Bladder Cancer
Dr. Nimira Alimohamed (MD, FRCPC) Calgary, AB
During treatment & Bladder Cancer
Treatment side effects may change what you can tolerate:
-
Poor appetite or weight loss: Eat smaller meals more frequently and choose calorie- and protein-rich foods.
-
Nausea: Try smaller meals and bland foods; follow the anti-nausea plan provided by your oncology team.
-
Mouth sores: Soft, moist foods may be easier to eat; avoid foods that are spicy, acidic, or very hot if they irritate your mouth.
-
Diarrhea: Fluid and electrolyte replacement may be important; dietary adjustments depend on severity.
-
Constipation: Adequate fluids, fiber, and physical activity can help when appropriate.
Foods and supplements & Bladder cancer
It’s not necessary to follow a highly restrictive “cancer diet.” There is no strong evidence that eliminating sugar, meat, dairy, or particular vegetables treats bladder cancer.
Be cautious with high-dose vitamins, antioxidants, herbal products, or other supplements. Some can interact with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, or other medications. Discuss supplements with your oncology team before starting them.
After treatment Bladder Cancer
A generally healthy pattern emphasizing vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, fish, nuts, and healthy fats, while limiting tobacco and excessive alcohol and highly processed foods, supports overall health.
Diagnosis Bladder Cancer
Evaluation may include:
-
Urine testing for blood, infection, abnormal cells, or tumor markers
-
Cystoscopy, in which a clinician examines the bladder with a thin camera
-
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to remove/sample a tumor and determine its type and depth
-
Imaging such as CT or MRI when appropriate
The pathology from a biopsy/TURBT and imaging help establish the cancer’s stage and grade, which are important in choosing treatment.
Treatment Bladder Cancer
Treatment depends heavily on whether the cancer is non-muscle-invasive or muscle-invasive, its grade and risk of recurrence, and the person’s overall health. Options can include:
-
TURBT to remove early bladder tumors
-
Intravesical treatment, in which medication is placed directly into the bladder; BCG is one commonly used treatment for selected non-muscle-invasive cancers
-
Chemotherapy
-
Immunotherapy
-
Targeted therapy
-
Radiation therapy
-
Partial or radical cystectomy (removal of part or all of the bladder)
Dr. Bimal Bhindi MD, CM, MSc, FRCSC Calgary, Alberta
Power of postive thinking and the mind.
- Emotional Distress: A cancer diagnosis can lead to feelings of fear, worry, anger, and helplessness, significantly affecting emotional well-being.
- Increased Risk of Disorders: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have a higher risk of developing mental health disorders, with some studies showing this risk can persist for many years after diagnosis.
- Treatment-Related Anxiety: The process of diagnosis, treatment decisions, and ongoing monitoring (like PSA checks) can all trigger anxiety.
- Chronic Pain and Stress: This condition is associated with high levels of stress, depression, and anxiety due to chronic pain and a diminished quality of life, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study.
Bladder cancer and anxiety
Anxiety is common after a bladder cancer diagnosis. Worry about treatment, recurrence, scans, urinary symptoms, or changes in everyday life can affect sleep, concentration, appetite, and overall quality of life. Anxiety doesn’t mean that the cancer is getting worse.
What may help Bladder cancer and anxiety
-
Talk with your cancer-care team: Tell them about persistent worry, panic, poor sleep, or difficulty coping. They can provide counseling or refer you to psycho-oncology services.
-
Psychotherapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of counseling can help manage cancer-related anxiety.
-
Relaxation techniques: Slow breathing, mindfulness, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation can reduce physical tension.
-
Physical activity: Walking or other exercise appropriate for your health can improve mood and sleep.
-
Maintain a routine: Regular meals, activity, social contact, and sleep schedules can provide stability during treatment.
-
Limit excessive cancer-related searching: Getting information from your oncology team and reliable cancer organizations can reduce confusion and unnecessary worry.
-
Medication: If anxiety is persistent or severe, a doctor may consider medication. The choice should take your cancer treatments and other medications into account.
Dr. Bimal Bhindi MD, CM, MSc, FRCSC Calgary, Alberta
Good nutrition during cancer treatment is mainly about maintaining strength, muscle mass, hydration, and adequate calories and protein. Nutritional needs vary considerably depending on the type of cancer, treatment, symptoms, and whether the goal is treatment, recovery, or supportive care.
Foods to emphasize
-
Protein: Fish, poultry, eggs, yogurt, milk, tofu, beans, lentils, nuts, and nut butters. Protein is important for maintaining muscle and supporting recovery.
-
Fruits and vegetables: Include a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits as tolerated.
-
Whole grains and high-fiber foods: Oats, whole-grain breads, brown rice, quinoa, and legumes when tolerated.
-
Healthy fats: Olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish.
-
Fluids: Water, milk, soups, and other appropriate beverages help prevent dehydration.
If appetite is poor or weight is falling
During cancer treatment, getting enough calories and protein can be more important than following a restrictive “perfect” diet. Try smaller meals more frequently and choose nutrient-dense foods. Smoothies, yogurt, eggs, soups, nut butter, and oral nutrition supplements can sometimes make it easier to meet nutritional needs.
Managing treatment-related symptoms
Nutrition can be adjusted for common treatment effects:
-
Nausea: Small meals, bland foods, and cold or room-temperature foods may be easier to tolerate.
