Bladder cancer Health Article

Expectations (prognosis)

Patients will be closely monitored for progression of the disease regardless of the type of bladder cancer treatment received. Monitoring may include:

• Cystoscope evaluations every 3 to 6 months after initial treatment for people with stage I disease.
• Periodic urine cytology evaluations for people whose bladders have not been removed.
• Bone scan and/or CT scan to check for metastasis.
• Complete blood count (CBC) to monitor for signs and symptoms of anemia , which would indicate the disease has progressed.
• Monitor for other signs of disease progression, such as fatigue, weight loss, increased pain, decreased bowel and bladder function, and weakness.

How well a patient does depends on the specific stage of bladder cancer and the type of treatment chosen. The prognosis for stage 0 or I cancers is fairly good, although the risk of the cancer returning is high. However, most bladder cancers that return can be surgically removed and cured.

The cure rates for patients with stage III tumors are less than 50%. Patients with stage IV are rarely cured (although patients with only a few metastatic lesions can be cured in some circumstances).

Complications

Bladder cancers may spread into the nearby organs or may travel through the pelvic lymph nodes, and metastasize to the liver, lungs, and bones. Additional complications of bladder cancer include anemia, hydronephrosis (swelling of the ureters causing kidney injury), urinary incontinence, and urethral stricture.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have blood in your urine, or other symptoms of bladder cancer, including urinary urgency, urinary frequency, or painful urination.

Also, call your health care provider for an appointment to be examined if you are over 40 years of age, you are a smoker, or you work in an area of high industrial exposure to potential carcinogens.

Prevention

Quitting cigarette smoking and eliminating environmental hazards may reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer.

References

Walsh PC. Campbell's Urology. 8th ed. St. Louis, MO: WB Sanders; 2002:2732-2765. 

Herr HW. Surgical factors in the treatment of superficial and invasive bladder cancer. Urol Clin North Am. 2005; 32(2): 157-6.