Bladder Cancer Stages

Question: What are the end stage symptoms of bladder cancer?

Answer: There are several types of bladder cancers, including the following: * transitional cell carcinoma Transitional cell carcinoma is cancer that begins in the cells lining the bladder. Transitional cells also line the other parts of the urinary tract including the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common kind of bladder cancer, occurring in about 90 percent of cases. This type of cancer is also called urothelial carcinoma. * squamous cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma is cancer that begins in squamous cells - thin, flat cells found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. About 6 to 8 percent of bladder cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. * adenocarcinoma Adenocarcinoma is cancer that begins in the cells of glandular structures lining certain organs in the body and then spreads to the bladder. Common primary sites for adenocarcinomas include the lung, pancreas, breast, prostate, stomach, liver, and colon. Adenocarcinomas account for only about 2 percent of bladder cancers. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) provides guidelines for staging of bladder cancer. The stages range from Stage 0 to Stage IV and have detailed criteria for tumor size, invasiveness, presence in lymph nodes, and whether or not the cancer has metastasized (spread) to other organs. A general description of each stage of bladder cancer follows: * Stage 0 - cancer cells are found only on the inner lining of the bladder. This is also called superficial cancer or carcinoma in situ. * Stage I - cancer cells are found deep in the lining of the bladder, but have not invaded the bladder muscle. * Stage II - cancer cells are present in the muscle of the bladder. * Stage III - cancer cells have spread through the bladder muscle into the tissues around the bladder, such as the prostate in men or the uterus in women. * Stage IV - cancer has progressed further into the abdominal cavity, and may have spread to lymph nodes and other organs in the body. The most common symptoms of bladder cancer include: * Blood or blood clots in the urine (hematuria). Hematuria occurs in 80% to 90% of people who have bladder cancer and is the most common symptom. Usually it is not painful. 1 * Pain during urination (dysuria). * Urinating small amounts frequently. * Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Symptoms that may indicate more advanced bladder cancer include: * Pain in the lower back around the kidneys (flank pain). * Swelling in the lower legs. * A growth in the pelvis near the bladder (pelvic mass). Other symptoms that may develop when bladder cancer has spread include: * Weight loss. * Bone pain or pain in the rectal, anal, or pelvic area. * Anemia.

Question: Stage 2 Bladder Cancer...6 weeks of chemotherapy doctor said...? that sickness from the chemotherapy could be severe, a 50-50 chance of it being pretty bad. I am too experienced with chemotherapy going into a port, this chemotherapy will be "in place" for two hours and then it will be done. How will it be put "there" in the first place. Patient is 79 year old male, and the doctor also said there is a 50-50 chance the cancer will return in 5 years. Can you shed some light on stage two bladder cancer and how chemotherapy is administered. Six weeks of treatments. Thanks Dave

Answer: Grade 2 cancers have cells that look more abnormal – they are called 'medium grade' or 'moderately differentiated' and may grow or spread more quickly than low grade, chemo will be by IV drip, it depends on the current health of the patient but can make you very weak and sick, my dad was age 73 when he had lung cancer and lung removed, he survived, 3 years later he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and died 6 weeks later age 79.

Question: what is the life expectancy of an 80 year old woman with stage 3 bladder cancer?

Answer: Asking a question like this in Yahoo Answers will only scare you even more. Talk to the doctors, they are the ones best able to help you with solid information. Also, keep in mind that truly nobody (including her doctors) can give a exact answer to that question. All the statistics about survival are just that, statistics do not deal with individuals but with groups of people. There is no good answer for you, but the best you can do is ask a doctor.

Question: Info on Bladder cancer? A good friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 3 Bladder cancer and had a large mass removed but there is still a large amount in there that they cannot remove without removing the bladder. Anyone know good doctors or treatmentsw to explore or know anyone who has had their bladder removed like this? As much detail as possible is appreciated.

