Understanding Your Bladder Cancer Diagnosis

Jessica:

Hi! I’m Jessica, and I’m a bladder cancer nurse practitioner. And this is Robert, who is living with bladder cancer.

Robert:

Hi, everyone. In this video, we’ll help you understand bladder cancer and how it is diagnosed and staged. Jessica, can you explain what bladder cancer is?

Jessica:

Sure. Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States. It starts when cells in the lining of the bladder grow out of control, forming a cancerous tumor.

Robert:

And while a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, there are treatment options available. Understanding your disease is an important first step to help you engage in your care. After a diagnosis, your healthcare team will use a variety of tests to better understand your bladder cancer.

Jessica:

That’s right, Robert. Some of these tests may include:

• Urine cytology, which is a test that looks at a sample of your urine under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
• And a cystoscopy, which allows your doctor to look inside the bladder using a thin tube with a camera.
• During a cystoscopy, your doctor may also remove a small tissue sample to test for cancer – this is called a transurethral resection of bladder tumor – and can be used to diagnose and treat some early-stage bladder cancers.
• In addition, your doctor will also order imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRI scans, or PET scans, to help determine whether the cancer has spread outside the bladder.

Together, these test results help your doctor stage your disease. Staging describes how far the cancer has grown and whether it has spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

Robert:

Thanks for explaining that, Jessica. So, what are the stages of bladder cancer?

Jessica:

Great question!

• Early-stage bladder cancer may be non-muscle invasive, meaning the cancer is limited to the inner layers of the bladder and has not grown into the bladder muscle.
• Stage II means the cancer has grown into the muscle layer of the bladder wall.
• Stage III indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the bladder muscle into nearby tissues or organs. This is considered locally advanced.
• And finally, stage IV, means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and is considered advanced bladder cancer.

In addition to staging, bladder cancer is also classified by grade. Low-grade bladder cancer grows more slowly and is less likely to spread to the muscular wall of the bladder.

High-grade bladder cancer tends to be more aggressive and may be more likely to spread to the muscular wall of the bladder and other tissues and organs.

Both stage and grade are important factor in determining treatment options.

Robert:

Thanks, Jessica. Here are some additional steps you can take to understand more about your diagnosis and care plan:

• First, confirm that you have had all relevant testing needed for an accurate diagnosis.
• Ask about the stage of your bladder cancer and whether it is non-muscle invasive, muscle-invasive, or advanced.
• Ask about the grade of your cancer. The grade can provide clues about how quickly the cancer may grow or spread.
• Review your test results with your healthcare team so you understand how they affect your treatment options.
• And, if something isn’t clear, don’t hesitate to ask questions or request additional information.

Jessica:

And, you may also want to consider seeking a second opinion from a bladder cancer specialist, especially if you have muscle-invasive or advanced disease.

Visit powerfulpatients.org/bladder-cancer to learn more and download the guide that accompanies this video to review what we’ve discussed.

Thanks for joining us!