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Bladder Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, 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.

ACS states that Bladder cancer is the the fourth most common cancer in men, but it’s less common in women. Bladder cancer is more prominent in older individuals, with most cases being diagnosed past the age of 55 and the average age of diagnosis at 73. Almost half of all bladder cancers are found first in in the inner layer of the bladder wall, which makes them non-invasive. However, one third of diagnosis’s are found to have spread inter deeper layers within the bladder. While rare, some cases show spreading to nearby tissues or lymph nodes outside of the bladder.

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The Most Common Symptoms of Bladder Cancer Include:

  • Skin changes in areas getting radiation, ranging from redness to blistering and peeling
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Bladder symptoms, like burning or pain when you urinate, feeling the need to go often, or blood in your urine
  • Diarrhea
  • Blood in stool and/or urine
  • Tiredness (fatigue)
  • Low blood counts, which can lead to fatigue, easy bruising or bleeding, or increased risk of infection
  • Fertility and sexual problems (erection issues in men and vaginal irritation in women)

Because these symptoms may overlap with those of other conditions, it is important to get the correct diagnosis to find the right treatment. Use the form below to talk to one of our specialist about your symptoms today.

Talk To A Team Member Today

We know you have a choice about where you get your cancer care but we hope you’ll choose us.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

337-769-8660

Treating Bladder Cancer with Radiation

Radiation therapy uses beams of powerful energy, such as X-rays and protons, to destroy the cancer cells. Radiation therapy is sometimes combined with chemotherapy to treat bladder cancer in certain situations, such as when surgery isn’t an option or isn’t desired. Radiation therapy can be used as part of the treatment for some early-stage bladder cancers and after surgery that doesn’t remove the whole bladder (such as TURBT). It can also be used as the main treatment for people with earlier-stage cancers who can’t have surgery or chemotherapy or to try to avoid surgical removal of the bladder. Radiation can also be a part of the treatment for bladder cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Treatments are scheduled Monday through Friday over the course of several weeks. In some cases, we can delivery higher doses of radiation in fewer treatments.

Your treatment is custom-tailored and unique to your diagnosis, tumor size, location and involvement. Your radiation oncologist (a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation) will review all available treatment options and recommend a personalized plan for you based on national guidelines, which guide all cancer treatments. Radiation therapy is used either alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. Radiation can be delivered either from outside the body with a machine called a linear accelerator (external beam radiation) or from a radiation source implanted permanently or temporarily in the body (brachytherapy).

Benefits of Radiation Therapy

  • Pain Free Treatment Delivery
  • Non-Invasive
  • Custom Tailored Treatment Plan
  • Little to No Side Effects
  • Immediate Return to Daily Activities
  • Minimal Radiation Exposure to Adjacent Healthy Tissue

Why Choose OncoLogics?

ADVANCED THERAPIES

We are committed to offering the most advanced treatments available. Our treatment plans follow national guidelines and are the same protocols as those used by top academic cancer centers.

TEAM OF EXPERTS

Our doctors, nurses, technical and support staff are experts in their fields. We work as one closely coordinated team and enjoy what we do.

PATIENT & FAMILY CENTERED

We’re not afraid to admit that we love our patients and families. And because of that, we approach each person as if they were one of our own family members. We believe in the power of a smile or hug to help someone get through a challenging day.

PERSONALIZED CARE

Some patients may need as little as five treatments. We’ll spend time with you to make sure you understand your diagnosis and which treatment plan best meets your needs.

Talk To A Team Member Today

We know you have a choice about where you get your cancer care but we hope you’ll choose us.