Bladder cancers begin in the cells that line the inside of the bladders, and the treatment entirely depends on the tumor’s clinical stage at the initial diagnosis. This includes examining the growth of cancer cells in the bladder wall and determining whether the disease has spread beyond the bladder. Treatment options are also influenced by other factors like the size of the tumor, the rate of cancer cell growth, and the patient’s overall health.

Grades of bladder cancer
The disease can induce certain symptoms like blood in the urine and pain while urinating. Based on these indicators and diagnostic tests, doctors can come up with a prognosis and recommend the course of treatment. Further, the cancer cells are categorized into grades—the extent to which the cancer cells resemble normal cells determines. This also influences the choice of bladder cancer treatments as grades can help indicate how cancer behaves and the kind of care required. Doctors take tissue samples (biopsies) to determine the grade after a pathologist examines them under a microscope.

Grade 1: The cancer cells resemble normal ones to a large extent. They are considered well-differentiated cells and may develop slowly.

Grade 2: Less resemblance to normal cells can be seen. The cancer cells are considered fairly distinct. After therapy, they are more likely to return or to spread to the bladder’s deeper (muscle) layer.

Grade 3: The cancer cells have a distinctive appearance and are said to be “poorly differentiated”. This is called a high-grade tumor. The cells can spread into the bladder’s deeper (muscle) layer and enlarge quickly. They are also more likely to return after treatment.

Low-grade tumors may grow gradually and are less likely to spread, whereas high-grade bladder cancer is more aggressive and is likely to spread to the muscular bladder walls and other organs. While grade 1 indicates a low-grade tumor, grade 3 implies high-grade cancer. However, grade 2 cancer cells could indicate either a low- or high-grade tumor. For low-grade cancer, the possibility of the cancer advancing, spreading, and recuring after treatment is much lower than high-grade tumors. This is why patients are likely to require additional treatment following surgery when they are affected by high-grade bladder cancer. This combination lowers the chances of recurrence.

Treatment options

Doctors can recommend different options as treatments for bladder cancer in males and females. At severe and advanced stages of cancer, doctors may need to surgically remove lymph nodes and organs near the bladder, which could be the prostate for male patients or the uterus and ovaries for female patients. Treatment for symptoms and side effects is an important factor in your care strategy for cancer. The following describes the most common bladder cancer treatment options:

Surgery: This could include a non-invasive procedure to eliminate cancer cells, removal of a part of the bladder, or could involve reconstruction to create a urinary diversion.

Prescription treatment: These oral treatments can help target and kill cancer cells. Oncologists recommend this bladder cancer treatment along with other options. The most common method of administering it is through an intravenous (IV) tube that is inserted into a vein using a needle.

Targeted therapy: This option targets particular genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that promotes the growth and survival of the disease. This form of therapy aims to minimize damage to healthy cells while preventing the growth of malignant cells. The targets of tumors can vary, so doctors may recommend genomic testing to determine the target genes, proteins, and other components and recommend the best course of treatment. This enables physicians to recommend the best possible care and, when appropriate, clinical trials to their patients.

Chemotherapy: This is used to kill cancer cells, usually by preventing the growth, division, and production of new cancer cells. A chemotherapy plan or regimen consists of a predetermined number of cycles administered over a period. A patient may be administered one prescription option at a time or a mix of several options on the same day.

Immunotherapy: Thie bladder cancer treatment option strengthens the immune system’s capacity to identify and attack cancer cells to combat the disease. It can be performed locally or systemically.

Alternative treatment: Acupuncture can be recommended as an alternative treatment for bladder cancer. Such approaches also involve massages and the use of vitamins, herbs, and special food plans to manage the pain and other symptoms. However, research is yet to determine the effectiveness of these remedies, and so they should be adopted in addition to the clinical treatment.

High-grade bladder cancer treatment could call for a combination of immunotherapy and surgery. Further, chemotherapy may also be recommended to treat bladder cancers that are likely to return or aggressively spread to organs beyond the bladder. The course of treatment for this disease can vary depending on personal preferences, gender, and severity of the disease. So, it is important to get an early diagnosis and communicate early symptoms to a healthcare professional.