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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.

At South Georgia Center for Cancer Care, we understand how hard it can be to choose the perfect team for the treatment of bladder cancer. It’s important to have the very latest treatment options with highly trained professionals in a comfortable and caring setting, close to your home. You deserve exceptional and compassionate care and South Georgia Center for Cancer Care will be an integral part of your journey to survivorship.

Possible side effects of bladder radiation therapy:

  • 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)

How do we treat bladder cancers?

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

Surrounded by a team of cancer care experts

We’ve assembled a highly skilled team of doctors and radiation therapists to take care of you. We are grateful that you trust us. We promise to treat you like we would want one of our beloved family members to be treated – our patients describe our cancer center as “like being home.”

You and your loved ones will probably have lots of questions when you’re first diagnosed. Keep a list of your questions and bring them to your appointments. Our knowledgeable staff will take the time to make sure you understand your diagnosis and treatment plan.

Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What To Expect

1

Initial Scans

To create a customized treatment plan, you will have a CT or PET/CT scan to identify the exact location of your cancer.
2

Pre-Treatment Preparation

Ink marks or small tattoo-like dots may be placed on your skin in the area of the tumor to ensure the radiation is delivered to the tumor. The markings will be visible on your skin, but only in the area of the tumor and are permanent. They are designed to fade and will begin to disappear towards the end of your radiation treatments. Occasionally, the markings will have to be reapplied to your skin during treatment. It is very important that you do not scrub the markings during your bathing/showering. Your radiation therapist will discuss with you how to care for your skin during your treatments, including protecting the markings.
3

Radiation Treatment Scheduling

Radiation treatments happen Monday through Friday for a number of weeks, usually for 5-8 weeks. Weekend breaks, on Saturday and Sunday, allow your normal cells to recover and assist your healing process.
4

Treatment Room

Our radiation therapists will bring you from the waiting room, into the treatment room with the linear accelerator (radiation machine). The therapist will make you comfortable in the room and assist you in getting positioned on the treatment table.
5

Delivery Machine Setup

Two therapists will align the laser to the target on your skin, indicated by the “tattoo-like” markings. Alignment takes only a couple of minutes. The therapists will then leave the room to deliver and monitor your treatment.
6

Delivery of Radiation Therapy

During the treatment the machine will move over your body. You won’t feel anything. It’s much like having an x-ray. Sometimes the specific area of skin receiving treatment, can get tender and sunburned, your healthcare team will want to know if you are experiencing any burning or discomfort during your treatment. Your healthcare team will guide you with proper care of your skin. Typically the treatment takes about 10-15 minutes. The most common side effect of radiation therapy is fatigue – it is very important to get plenty of rest and adequate nutrition.
7

Post Treatment Followup

Generally, you will see your doctor weekly. However, we are always available if you need us.

Keeping you connected and informed

There are a lot of unknowns that come with a cancer diagnosis so we do our best to give you as much information as we can to help put your mind at ease. Our patient portal, My Healing Plan, is a secure online website that gives you access to your personal information including medical history, lab results and treatment plan. The site is packed with educational information about your specific type of cancer to help you understand your treatment plan and possible side effects. In addition, My Healing Plan, includes nutritional information and offers suggestions for maintaining energy, strength and stamina. My Healing Plan also gives you the ability to email your doctor for appointment changes or to ask non-urgent questions.

Sign up for My Healing Plan to stay informed and connected

Take The Next Step

If are showing any of the symptoms listed on this page, are prone to the risks listed above, or are seeking more information on available treatment options, please click on the button below. Conveniently located in Statesboro, GA, our friendly, courteous staff is always willing to answer questions, and we make every effort to make your visit as comfortable as possible.