Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that initiates in the lining of the bladder. The urinary bladder is a spherical organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The inner lining of the bladder is made of urothelial cells. These cells can divide out of control to form cancer.
Urothelial cancer can also happen in the kidneys and ureter (the tube connecting kidneys to the bladder) but is more common in the urinary bladder. In this article, let's learn how is bladder cancer detected.
Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer
For bladder cancer diagnosis, the doctor may recommend certain diagnostic tests; which are as follows:
- Cystoscopy: This is the primary test done to diagnose bladder cancer. The doctor inserts a cystoscope inside the bladder through the urethra. This narrow tube has a lens that helps the doctor get a magnified view of the inside of the bladder and urethra.
- Urinalysis: A urine sample of a person is checked under the microscope to look for any cancerous cells. This is called urine cytology.
- Biopsy: To perform a biopsy, a small sample of tissue is removed from the suspected area of the urinary bladder. This sample is then checked for the presence of cancerous cells. During cystoscopy, the doctor may use a special tool through the cystoscope that will go to the bladder to collect urothelial cells. This procedure is termed as Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour (TURBT).
- CT Urogram: In this CT scan, a contrast dye injected into the vein flows into the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Then an X-ray is taken to get a detailed view of the urinary tract to check for abnormal areas.
- Retrograde pyelogram: This is also an X-ray examination, where a contrast dye is first injected into the bladder through a catheter. After the dye has spread, an X-ray image is taken.
Conclusion
People with bladder cancer are treated with a specific therapy plan devised after considering the type, stage, and grade of the cancer. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy in the bladder or for the whole body, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Sometimes a combination of any of these mentioned therapies is also used. Having a health insurance policy is beneficial. This will help cover the cost of cancer treatment.