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The bladder is a balloon-like organ located below the stomach. The kidneys produce the urine that is stored in the bladder. Bladder cancer develops from cancerous cells in the lining of the bladder. These cancer cells then start to grow, forming tumors. If left untreated, bladder cancer can spread to the kidneys, lungs, bones, and brain.
How does bladder cancer spread?
Once bladder cancer has reached the lymph nodes, it can travel to distant parts of the body through the lymphatic system. Separately, it can also continue to grow into surrounding areas such as the abdominal wall (peritoneum). Distant bladder cancer metastasis. Once cancerous cells have reached the lymphatic system, they can make their way to almost any part of the …
Can bladder cancer metastasize to the abdomen?
· Bladder cancer usually starts in the lining or inner layer of the bladder wall. As the cancer grows through the layers of the bladder wall, it becomes harder to treat. The “transitional epithelium” on the picture is the lining layer where most bladder cancers start. Over time they can spread deeper into the other layers.
Can I get another cancer after bladder cancer?
If the bladder cancer cells have spread to other organs or parts of the body beyond the bladder, it is called metastatic bladder cancer. Back pain and bladder cancer. Pain in the lower back and/or abdomen can sometimes be caused by bladder cancer, and it is more common in patients who are diagnosed with bladder cancer that is advanced or metastatic. The symptom is not usually …
Where does stomach cancer spread to?
Lung cancer (most common, accounts for about 1 out 4 second cancers in bladder cancer survivors) Vaginal cancer. Prostate cancer. Kidney cancer. Rectal cancer. Skin cancer (excluding basal and squamous cell skin cancers) Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) Many of these cancers have been clearly linked to smoking, which is also a major risk factor for …
Can bladder cancer cause stomach issues?
Symptoms of bladder cancer include: Abdominal pain. Anemia. Blood in the urine.
Where does bladder cancer typically metastasize to?
CONCLUSION. Lymph nodes, bones, lung, liver, and peritoneum are the most common sites of metastasis from bladder cancer. Tumors in a more advanced T category and those with atypical histologic features metastasize earlier. Tumors with atypical histologic features also have a higher frequency of peritoneal metastasis.
What are the signs that bladder cancer has spread?
The signs and symptoms of bladder cancer that has spread to other parts of the body include:tiredness or weakness.pain when urinating.difficulty urinating or inability to urinate.pain in the lower back on one side of the body.weight loss.swollen feet.bone pain.
What organs are affected by bladder cancer?
You get bladder cancer when bladder cells become abnormal and grow out of control. Over time, a tumor forms. It can spread to nearby lymph nodes and other organs. In severe cases, it can spread to distant parts of your body, including your bones, lungs, or liver.
How fast does bladder cancer metastasize?
As many as 50% of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer may have occult metastases that become clinically apparent within 5 years of initial diagnosis and around 5% will have distant metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis. Most patients with overt metastatic disease die within 2 years despite chemotherapy.
Does bladder cancer spread fast?
They tend to grow and spread slowly. High-grade bladder cancers look less like normal bladder cells. These cancers are more likely to grow and spread.
What are the chances of bladder cancer spreading?
About 1 in 3 bladder cancers have spread into deeper layers but are still only in the bladder. In most of the remaining cases, the cancer has spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes outside the bladder. Rarely (in about 4% of cases), it has spread to distant parts of the body.
How long can you live with metastatic bladder cancer?
Patients who present with metastatic bladder cancer generally have a poor prognosis, surviving only very few months (1). However, some patients may live considerably longer. If a patient is able to withstand palliative chemotherapy, their remaining lifetime may be extended with systemic treatments.
What are the 5 warning signs of bladder cancer?
Here are five warning signs to watch for:Blood in the urine (hematuria). This is the most common early symptom of bladder cancer and typically the first sign of bladder cancer that is seen. … UTI-like symptoms. … Unexplained pain. … Decreased appetite. … Postmenopausal uterine bleeding.
What can bladder cancer lead to?
