though it can occur at any age.

The great majority of bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage — when bladder cancer is highly treatable. However, even early-stage bladder cancer is likely to recur. For this reason, bladder cancer survivors often undergo follow-up screening tests for years after treatment.

Most people with bladder cancer undergo surgery to remove the cancerous cells. The types of surgical procedures available to you may be based on factors such as the stage of your bladder cancer, your overall health and your preferences. Early stage bladder cancer surgery may be a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is often used to remove bladder cancers that are confined to the inner layers of the bladder, or a segmental cystectomy, sometimes called partial cystectomy where the surgeon removes only the portion of the bladder that contains cancer cells. Segmental cystectomy may be an option if your cancer is limited to one area of the bladder that can easily be removed without harming bladder function. Surgery for invasive bladder cancer may be a radical cystectomy, an operation to remove the entire bladder, as well as surrounding lymph nodes. In men, radical cystectomy typically includes removal of the prostate and seminal vesicles. In women, radical cystectomy involves removal of the uterus, ovaries and part of the vagina.

Other treatment options include:
Biological therapy, sometimes called immunotherapy, works by signaling your body's immune system to help fight cancer cells. Biological therapy for bladder cancer is typically administered through your urethra and directly into the bladder (intravesical therapy).
Chemotherapy may be used to kill cancer cells that might remain after an operation. It may also be used before surgery. In this case, chemotherapy may shrink a tumor enough to allow the surgeon to perform a less invasive surgery. Chemotherapy is sometimes combined with radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy may be used before surgery to shrink a tumor so that it can more easily be removed with surgery. Radiation therapy can also be used after surgery to kill cancer cells that might remain.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bladder-cancer/DS00177