Bladder Cancer Treatment
Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers of the urinary system. At Cancer Care of Western New York, our team treats urothelial carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the bladder using advanced radiation therapy in coordination with our urology partners at Western New York Urology Associates.
Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
The most common early sign is blood in the urine, also called hematuria. Other symptoms include a frequent need to urinate, pain or burning during urination, lower back or pelvic pain and difficulty emptying the bladder. Any of these symptoms should be evaluated by a physician, since bladder cancer is highly treatable when caught early.
Screening and Diagnosis
Diagnosis typically starts with a urinalysis to check for blood or abnormal cells, followed by a cystoscopy to view the inside of the bladder directly. Imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI or ultrasound help determine whether the cancer has spread beyond the bladder wall. If suspicious tissue is found, a bladder biopsy confirms the diagnosis and identifies the cancer type.
Bladder Cancer Treatment Options
Treatment depends on whether the cancer is superficial or has invaded the muscle wall of the bladder.
Superficial Bladder Cancer
Superficial bladder cancers are confined to the inner lining of the bladder. These are most often treated with transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT), sometimes followed by intravesical therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Muscle-invasive bladder cancers require more aggressive treatment. Options include surgical removal of part or all of the bladder, or bladder-preserving treatment that combines external beam radiation therapy with chemotherapy over roughly seven weeks. Our team delivers radiation using advanced technologies such as IMRT, IGRT, RapidArc and SBRT to target the tumor precisely while sparing healthy tissue. See our full list of technologies.
Bladder Cancer Treatment Across Western New York
Patients from Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Jamestown, Niagara Falls and the surrounding communities are treated at our three locations. Care is coordinated close to home at our Cheektowaga center at Harlem Professional Park, our Jamestown location or our Niagara Professional Park center. View all locations.
Related Conditions We Treat
Bladder cancer patients often benefit from our expertise across related urologic and pelvic cancers. Explore treatment for prostate cancer, GI cancer and other cancers, or view the full list of conditions we treat.
Create Your Treatment Plan with Cancer Care of WNY
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, our oncology team is here to walk you through your options. Contact us to schedule a consultation at the location most convenient to you.