Chronic bladder infections and irritation: Problems associated with increased bladder cancer risks include urinary infections, kidney and bladder stones, and other causes of bladder irritation.
What happens to your body when you have bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer can sometimes cause changes in urination, such as: Having to urinate more often than usual. Pain or burning during urination. Feeling as if you need to go right away, even when your bladder isn’t full.
What is the life expectancy of someone with bladder cancer?
5-year relative survival rates for bladder cancerSEER Stage5-year Relative Survival RateIn situ alone Localized96% 70%Regional38%Distant6%All SEER stages combined77%Mar 1, 2022
How Does The Doctor Know I Have Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer might cause symptoms such as: 1. Having trouble peeing 2. Feeling pain when peeing 3. Needing to go more often than normal 4. Seeing…
Tests to Look For Bladder Cancer
Your doctor may do other tests to find out more about the cancer. Some of them are:X-ray: Dye is put into a vein for a special x-ray of the kidneys…
How Serious Is My Cancer?
If you have bladder cancer, the doctor will want to find out how far it has spread. This is called staging. Your doctor will want to find out the s…
What Kind of Treatment Will I Need?
There’s more than one way to treat bladder cancer. You might want to get a second opinion about the best treatment plan for you. Doctors may have d…
What Will Happen After Treatment?
You will be glad when treatment is over. But it’s hard not to worry about cancer coming back. Even when cancer never comes back, people still worry…
How do you know if you have bladder cancer?
Signs of bladder cancer are problems peeing, pain when peeing, needing to go more often than normal, and seeing blood in your urine
What is it called when cancer cells spread to other parts of the body?
For instance, cancer cells in the bladder can travel to the bone and grow there. When cancer cells spread, it’s called metastasis . Cancer is always named for the place where it starts.
What is the best test to find out if you have bladder cancer?
Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to make pictures of the organs inside your body, like your bladder and kidneys. It can help show the size of a bladder cancer and if it has spread. Bone scan: A bone scan can help show if bladder cancer has spread to the bones. This test is not done unless you have bone pain.
What tests are done to check for bladder cancer?
This might include a rectal exam, during which a gloved finger is put into your rectum. If you are a woman, a pelvic exam might also be done.
Where does urine go when you pee?
Urine flows through the ureters and into your bladder, where it’s stored. When you urinate (pee), the bladder squeezes the urine out through a tube called the urethra. Bladder cancer usually starts in the lining or inner layer of the bladder wall.
Where is the bladder located?
The bladder is a hollow organ that stores urine before it leaves your body. It sits in the lowest part of your belly, called your pelvis. Urine is made in your kidneys. Tubes called ureters connect your kidneys to the bladder. Urine flows through the ureters and into your bladder, where it’s stored. When you urinate (pee), the bladder squeezes the urine out through a tube called the urethra.
Can a test show if bladder cancer is growing?
Tests can show how deeply the cancer has grown into the bladder wall.
What is bladder cancer?
Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is diagnosed if the cancer cells have grown into the muscles that make up the wall of the bladder. If the bladder cancer cells have spread to other organs or parts of the body beyond the bladder, it is called metastatic bladder cancer.
What is the name of the thin layer of bladder cancer cells?
In most patients diagnosed with bladder cancer, the cancer cells began to grow in the thin layer of cells that line the walls of the bladder, which is called the urothelium. 1 Bladder cancer cells can gather together to form tumors and if the tumors are only located in the bladder lining, …
What is the procedure called when you see the inside of your bladder?
A procedure called cystoscopy may be needed, in which a thin tube-shaped instrument with a tiny camera is inserted into the bladder through the urethra (the tube-like organ that carries urine out of the body from the bladder). This can be used to view the inside of the urethra and bladder, and potentially to take small tissue samples if needed …
What tests are needed to diagnose bladder cancer?
These may include a CT (CAT) scan, an MRI, x-rays, and bone scans.
Can bladder cancer cause pain on one side of the body?
