Bladder cancer
Overview
Bladder cancer affects about 1.6 million people globally, with 549,000 new cases and 200,000 deaths recorded each year. It is the fifth most common type of cancer, and nineth most common cause of cancer related deaths in Europe. In Cyprus it ranks in eighth place for both frequency and mortality.
The risk of developing bladder cancer increases as you age, with most people diagnosed between 65 and 84. Men are also more likely to develop bladder cancer than women. Smoking tobacco is a primary contributor to developing bladder cancer, with smoking associated to over half the diagnosed cases in men and one-third of the diagnosed cases among women. Opium consumption more than triples the risk of developing bladder cancer and concurrently using opium and smoking increases the risk of developing bladder cancer by 5 times, when compared to the general population. Lastly, exposure to carcinogens in the workplace accounts for roughly thirty percent of bladder tumors.
Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects a bladder tumor, based on your symptoms and risk factors, they may recommend a cystoscopy. This is an examination that evaluates the state of your bladder using a tiny camera that is passed into your bladder, via the urethra. During a cystoscopy your medical team can evaluate any masses seen in the bladder. These are frequently papillary lesions, which grow into the bladder cavity, are readily visible, and harmless, or carcinoma in situ lesions, which are flat and obscure. To confirm carcinoma in situ lesions, multiple biopsies from different areas of the interior bladder wall are taken, and a visual detection is followed by transurethral surgery. This procedure is called a transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT). Your medical team may recommend a rectal and vaginal bimanual examination both before and after the TURBT, to assess whether there are any palpable masses or if the tumor is fixed (“tethered”) to the pelvic wall.
All the information obtained from the TURBT-procedure is crucial in determining the most appropriate treatment plan and prognosis. This information helps stage (classified by the extent of spread of the cancer) and grade (how abnormal and aggressive the cells appear under the microscope) the bladder cancer. To assess the potential spread of the cancer, your medical team may recommend you undergo further imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET / CT).
Treatment
Every step in the diagnostic procedure helps the GMI team tailor each treatment plan to each patient, taking into consideration your individual case and personal preferences. To determine the best course of action each patient’s case is discussed in a multidisciplinary tumor board where several experts from our team come together to create your comprehensive treatment plan.
The treatment of each case of bladder cancer depends greatly on how deeply the tumor has invaded into the bladder wall.
For cases where the cancer remains localized, a dedicated team of surgeons or radiation oncologists will eradicate the tumor using the most modern treatment options. A combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy may also be offered to maintain the bladder after TURBT.
For cases where the cancer is at a more advanced stage, our Medical Oncology team will propose the best treatment plan for each patient, which will include the newest regimen of systemic therapies like targeted therapy, chemotherapy and / or immunotherapy.
Why GMI
At the GMI German Oncology Center, a dedicated team of internationally acclaimed physicians guides each bladder cancer patient through their entire journey, from their diagnostic work-up to their treatment and post-treatment care.
The GMI team will never offer a simple “one size fits all” approach to any patient. We believe each patient’s case is as individual as they are and strive to find the best solution for each of our patients, taking their specific case and diagnosis, their lifestyle, and choices into account.
We believe each of our patients is more than their diagnosis. That’s why our dedicated paramedics team supports bladder cancer patients on their journey by offering more than just expert medical care. We offer psychological help, integrative oncology services (including yoga classes, and acupuncture) and have a GMI Patient Advocacy Program.
Adhering to our passion for innovation, and desire to progress the medical field, the GMI German Oncology Center both initiates and participates in several clinical trials in which the most modern and advanced treatment concepts are tested.
