Bladder Cancer Stories


Bladder cancer starts when cells that make up the urinary bladder start to grow out of control. As more cancer cells develop, they can form a tumor and, with time, spread to other parts of the body.
Bladder cancers are often described based on how far they have spread into the wall of the bladder:
- Non-invasive: tumors in a small section of tissue or cancer that’s only on or near the surface of your bladder.
- Non-muscle-invasive: moved deeper into your bladder but hasn’t spread to muscle.
- Muscle-invasive: has grown into bladder wall muscle and may have spread into the fatty layers or tissues on organs outside of your bladder.
Bladder Cancer Stories
Bladder Cancer Causes & Symptoms While the specific cause of bladder cancer may be unknown, there are risk factors and symptoms that may indicate you should take extra precautions to limit your chances of getting bladder cancer or may already have it. In this article, we look at the gene mutations that cause bladder cancer,
Bladder Cancer Series
Bladder cancer patients Ebony & LaSonya talk about their cancer journey, including their first symptoms, how they processed their diagnosis, treatment options, and how they found support. Dr. Samuel Washington, a urologic surgeon, also gives an overview of bladder cancer and its treatments.
Ebony G.
1st Symptoms: Blood in urine, weight gain
Treatment: MVAC chemotherapy, bladder removal surgery, neobladder
Bladder Cancer 101: Understanding Types, Stages, and Spread Welcome to our comprehensive overview of bladder cancer, where we will delve into important aspects such as symptoms, causes, stages, and treatment options. The bladder, a hollow organ located in the pelvis, plays a crucial role in storing urine as part of the urinary tract. When the
LaSonya D.
Symptom: Blood in urine
Treatment: BCG immunotherapy, cystectomy (bladder removal surgery)
Margo W.
1st Symptoms: Blood in urine
Treatment: Chemotherapy (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin) and radical cystectomy
Vickie D.
Symptoms: Intermittent pain in the gut and burning sesnsation
Treatment: Chemotherapy (dd-MVAC) and cystectomy (bladder removal surgery)
Bladder Cancer Resources
Bladder Cancer Medical Experts
Dr. Christopher Weight, M.D.
Role: Center Director Urologic Oncology
Focus: Urological oncology, including kidney, prostate, bladder cancers
Provider: Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Samuel Washington, MD, MAS
Role: Assistant Professor of Urology, UCSF
Focus: Treatment disparities in bladder cancer treatment
Provider: University of California San Francisco
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More Information About Bladder Cancer
For more information about Bladder Cancer and additional patients stories visit the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network’s (BCAN) website.
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