Answer: I am sorry to hear about your friend. I hope things get better soon for them. Below are some Information Resources regarding Bladder Cancer. Also check out the website People Living with Cancer at http://www.plwc.org There is A LOT of information on that site and hopefully some of it can help you. Click on Cancer then on Bladder Cancer. There is just too much information on Treatments, Resources, Etc for me to paste here. So please take a look. Good luck to you and Your friend. Patient Information Resources American Foundation for Urologic Disease (AFUD) 1000 Corporate Blvd., Suite 410 Linthicum, MD 21090 Toll Free: 800-828-7866 Tel: 410-689-3990 Fax: 410-689-3998 www.afud.org Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) PO Box 341105 Bethesda, MD 341105 Tel: 301-469-6865 Fax: 301-469-7526 www.bcan.org

Question: The diagnosis is bladder cancer, and they want to remove the cancer surgically....? I understand by talking to his wife the chemotherapy will be in liquid form taken orally. Not sure which stage it is in yet, but we are pretty scared. Been through almost a year with my wife's breast cancer and now her Uncle was diagnosed today with bladder cancer. I hate cancer!

Answer: You have another battle on your hands. My mother was just diagnosed with bladder cancer also. She will have a long fight with it at age 80. Not sure that "liquid oral chemotherapy" report is accurate Dave. His wife may not have understood the explanation. Hopefully they can do a transurethral resection as the urologist did with my mother. She has a high risk for recurrence, so she has received BCG which is a weekly liquid treatment (not really "chemotherapy") placed into the bladder via a catheter. Sometimes people are treated with Mitomycin which is a liquid chemo agent placed in the bladder. The first step of course is the biopsy/resection to determine the stage and grade of the bladder malignancy. No point in getting too scared until you know all the details. My mom has handled this extremely well. She's tougher than I would be. I personally don't like to go to doctors for anything. There will probably be a large number of doctor visits involved in the treatment and follow-up for this bladder cancer - something you and your wife have already been through. BUT - the majority of people with early stage low grade bladder cancers do well - just like most women with breast cancer do very well after all the annoying treatment to prevent recurrence.

Question: Cancer will not give me rest...after a year of my wife's breast cancer it has hit family and friends? Her uncle was diagnosed with bladder cancer stage 2. Treatments begin next week. Today I talked to a co-worker of mine that was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He told me his doctor said he has about a year left. Now after my wife's breast cancer I know each person is different and there is hope in clinical trials. But if a doctor told me this I would probably feel like it was hopeless....is it?

Answer: Hi Dave, I’m sorry to hear this, but glad Becky is doing well. I answered your question about her uncle’s bladder cancer but didn’t realize it was you at the time. I hope you got to the bottom of that, as what they were saying didn’t make a lot of sense. Anyway, about pancreatic cancer, this is not a good cancer to have and in general has a poor prognosis. The only people I have seen who survive it are the few lucky ones where it was found by accident. Less than 20% have resectable disease when diagnosed and it is not an easy surgery. After going through Becky’s cancer I think you have a good idea of how likely it is to cure if the tumor cannot be removed. Less than 20% survive the first year and less than 3% survive 5 years. Clinical trials may help. I’m not sure what treatment Patrick Swayze is on, but he is being treated at Stanford and is surviving longer than most. I’m sorry I wish the news was better.

Question: Searching for info on Bladder Cancer.? Someone I know has just been diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. While the stage of the cancer is still being diagnosed (all additional tests for cancer spread to other areas have come back normal, but we still have yet to do the bone test) the doctor has recommended a full removal of the bladder. Assuming that we can catch and remove all of the cancer cells confined to the bladder, does it hinder how long you can live? Also if there is anyone who could offer info on the bad vs the reconstructed neobladder. Thank you all in advance, I appreciate your help so much!

Answer: A friend of my dad was diagnoised with Bladder cancer. I met her in 1990 and she's still alive. She carries her bladder bag with her and you can never tell she has one attached. She's about 80 years old. What they did was attached a tube on her right side and has a clamp for it. She empties it when needed. I hope this helps. You can go to the following websites that I listed. This is where I go to find any of my health issues. I, too, had precancerous cells and now I am cancer free. Thank the Lord.

