Navigating an Advanced Bladder Cancer Diagnosis

Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine. Additionally, it is also one of the most likely types of cancer to recur. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, approximately 83,190 new cases of bladder cancer will arise, with 63,070 of those diagnoses belonging to men and 20,120 to women. The risk of bladder cancer increases with age. About 9 in 10 people with bladder cancer are above the age of 55. While it is best to catch bladder cancer early, many people receive advanced bladder cancer diagnoses.

When someone in our community is diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer, they may feel shocked, fearful, and overwhelmed. But, it is essential to think about the next steps. Here is some information you don’t want to miss.

What Does Your Diagnosis Mean?

A good medical team is essential when navigating an advanced cancer diagnosis, and second opinions should be welcomed.

After the initial diagnosis, doctors will need to see how severe the cancer is and if it has spread to any other parts of the body; this process is called staging. According to the American Cancer Society, Medical professionals typically use the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM system. It is comprised of 3 key factors:

• T describes how far the primary tumor has grown through the bladder wall and whether it has grown into nearby tissues.
• N indicates any cancer spread to lymph nodes near the bladder.
• M indicates if the cancer has spread to distant sites, such as other organs or lymph nodes that are not near the bladder.

With this approach, doctors can assess cancer and how advanced it may be to allocate the proper treatment. The earliest stage cancers are labeled as stage 0, also known as carcinoma in situ, and then they range from stages I (1) through IV (4), according to the American Cancer Society.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are a few types of treatment that are commonly used to address advanced bladder, including the following:

• Cystectomy (Bladder Removal) Surgery.
• Radiation Therapy.
• Chemotherapy.
•  Immunotherapy.

Cystectomies are performed when bladder cancer completely invades the bladder’s muscular wall. With this method, doctors hope by removing the bladder, all cancerous tissues will be eliminated. Radiation therapy includes the use of special high-energy X-rays that can kill cancer cells and or alter their ability to multiply. Another popular option is chemotherapy, which uses chemical agents implemented orally or through intravenous injection (IV). If effective, chemotherapy disrupts the replication of cancer cells and can potentially shrink tumors. Then, there is immunotherapy, a cancer treatment method that uses drugs and vaccines to aid white blood cells in identifying and attacking the cancerous cells.

It is essential to know the differences between these treatment methods and that every treatment plan looks different; some doctors may suggest a mixture of multiple treatments.

Understand the Roles Professionals on your Medical Team Play.

The type of medical team you may have is based on treatment options and the severity of your condition. The American Cancer Society reports several professionals might be involved in your treatment if you’re navigating advanced bladder cancer:

• Urologists: surgeons who specialize in treating diseases of the urinary system.
• Radiation oncologists: doctors who treat cancer by using radiation therapy.
•  Medical oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with medicine such as those used in immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

You may also encounter other specialists, such as nurses or nutrition specialists; treating advanced bladder cancer is a team effort and requires numerous types of expertise.

Nurture Your Mental Health

Being diagnosed with any stage of bladder cancer is devastating, and these feelings intensify when patients are told that their cancer is advanced. According to TIME, Bladder cancer patients often experience feelings of anxiety and depression, and their overall mental well-being can suffer greatly as they try to manage their physical health.

According to a 2020 survey with approximately 600 participants, 18% of the participants were diagnosed with depression, and another 16% received anxiety diagnoses. 60% of the participants attested to experiencing anxiety as they fear their cancer will return or worsen. Only 38% of the participants stated that they felt emotionally supported through their journey with cancer.

Although it can be challenging, there are a few things that cancer patients can do to manage their mental health. The following things can be helpful:

Seek support from others, including friends, family, or support groups with similar experiences.

Looking into therapy and getting professional mental health services can help cancer patients immensely.

Lean on those around you. If people are willing to help, do not be afraid to use your support system to aid in your daily tasks.

Give yourself grace; a bladder cancer diagnosis is not easy for anyone; it will take time to adjust to your new lifestyle.

An article from the National Library of Medicine stated that social support, specifically group interventions, results in better outcomes regarding the mental well-being of bladder cancer patients.

What You Should Know About Bladder Cancer Recurrence

According to an article from Healthline, Bladder cancer is notorious for recurring, as research from 2022 displays that the 1-year recurrence rate ranges from 15% to 61%, and the 5-year recurrence rate ranges between 31% and 78%. It is vital for those in remission to continue with their check-ups and to communicate any areas of concern with their healthcare providers.

How Bladder Cancer Impacts Our Community

Although we don’t take the lead in bladder cancer diagnoses, we do face disproportionate challenges regarding deaths caused by bladder cancer. Many barriers contribute to our community taking the lead in bladder cancer deaths.

Some barriers include:

• Healthcare access with the inclusion of availability, transportation, and finances.
• A lack of health insurance and coverage.
• Provider bias can influence recommendations and a lack of diagnoses.

Unfortunately, these barriers can lead to later cancer diagnoses, which contribute to our mortality rates. Still, we can equip ourselves with information so that advocating for ourselves and finding the right medical team can be less stressful.

If you are living with bladder cancer and you are not defined by your diagnosis, holistically understanding your condition can make an immense difference.