Bladder Cancer
A Bladder's Function
A bladder, also known as a urinary bladder, is a large, balloon-shaped organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine from the kidneys until it passes out of the body. According to the CDC, bladder cancer affects approximately 56,000 men and 17,500 women in the United States. At CHRISTUS Health, our board-certified oncologists have the knowledge and experience in treating bladder cancers.
Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
Many of these symptoms can come from other health conditions. If you are experiencing any of these, contact a CHRISTUS Health doctor and we can help determine what may be causing your symptoms.
- Blood in your urine
- Having to urinate frequently
- Having pain while urinating
- Back pain
- Pelvic pain
How is Bladder Cancer Diagnosed?
There are many effective ways to diagnose bladder cancer which include:
- Examine the bladder through a scope (cystoscopy)
- Remove a sample of tissue for testing (biopsy)
- Examine a urine sample (urine cytology)
- Image testing (CT, x-Rays)
Bladder Cancer Treatments
Various Options
At CHRISTUS Health, we understand each case is different and we treat it as such. Treatments may include surgery to remove cancer cells, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. To ensure we assist our patients to make sound decisions, we explain each option thoroughly.