Question: Bladder cancer questions!? My dad experienced blood in the urine and went to the ER. He had an ultrasound done a few days later and they said they found a "mass." Today they did a scope to look in the bladder and they said they are pretty sure it is cancer. They scheduled him for post op on the 14th and surgery on the 23rd. They told him the surgery will be done via the scope but he may have to have the bag if his bladder is removed. He went to the VA hospital. My question is do they not know the stage of the cancer until they do the surgery? Can they tell with the scope alone if it is Superficial or invasive bladder cancer? My dad didn't ask ANY questions as he is of the generation the just listens to what the doctor says and goes home. He is not proactive in his healthcare. If they thought it was in a later stage would they have just scheduled him for the surgery where they actually open you up? I'm confused! They didn't mention chemo or radiation. I guess I don't understand how much they actually know now.

Answer: This may sound odd, but if you are going to get cancer (and about 25% of people do at some point), bladder cancer is a "good" one to get, because it is so very treatable. If it is just a superficial tumor (ie it's only on the inside wall of the bladder), Dad'll probably get surgery followed by either chemo or "immunotherapy". Before that, if the cystoscopy wasn't "conclusive" as to the extent of the tumor, he'll probably get a CATscan or PETscan, which is actually kind of cool to go through before they decide whether to "cut" him. Don't fret, he may not be "OK", but he'll be alright! Best wishes to you & your Dad. Was he a smoker?

Question: cancer about bladder cancer. I have this desease and I am only 38 going on 39 soon and female,? no they say that to be at risk for bladder cancer(risk does not mean you will get it) you have to be exposed to chemicals and dyes. Now my dad is a vetnam war vet and was exposed to many chemicals during the war. And this was before I was conceived. Could this have harmed me? I am curious. I go back to see my speciliat next friday to get my staging. waiting on him, yes Jesus return is very near, God bless you

Answer: I would think that your father had nothing to do with you getting cancer, but that's just my opinion. I am so sorry to hear that you are having to deal with something like this. I hope everything turns out o.k. for you and GOD BLESS!! By the way, I love your name!

Question: BLADDER CANCER? ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING PLEASE HELP? Just found out my dad has bladder cancer, he just got out of surgery, so we don't know what stage it is at. We do know it was a rather large tumor. Does anyone have any experience, what would be his prognosis and any suggestions? Anything please help? Sorry not alot of details but I had just found out then and did not have much to go on, the surgeon said that he removed all of it, it was a large tumor, that he will begin BCG therapy and that we await the path report to learn more. I don't have much more info, cause I am not there I live in another country and could not get there in time, so with the time difference and all that is all I have for now. Thank you to all for your reply and patiance, I will post more as I find out.

Answer: You are not giving much to go on, but most bladder cancers are slow growing and superficial, even when the tumors are large. The doctor almost always knows how invasive it is after surgery, but he may be waiting for the path report before he says anything. They are usually treated surgically (TURBT) followed by about 6 weeks of immunotherapy (BCG) and followed by regular cystos. They often recur and it is not unusual to see someone with bladder cancer for 10-15 years.

Question: Bladder Cancer... Has anyone gone through this?? My father has been diagnosised with High Grade Invasive Bladder Cancer which has penitrated the muscle and spread to the Prostate. I know for sure that it has affected one of the Large Lymph Nodes in the surrounding area. I'm not certain of the Stage at this time. The surgeon has said that it could be a high 2-3 or 4... They did not do any radical surgery or cutting, as they did everything microscopic through his genitals. They removed part of the tumor from his bladder but were unable to get it all. He has a stint attatched to the Kidney with a tube that runs to the Bladder which also has a stint attatched, this way he is able to urinate with ease. The tumor inside the bladder is so large that it was blocking the flow of urine. He is undergoing Radiation 5 days a week at 15 minutes a session.. he will have 30 treatments. They do not recommend Chemo, as they feel he would not be able to withstand it's effects. He is 88 years old and has been in perfect health.

