Overcoming bladder cancer: A comprehensive guide to diagnosis, treatment, and support.

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer occurs when cells in the bladder start to grow without control. The bladder is a hollow, balloon-shaped organ in the lower part of the abdomen that stores urine.

The bladder has a muscular wall that allows it to get larger to store urine made by the kidneys and to shrink to squeeze urine out of the body. There are two kidneys, one on each side of the backbone, above the waist. The bladder and kidneys work together to remove toxins and waste from your body through urine.

• About 82,290 new cases of bladder cancer (about 62,420 in men and 19,870 in women)
• About 16,710 deaths from bladder cancer (about 12,160 in men and 4,550 in women)
• The rates of both new bladder cancers and deaths from bladder cancer have been dropping in recent years.
• Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men, but it's less common in women.
• In 2023, an estimated 82,290 adults (62,420 men and 19,870 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with bladder cancer. Smoking accounts for nearly 50% of all these cases (see Risk Factors). Worldwide, an estimated 573,278 people were diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020.

Treatment of Bladder Cancer

The mainstays of bladder cancer treatment are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, depending on the stage. Scientists continue to study novel treatments and drugs, along with new combinations of existing treatments.

• Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is cancer that has grown through the lining of the bladder but hasn’t yet invaded the muscle layer of the bladder. Treatment for this cancer is usually to remove the tumour by scraping it from the bladder wall. After surgery, some patients may receive additional treatment with an immune-based therapy called Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or with chemotherapy drugs such as mitomycin C (Jelmyto) or gemcitabine put directly into their bladder to reduce the risk that cancer will recur.
• Immunotherapy is a treatment that helps the body’s immune system fight cancer more effectively. In recent years, several different immunotherapy drugs, all of a type called immune checkpoint inhibitors, have been approved for treating certain patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. These drugs work by “releasing the brakes” on the immune system and allowing immune cells to detect and kill tumor cells.

A Promising Step Towards?Advanced Bladder Cancer Treatment

• In 2020, the FDA approved the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Bavencio) for people with advanced bladder cancer that has shrunk or stopped growing after receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. The approval is for the use of nivolumab as maintenance therapy for an advanced disease that has not spread (locally advanced) or a disease that has spread beyond the bladder (metastatic).
• On August 19, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.) for the adjuvant treatment of patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are at high risk of recurrence after undergoing radical resection.

New technology and support to treat and cure cancer

• This is the first FDA approval for adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk UC. The results supporting this approval also supported the conversion of nivolumab’s accelerated approval for advanced or metastatic UC to regular approval.
• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) offers information on all types of cancers in addition to specific information about bladder cancer in general and its treatment options. They also offer an online guidebook titled "What You Need to Know About Bladder Cancer."
• UC San Diego Health is the first health system in San Diego County to offer a new technology that detects and monitors bladder cancer in both the clinic and operating room settings by using blue light, white light, and an imaging dye that makes cancer cells glow fluorescent pink.

“This new in-clinic component improves our ability to catch tumors earlier, identify tumors that might have been missed and help decrease the rates of recurrence and progression,” said Aditya Bagrodia, MD, urologic oncologist at UC San Diego Health.

Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC) with Cysview, an FDA-approved procedure, allows urologists to pinpoint tumors. About an hour before the clinic procedure, the imaging dye is placed into the bladder using a catheter. During the cystoscopy, the urologist first looks inside the bladder using white light and then switches to blue light mode. In blue light, cancerous tumors that may not have been picked up by white light suddenly glow pink, allowing urologists to identify and remove tumors more easily.

What foods are best when you have bladder cancer?

Many studies have explored whether specific foods can fight bladder cancer. There have not been any conclusive results, but some research has shown that specific foods, especially those high in antioxidants, may have anti-cancer effects.

For now, the recommendation is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, which has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer recurrence and death.

A healthy eating pattern includes:

Vegetables and fruits

Vegetables and fruits provide a variety of vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts may be best because they are antioxidant-rich. Berries and citrus fruits are also good options for this reason.

Vegetables and fruits also provide fiber, which can help if you have constipation. Fiber is essential for keeping your digestive system healthy.

Protein sources

Adequate protein helps to maintain muscle mass and support your immune system. Protein sources include meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, soy products, nuts, seeds, and dairy. Try to include a source of protein with all meals and snacks.

Healthy fats

Fats improve the flavour and texture of food. Our body needs fat to help absorb some vitamins, produce hormones, and repair cells throughout the body. Healthy sources of fat include fish, avocados, nuts, seeds, olives, and olive oils.

Whole grains

Whole grains are grain products that have not been overly processed. This means they still contain most of their nutrients and fibre. Look for “whole grain” as the first ingredient in the ingredient list of the foods you’re buying.

Living with Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a serious condition. It can be emotionally and physically draining to live with, but there are things you can do to make your life easier. Here are some tips for managing the physical and emotional effects of bladder cancer:

• Get plenty of rest. Try to take naps during the day or get enough sleep at night so that you feel rested when you wake up in the morning. This will help keep your energy levels up so that it's easier for you to do everyday tasks like cleaning or cooking meals for yourself (or others).
• Eat healthy foods regularly throughout the day—especially fruits and vegetables! These foods contain lots of vitamins and minerals that help keep our bodies strong while fighting off diseases like bladder cancer by boosting our immune systems' ability to fight off infections faster than normal.

Conclusion

Conquering bladder cancer: a journey of Hope, strength, and Support

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, it can be a difficult and emotional time. However, it's important to remember that there are many treatment options available and that you're not alone. Remember to take care of yourself by getting plenty of rest, eating healthy foods, and staying active, and don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor or a support group for help and guidance. Together, we can beat bladder cancer and live life to the fullest.