Bladder Cancer
At SouthWest Urology, our physicians are highly specialized in treating urologic cancers with the most advanced techniques. Using a team approach, we strive for excellence. We work with each patient to specifically tailor their treatment to their own clinical situation. One of the common diseases that we treat is bladder cancer.
The bladder is in the lower abdomen and its function is to store and expel urine. The bladder has an elastic muscular wall that allows it to contract and expand as urine is stored or emptied. When cells of the bladder grow abnormally, they can become bladder cancer.
Cancer that is confined to the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer. Cancer that invades into the muscular wall of the bladder or beyond is called invasive bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer symptoms are nonspecific and sometimes can represent other urologic disorders. For this reason, our physicians perform specific screening studies to aid in the diagnosis. At
SouthWest Urology, we perform a step-by-step approach to ensure the precise diagnosis is made for each patient. It is very important to do a comprehensive bladder cancer work-up to carefully evaluate the extent of bladder cancer. SouthWest Urology has the tools necessary to accurately stage the cancer assuring best treatment choice and outcome.
- Examining a urine sample (urine cytology)
- Blood tests
- Using a scope to examine the inside of your bladder (cystoscopy)
- Removing a sample of tissue for testing (biopsy)
- Imaging studies
- CT urogram
- Retrograde pyelogram
- CT Abdomen/Pelvis
- MRI
- PET
- Bone scan
- Chest X-Ray