In patients with lower back or abdominal pain due to bladder cancer, the pain often occurs on only one side of the body. A physical examination may include an examination of the vagina and/or rectum, and laboratory tests may include a urine test known as urinalysis, as well as other tests on samples of your urine to find out if …
Can bladder cancer cause back pain?
Back pain and bladder cancer. Pain in the lower back and/or abdomen can sometimes be caused by bladder cancer, and it is more common in patients who are diagnosed with bladder cancer that is advanced or metastatic. The symptom is not usually experienced by patients who are diagnosed with bladder cancer that is considered early stage.
Is bladder cancer a symptom of early stage?
The symptom is not usually experienced by patients who are diagnosed with bladder cancer that is considered early stage. The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine that is visible to the eye, which is experienced by around 80% to 90% of patients diagnosed.
How to treat bladder cancer?
To help maintain good health, bladder cancer survivors should also: 1 Get to and stay at a healthy weight. 2 Keep physically active and limit the time you spend sitting or lying down. 3 Follow a healthy eating pattern that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limits or avoids red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods. 4 It’s best not to drink alcohol. If you do drink, have no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 per day for men.
How to reduce the risk of bladder cancer?
One of the most important you can do is quit using any form of tobacco and stay away from tobacco smoke. Smoking increases the risk of a lot of the second cancers seen after bladder cancer, as well as many other cancers.
What cancers are linked to smoking?
Vaginal cancer. Prostate cancer. Kidney cancer. Rectal cancer. Skin cancer (excluding basal and squamous cell skin cancers) Acute myeloid leukemia ( AML) Many of these cancers have been clearly linked to smoking, which is also a major risk factor for bladder cancer. Talk to your doctor if you need help to quit smoking.
What to do after bladder cancer treatment?
After completing treatment for bladder cancer, you should see your doctor regularly. Let them know about any new symptoms or problems, because they could be caused by the cancer coming back, a new disease, or a second cancer.
What is the name of the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder?
Cancer of the renal pelvis/ureter (the ureter is the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder; the part of the kidney where it attaches is called the renal pelvis) Cancer of the pancreas. Cancer of the larynx (voice box) Esophageal cancer.
Can you get bladder cancer from another cancer?
This is called a second cancer. Being treated for bladder cancer doesn’t mean you can’t get another cancer. Survivors of bladder cancer can get any type of second cancer, but they have an increased risk these cancers compared to the general population: A second bladder cancer (This is different from the first cancer coming back.)
What are the risks of bladder cancer?
The risk factors for developing bladder cancer include: 1 Advancing age 2 Smoking 3 Occupational risks – bladder cancer was one of the first cancers that was proven to be caused by a carcinogen. It was discovered that people who worked with certain chemicals known as aromatic amines had a very high risk of developing bladder cancer. 4 Long term indwelling catheters – people who manage and treat a bladder problem with an indwelling catheter have an increased risk of developing squamous cell bladder cancer.
What is bladder cancer called?
If however, the cancer has spread to the bladder wall muscle, it is called an ‘invasive’ tumour. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can be used to treat an invasive tumour.
How to make a new bladder?
This can be done by removing a section of your bowel and reconstructing it into a balloon-like sac, before connecting it to your urethra at one end and your ureters at the other end. Due to the loss of normal nerve function, around 20%-30% of people with a neobladder will experience some episodes of incontinence (the involuntary passing of urine), which usually occur during the night when they are sleeping. It may be useful to empty your neobladder at set times each day, and then once more before you go to sleep, because this may help to prevent incontinence.
How to use continent urinary diversion?
A section of your bowel will be used to create an internal pouch that is used to store your urine. The pouch will then be connected to your ureters at one end, and to a stoma that is made in your abdominal wall at the other end. You can empty the pouch by inserting a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into the stoma and use it to drain away the urine. Most people need to empty their pouch about four to five times a day.
What is the instrument that is inserted into the bladder through the urethra?
A cystoscopy, where an instrument called a cystoscope is inserted into the bladder through the urethra, can be carried out to check for bladder tumours.
