Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissue of the bladder, the balloon-shaped organ in the pelvis that stores urine after it passes from the kidneys. Roughly 95 percent of bladder cancers form in the cells lining the inside of the bladder and are known as transitional cell carcinomas. Common symptoms are blood in the urine or painful urination, but those can be symptoms of other issues, such as infection. Bladder cancer typically is diagnosed in an early stage, when it is easier to treat and before spreading to other areas of the body. It tends to recur, though, so anyone diagnosed with bladder cancer usually requires monitoring for many years afterward.

Why UAB

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UAB Urology among the top 50 programs of its kind in the nation, and we are widely recognized for delivering excellent genitourinary cancer care. Our medical and surgical specialists have undergone extensive training in their areas of expertise, and they are active leaders in their fields.

UAB surgeons perform many urologic procedures using minimally invasive techniques, which require only small incisions (cuts). UAB regularly uses the new da Vinci SP Single Port Surgical System, which enables surgeons to enter the body through a single abdominal incision before deploying the robot's surgical instruments. This innovative design helps improve patient outcomes and recovery times and is particularly beneficial in cancer treatment procedures, as surgeons can now access narrower spaces with better accuracy. The da Vinci SP is the only robotic system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for urologic surgery and is well-suited for procedures involving prostate cancer, bladder cancer, ureteral reconstruction, ureteral re-implant, and much more.

 
 

CARE PROVIDERS

Arnab, Basu
Arnab, Basu
James E. Bryant, MD
James E. Bryant, MD
Jed Ferguson, M.D.
Jed Ferguson, M.D.
Jeffrey W. Nix, MD
Jeffrey W. Nix, MD
Chas Peyton, MD
Chas Peyton, MD
Soroush Rais-Bahrami, MD
Soroush Rais-Bahrami, MD
Sunil Sudarshan, MD
Sunil Sudarshan, MD
 

RELATED SERVICES

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Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer

Low-dose CT (computed tomography) screening for lung cancer is a way of finding tumors before they become too advanced and become difficult to treat successfully. This screening method has been shown to reduce the risk of death from lung cancer in high-risk patients by 20% compared to chest X-ray alone. However, many lung nodules (growths) detected from the low-dose CT screening are not cancerous, so follow-up CT scans or other tests may be needed to determine the presence of cancer.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT scans in adults age 55-80 who have a 30-pack-per-year smoking history and currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years. Medicare approved screening for patients age 55-77, and this is the age group that UAB Medicine provides screening for. Screening is stopped once a person has not smoked for 15 years, develops a health problem that seriously limits life expectancy, or does not wish to have lung surgery. The CT scan itself lasts only about 20 seconds. Patients being screened are asked to hold their breath for a few seconds as the scan is performed. All patients must be referred for the test by a physician after a shared decision-making appointment. It is important that a responsible health care provider manages follow-up care for patients with a positive test.

Click here to learn More about Screening >>
Click here for a Screening Referral Form >>


CLINICAL TRIALS

UAB is an active participant in research and clinical trials for Bladder Cancer. We encourage you to speak to your physician about research and clinical trial options and browse the link below for more information.

View Clinical Trials