Bladder cancer care

At Advocate Health Care, our board-certified urologists and oncologists regularly see new patients with bladder cancer, so they understand the disease well and apply their depth of experience to provide the best care for each person. We offer some of the most advanced treatment techniques available, including da Vinci robotic cystectomy (surgical removal of the bladder), for less pain, fewer complications and faster recovery.

Find an Advocate Cancer Institute near you.

Symptoms & risk factors

In most cases, bladder cancer causes blood in the urine, which changes the color to orange, pink or a shade of red. Other common bladder cancer symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Pain during urination
• Feeling the need to urinate without success
• Lower back pain

Due to these noticeable symptoms, bladder cancer can often be caught early, when survival rates are as high as 70%.

Bladder cancer is a fairly common cancer, and more than twice as prevalent in men than in women. Caucasians (especially men) have a much higher risk for bladder cancer than African-American, Hispanic or Asian individuals.

Besides gender and race, risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Diet high in fried meats and fats and low in antioxidants
• Regular exposure to rubber, paint, hairdressing chemicals and petroleum

Detection & diagnosis

Physicians at Advocate Health Care use a number of tests to screen people at high risk or those suspected of having bladder cancer. These include:

• Cystoscopy: Uses a thin tube with a camera that is placed into the bladder to look for an abnormal area or growth and take a sample for biopsy
• Urine cytology: A test to look for abnormal cells in urine
• Biopsy: Involves examining a sample of tissue under a microscope to determine if the tissue is cancerous
• CT or CAT scan: A diagnostic imaging procedure that combines multiple X-rays and computer technology to produce detailed images of the urinary tract
• Ultrasound: Uses soundwaves that create a picture of the bladder and other organs to detect solid tumors and cysts
• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP): Uses a series of X-rays with an injection of a contrast dye into the vein to detect bladder cancer or see if the tumor has spread to other areas of the urinary tract

Treatments & therapies

If you’re diagnosed with bladder cancer, rest assured you have some of Illinois’ best experts by your side. Together, our multi-skilled team will work closely with you to create a personal cancer treatment plan, which may include the latest surgical, medical and radiation therapies, as well as options like immunotherapy, which uses your body’s natural defense system to destroy cancer cells.

Support for every step

We’re committed to caring for the whole you, and providing the resources you and your loved ones need to manage a cancer diagnosis. You’ll find a full range of free or low-cost cancer support services – from education to rehabilitation, nutritional to spiritual counseling, support groups and more empowering programs.