What were the first cancers that were proven to be caused by a carcinogen?
Advancing age. Smoking. Occupational risks – bladder cancer was one of the first cancers that was proven to be caused by a carcinogen. It was discovered that people who worked with certain chemicals known as aromatic amines had a very high risk of developing bladder cancer .
Can you have a cystoscopy to remove bladder cancer?
If you have had a cystoscopy to remove early bladder cancer, then you should not notice any physical problems at all. Surgery for invasive bladder cancer involves removing some or the entire bladder. This is known as a cystectomy.
Where Bladder Cancer Can Spread
The bladder is a hollow organ that holds urine. It has flexible walls that are composed of several layers. When bladder cancer starts to spread, it grows through each layer of the bladder wall.
Symptoms and Complications
The first symptom of bladder cancer is usually blood in the urine. However, it’s possible to have blood in your urine and not see it. Laboratory testing can identify blood in urine, even when it’s not visible to the eye. As bladder cancer spreads, you may experience other symptoms, too. Advanced bladder cancer symptoms include: 5
Treatment Options
Treatments for metastatic bladder cancer can vary, based on things like how extensively your cancer has spread, your overall health and strength, and your current symptoms.
Living With Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer symptoms and treatments can be overwhelming. No matter where you are on your treatment journey, you’ll need to meet with your healthcare provider for regular checkups and tests. Talking to your healthcare team about the next steps and what to expect can provide a road map during this time.
Prognosis
Metastatic bladder cancer is a challenging diagnosis. Your health, strength, and age will all play a role in your prognosis. How well your cancer responds to treatment is also a significant factor.
Summary
Metastatic bladder cancer is cancer that has spread outside of the bladder to other parts of the body. If you have metastatic bladder cancer, your treatment will be focused on destroying or slowing down cancer cells throughout your body, not just in your bladder.
A Word From Verywell
A diagnosis of metastatic bladder cancer can feel overwhelming, but there’s treatment to help manage symptoms and slow disease progression. No matter where you are on your treatment journey, it’s important to maintain regular appointments with your healthcare provider to keep your cancer under control.
What is advanced stomach cancer?
Advanced stomach cancer means that a cancer that began in the stomach has spread to another part of the body.
How do you know if you have cancer on your liver?
You might have any of the following symptoms if your cancer has spread to the liver: discomfort or pain on the right side of your tummy (abdomen) feeling sick. poor appetite and weight loss. a swollen tummy (called ascites)
How do you know if you have cancer in your lymph nodes?
Swollen lymph nodes in the chest can make it difficult to swallow. You might have severe upper abdominal pain that moves into your back if you have cancer in the lymph nodes in the back of your abdomen.
Can a doctor tell you about cancer?
Symptoms can usually be well controlled. Your doctor or nurse can tell you about medicines that will help you. They can also tell you about things that you or your friends and family can do. There are symptom control teams in most cancer units. They can help you to stay as well as possible for as long as possible.
Can stomach cancer spread to the liver?
stomach pain. difficulty swallowing. feeling tired. The most common place for stomach cancer to spread is to the liver. It can also spread to the lungs, to lymph nodes or to the tissue lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).
Where does stage 4 stomach cancer spread?
Metastatic, or stage 4, stomach cancer has advanced and spread beyond the stomach and nearby lymph nodes to distant areas of the body. This type of cancer is most likely to spread to the liver or peritoneum, which is the membrane lining of the abdominal cavity.
What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?
These include stomach pain, bloody stool, nausea, abdominal bloating and trouble swallowing. Additional symptoms related to where the cancer has spread are also possible.
What are the symptoms of cancer in the lungs?
Or, if the lungs are affected, symptoms may include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or a persistent cough.
Can you have cancer if you have metastatic stomach cancer?
Having symptoms of metastatic stomach cancer does not necessarily mean you have cancer. In fact, many other, more common conditions can cause similar symptoms. Therefore, a diagnosis from an experienced physician is necessary to confirm or rule out stomach cancer as the cause of your symptoms.