Page 1 - Bladder Tumour

Urological Health
Bladder tumour
You have been found to have a growth or tumour of the lining of the bladder.
ou have been found to have a growth or tumour
Yof the bladder lining. The bladder is a hollow
organ, which stores urine produced by the kidneys.
Urine passes from each kidney into the bladder
through a tube called a ureter. An outer layer of
muscle surrounds the inner lining of the bladder. When
the bladder is full, these muscles contract to expel
urine through the bladder outlet, the urethra.
Bladder tumour
The bladder is lined with cells called transitional cells.
The majority of bladder tumours arise from these
cells and are called transitional cell carcinoma
(TCC). TCC is a type of cancer and represents about
90% of bladder tumours. Other types of bladder
cancer include squamous cell carcinoma and
adenocarcinoma. There are also benign (non-
cancerous) tumours of the bladder, which generally
do not come back after they are removed.
Although the exact cause of bladder cancer is
unknown there are certain risk factors associated with
the disease. The use of tobacco is a major risk factor
as cigarette smokers are more likely to get bladder
cancer. Pipe and cigar smokers are also at risk.
Some workers have been found to be at higher risk
of bladder cancer because of toxin exposure in their
workplace.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Bladder tumours are often diagnosed during the
investigation of blood in the urine (haematuria).
Occasionally, these tumours can cause urinary
problems with pain or increased frequency and
urgency to void.
The diagnosis of bladder tumours is made after visual
inspection of the bladder (cystoscopy). At times,
they are identified on ultrasound examination of the
bladder or inspection of the urine for cancer cells
(cytology) or other urinary markers.
Once a tumour has been discovered it can be
biopsied at the time of cystoscopy to make a
diagnosis. More often, your urologist will recommend a
surgical procedure to have the tumour scraped away
using an instrument passed through the urethra (Trans-
Urethral Resection of Bladder Tumour or TURBT).
Bladder tumour resection
A bladder tumour resection is often performed
at the hospital. You will be contacted and given
instructions concerning the time, date and location
of the procedure and any necessary preoperative
investigations. The risk of bleeding is increased in
patients taking blood thinners, aspirin, some arthritis
medications, or many herbal supplements. These
drugs normally should be stopped prior to surgery.
Please discuss this with your doctor.
Your anesthesiologist will have discussed the various
options for preventing you from experiencing pain
during the surgery, usually either by spinal anaesthetic
(“freezing” you from the waist down with a needle
in the back) or by general anaesthetic (putting you
to sleep). You may be given antibiotics prior to your
surgery to decrease the risk of getting an infection.
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