Answer: I have not gone through this myself, but it is my job to report and stage cancer. If the tumor invades the prostate and there is a positive node then it is a stage 4. I’m not exactly sure what your question is, but I hope this helps.

Question: Can anyone tell me what "stage four" cancer is? The cancer is in the lungs, liver and bladder. Is "stage four" near the end?

Answer: stage 4 is near the end in many many cases....however there are still options out there and a chance for a longer life.... see the link i provided.....

Question: What are your chances of surviving cervical cancer stage 3? It spread to the bladder and uterus, inoperable at the time because of large tumor shutting off uretha.

Answer: Here's general data from the NCI (National Cancer Institute): "50% of cervix uteri cancer cases are diagnosed while the cancer is still confined to the primary site (localized stage); 35% are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to regional lymph nodes or directly beyond the primary site; 11% are diagnosed after the cancer has already metastasized (distant stage) and for the remaining 5% the staging information was unknown. The corresponding 5-year relative survival rates were: 91.5% for localized; 57.7% for regional; 17.2% for distant; and 56.7% for unstaged. On January 1, 2006, in the United States there were approximately 248,166 women alive who had a history of cancer of the cervix uteri." So, the rough estimation of five year survival with regional disease would be almost 58%. I always liked treating cancers "from the outside in" as I call it. Use the chemotherapy first. You know it's working when the primary tumor is visibly shrinking. Then you can proceed with the surgery and follow-up pelvic radiation therapy. When we give chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for possible microscopic disease, we can't "see" if it is working. If I'm the person going though combination chemotherapy with the expense and side effects, I'd like to know it was truly working on my particular cancer. When you use chemotherapy "up front" as in this case - you know it's working. Hopefully the primary tumor will shrink enough to unblock the urethra. I would estimate that there is a better than 50/50 chance that the chemotherapy will shrink the primary tumor - though I do not know which combination regimen they will be using. There are different chemotherapy drugs and combinations which might be employed in this case. The first step is to reduce the tumor size with the systemic therapy as you say they plan to do. If she does respond initially, her chances get better - as long as there is no distant spread of the malignancy to the lungs or liver or retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

Question: How do I go about getting a tax ID number for a fundraiser and do I have to register with the state of MI?? My dad was diagnosed with stage 3 gall bladder cancer and unfortunately it has spread to the bone. This procedure he needs will cost over 200,000. and insurance will only pay so much so I am trying to set up and fundraiser/benefit to help with the costs of his treatments. I have tons of great ideas but I need to make sure that I am following whatever guidelines the state of MI has set. I have to set up and bank account with a tax ID number. I also need this number to give to companies who I have donating large amounts. Any help would be amazing!!!!!! I have read and read and I can't seem to find my answers anywhere. Please help me.

Answer: I believe you will be able to use your SSN for your tax ID number unless you set up a separate organization through the State of Michigan.

Question: I just learned that my father has bladder cancer. What do I do now?! Please read? I don't know what stage he is in yet or anything (I don't have much info at all). I'm not sure what I am supposed to do... I am seventeen years old, and in the last 4-5 years, I really only have seen him on holidays for a couple of hours (xmas, his birthday, sometimes mine) and we send occasional emails back and fourth. We have always had a rocky relationship, we rarely get along for more than a few minutes. He is chronically depressed (and I am dysthymic), we both have OCD and he is very much an alcoholic (won't admit it, simply says he enjoys beer), and has been for many years, as well as an avid smoker. I feel my childhood was not what it could have been and that was due to his behaviour. He attacks me (and once my mother--they have been divorced for 10 years, since I was 7) with subtely, makes me doubt myself, and tries to make people feel inferior. He is quick to anger when frustrated. Even with all of this he is not a bad person, though I penalize him, he is just (continued below) ...he is just completely clueless. He has no one really to rely on (has a brother he doesn't get along with well, his mother has alziemers [spelling, I know] and is in her mid-late eighties, and as far as friends he has work buddies. No girlfriend that I know of, and I am an only child...). With my problems this is a huge weight on my shoulders, I know I need to see him and things I just don't know how to go about it and come out alright on the other side. I don't know how I'm going to be able to survive being around him let alone through chemo, etc, etc. Any ideas, feedback, please. It is appreciated beyond belief! THANK YOU ALL