-
Mouth sores: Soft, moist foods and avoiding spicy or acidic foods may help.
-
Diarrhea: Fluids and easily tolerated foods are important; dietary changes depend on severity.
-
Constipation: Fluids, fiber, and physical activity may help when appropriate.
-
Difficulty swallowing: A speech-language pathologist or dietitian can recommend appropriate food textures.
Dr. Geoffrey Gotto MD, MPH, FRCSC, urologic, Oncologist.
Bladder cancer overview
Bladder cancer develops when cells in the bladder begin growing abnormally. Most bladder cancers begin in the urothelial cells, which line the inside of the bladder.
Main types bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is commonly classified according to how deeply it has grown:
-
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC): The tumor is confined to the inner layers of the bladder.
-
Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC): The cancer has grown into the bladder’s muscle layer and has a greater risk of spreading.
-
Metastatic bladder cancer: The cancer has spread to distant organs or lymph nodes.
Bladder cancer overview
Bladder cancer occurs when cells in the bladder begin growing abnormally. Most bladder cancers begin in the urothelium, the lining of the bladder. They are commonly classified as non-muscle-invasive or muscle-invasive, depending on whether the cancer has reached the bladder’s muscle layer.
Common symptoms
The most common warning sign is blood in the urine (hematuria), which may come and go and may sometimes only be detected on a urine test. Other symptoms can include:
-
Frequent urination
-
Burning or pain when urinating
-
Feeling an urgent need to urinate
-
Waking frequently at night to urinate
-
Lower back or abdominal pain
-
Difficulty urinating
These symptoms can also be caused by infections, kidney stones, or other conditions, so they don’t necessarily mean cancer.
Dr. Nimira Alimohamed (MD, FRCPC) Calgary, AB
Diagnosis of bladder cancer
Evaluation may involve:
-
Urine tests
-
Cystoscopy, using a small camera to examine the bladder
-
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to remove or biopsy a tumor
-
CT, MRI, or other imaging when appropriate
-
Laboratory examination of tumor tissue to determine its type, grade, and stage
Risk factors Bladder Cancer
Important risk factors include:
-
Smoking, which is one of the major preventable risk factors
-
Increasing age
-
Certain workplace chemical exposures
-
Previous pelvic radiation
-
Some chemotherapy drugs
-
Chronic bladder irritation or certain infections
The NOW Exercise Difference
Mr. Nick Pratap, Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC
Mr. Nick Pratap, Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC
Mr. Nick Pratap, Kinesiologist, Vancouver, BC
Dr. Geoffrey Gotto MD, MPH, FRCSC, urologic, Oncologist.
Diagnosis of bladder cancer
Evaluation may involve:
-
Urine tests
-
Cystoscopy, using a small camera to examine the bladder
-
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to remove or biopsy a tumor
-
CT, MRI, or other imaging when appropriate
-
Laboratory examination of tumor tissue to determine its type, grade, and stage
Bladder cancer is a common malignancy that develops in the lining of the bladder. The most typical presenting symptom is painless hematuria (blood in the urine). Major risk factors include smoking and exposure to certain industrial chemicals.
Diagnosis requires prompt evaluation, usually with imaging studies and cystoscopy to directly visualize the bladder. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease. Non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer is often managed with transurethral resection followed by intravesical therapy such as BCG immunotherapy, while muscle-invasive disease typically requires more aggressive approaches, including surgery (such as cystectomy), chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy.
Dr. Nimira Alimohamed (MD, FRCPC) Calgary, AB
Neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment
These terms describe when cancer treatment is given in relation to the main treatment, usually surgery.
Neoadjuvant treatment
Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment, such as surgery.
For muscle-invasive bladder cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be given before radical cystectomy (bladder removal). The goals are to:
-
Treat microscopic cancer cells that may already have spread
-
Shrink or control the tumor before surgery
-
Improve the chance of successful long-term treatment
Some patients may receive neoadjuvant immunotherapy or other treatments depending on the cancer and current treatment approach.
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is bladder cancer that has not grown into the muscular layer of the bladder wall. It accounts for a large proportion of newly diagnosed bladder cancers.
Main types
NMIBC is generally categorized by how deeply the tumor has grown:
-
Ta: A papillary tumor confined to the bladder’s inner lining.
-
T1: The tumor has grown into the connective tissue beneath the lining but not into the muscle.
-
Carcinoma in situ (CIS/Tis): A flat, high-grade cancer limited to the bladder lining.
Doctors also consider the tumor’s grade (how abnormal the cells look) and other features to estimate the risk of recurrence and progression.
Diagnosis and initial treatment
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is usually the initial procedure. A urologist removes the visible tumor through the urethra and sends tissue to pathology to determine the type, grade, and depth of invasion.
Depending on the risk category, treatment may include:
-
A single dose of intravesical chemotherapy after TURBT for selected patients.
-
Intravesical BCG: A form of immunotherapy placed directly into the bladder, commonly used for higher-risk NMIBC and CIS.
-
Additional TURBT: Sometimes performed when the initial resection was incomplete, the tumor is high-risk, or the pathology requires clarification.
-
Further intravesical treatment or systemic immunotherapy: Options for selected high-risk or BCG-unresponsive disease.
-
Radical cystectomy: Removal of the bladder may be discussed for certain very-high-risk cancers or cancers that don’t respond adequately to bladder-preserving treatment.