Dr. Mertens (NL) explains the position of very high risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in the current landscape of NMIBC.

Sophia Kamran, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, talks on the future of radiation therapy for urothelial carcinoma, including hypofractionated radiation therapy, adaptive radiation therapy and personalizing radiation therapy. Additionally, radiation in combination with immunotherapy and other novel therapies is discussed. This interview took place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2022 in San Francisco, CA.

There is no such thing as routine bladder cancer. Every patient’s bladder cancer is different, with different, individually unique genes and molecules driving that specific cancer.

At the OSUCCC – James, our bladder cancer specialists are world-renowned cancer experts who focus solely on bladder cancer and who reach across medical disciplines (urologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pharmacists and more) to design the very best treatment plan and therapies to target each patient’s specific cancer.

In fact, we offer all newly diagnosed patients an on-site, thorough evaluation and treatment-options review with experts from urologic radiation oncology, surgical oncology and medical oncology so that together, the patient and the experts can decide on the best personalized treatment option.

And by offering access to the country’s most advanced clinical trials right here at the OSUCCC – James, patients know that additional options, when needed, are often available for their treatment and care.

Facts About Bladder Cancer

The bladder is a small, balloon-shaped organ that holds urine until it can be passed from the body. It’s located in the lower part of the abdomen, and the walls of the bladder are muscular, allowing it to expand and retract.

Bladder cancer is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States after lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and lymphoma. It is the third most prevalent cancer in men but only the eleventh most prevalent in women. Of the 70,000 new cases diagnosed annually, about 53,000 are in men and about 18,000 are in women.

Bladder cancer is often one of three types, named for what types of cells become cancerous. These are:

- Transitional Cell Carcinoma (low or high grade)
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (flat skin cells)
- Adenocarcinoma (glandular cells)

Bladder cancer can be superficial, which means the cancer cells are confined to the bladder’s lining, or the cancer can be invasive, which means the cancer cells invade the muscular wall to spread to other organs or lymph nodes.

About half of all newly diagnosed cases are superficial (confined to the lining of the bladder).

Bladder Cancer Symptoms

Bladder cancer that has just formed or that is early in its progress, may not cause any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include the following:

- Blood in the urine (slightly rusty to bright red in color)
- Frequent urination
- Pain during urination
- Lower back pain
(Source: National Cancer Institute)

Having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have bladder cancer. These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. But if you have symptoms, you should tell your doctor, especially if symptoms have continued for longer than a few weeks.

If you’ve been diagnosed with bladder cancer, would like a second opinion or would like to speak with a bladder cancer specialist, please call The James Line at 800-293-5066 or 614-293-5066 to make an appointment.