Answer: You have to be there for him. My father died of cancer when I was 13, even though I knew he was going to die between 6 months and 2 years. Every day we lived life to the best we could. I let him know how much I loved him every day. If you keep yours AND his mental health up, who knows, you might even beat this cancer. The best thing you can do is get into more contact with him, spend more time, show him you care about him, show him that life was, and will be up to the last moment (unless he defeats this) the greatest life he could have lived, you need to show him that. You need to get in there and show him that he has people who care about him and you need to show him that life is worth every penny, and that from the moment he was born to the moment that everyone in this world has to pass, that there are no regrets and life was good.

Question: Anyone know about Cervical cancer and its stages? My soon to be mother in law has been diagnosed with cervical cancer. She was diagnosed from what we are told back in June. My boyfriend seems to be a bit confused and a part of me thinks she is withholding information to spare the family. I am just wondering what stage she is. So far what I know is....she has a "stent" in her side which has a bag that has to be flushed. She gets chemo every day and i believe radiation every other week. She is hospitalized every other week because she is in so much pain. She is constipated, has a bladder infection and is weak and in pain alot. She also has lost maybe 40 lbs since the diagnosis in June. She will not eat. She will only tolerate a spoonful of food or watermelon. She was not eating before the chemo started so its not the chemo. Anyone have experience with this and have any answers. My boyfriend is so understandably sensitive with this subject and I try not to bombard him with questions.

Answer: Unlike other cancers, cervical cancer is not passed down through family genes. Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of a virus—human papillomavirus or HPV. half of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer are between 35 and 55 years old, many of these women were probably exposed to cancer-causing HPV types in their teens or 20s. For most women who have HPV, the virus will go away on its own. But for some women who don't clear the virus, cervical cancer can develop. Stage 0-stage 0 means that cancerous cells that have not invaded deeper tissues. The cells are superficial and are only found on the surface. Stage I In stage I, cancerous cells have invaded the cervix, and cells are no longer just at the surface. Cancer is still confined to the cervix and has not spread. Stage IA: This is the earliest form of stage I cervical cancer. The cancer can only be identified under microscopic examination. Stage IA1: The invasion area is less than 3mm(1/8 inch) deep and less than 7mm (1/4 inch) wide. Stage IA2: The invasion area is between 3 mm and 5 mm (about 1/5 inch) deep and less than 7 mm (about 1/4 inch) wide. Stage IB: This stage indicated that cancer can be seen without a microscope. It also include cancers that have invaded the connective tissue of the cervix, deeper than 5mm (1/5 inch). Stage IB1: Cancer is no more than 4 centimeters large (1 3/4 inches). Stage IB2: Cancer is larger than 4 centimeters (1 3/4 inches) Stage II In stage II, the cancer has spread to nearby tissues, but is still contained within the pelvic area. Stage IIA: Cancer has spread to the upper part of the vagina. The lower third of the vagina has not been affected. Stage IIB: In this stage, cancer has spread to tissue near the cervix. This tissue is called parametrial tissue. Stage III This stage indicates that cancer has spread to the lower portion of the vagina. It could have also spread to the pelvic wall in this stage. Stage IIIA: Cancer has spread to the lower part of the vagina and is contained in that area. Stage IIIB: Cancer has spread to the pelvic wall. This also includes cancer that blocks the flow of urine to the bladder. Stage IV In stage IV, the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. This is the most advanced stage of cervical cancer. Stage IVA: This stage includes cancer that has spread to areas close to the cervix, such as the bladder or rectum. i hope i helped and im sorry to here about your soon to be mother in law. i hope she beats it. with chemo there is a good chance she can either go in remition or beat it all together. and if your worried about her holding back on you and your fiance then talk to the doc. and demand to know whats going on!