Welcome !

This site is the online home of the American Bladder Cancer Society (ABLCS) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

What you will find here is a site created for and by Bladder Cancer (BLC) survivors and the people that care about them. It is a social networking site and informational portal for Bladder Cancer. A virtual community of survivors and caregivers giving and receiving support as well as sharing information.

Any community is only as strong as its citizens and this one will be no different.

By posting to the forum, blogging and being part of this site you become a bladder cancer advocate. When you write of your experiences and post questions you are helping others. One of the most valuable things we do for each other as survivors is to validate each other’s emotions and experiences. Knowing that others have and are walking the same path is very empowering to survivors and caregivers.

So from the American Bladder Cancer Society here are the keys to your new home. May it always offer shelter to those in need, and be filled with knowledge, caring and hope.

Our Mission Statement Read More Our Logo storyRead More

Caregivers

When Caregivers were asked what they wish someone had told them when they were starting out these were the top five answers.

1. Encourage your loved one to seek a second opinion at a major cancer center that deals with a high volume of bladder cancer. Read More

2. Go to appointments with them carrying a list of questions and paper and pen to take notes.

3. Don’t worry about knowing what to say many times all you have to do is listen.

4. Take care of yourself! Having cancer makes your loved one the center of the action and often times the caregiver has to handle a heavy burden, stress, lack of sleep, worry and overwork can result. Try to make time for yourself, eat right, get enough sleep and exercising are very important.

5. You are not alone. There are an estimated 1/2 million bladder cancer survivors in the USA alone and an untold number of caregivers. This bladder cancer community is free and open to all to share support and gather information.

Non-Invasive BLC

Non Invasive sometimes referred to as Superficial Bladder Cancer is when the cancer cells are contained in the bladder lining and have not invaded the muscle of the bladder.

When asked what five things they wish they had been told about their non-invasive bladder cancer
(sometimes called superficial bladder cancer) at the beginning, these were the top five answers.

1. Non-invasive bladder cancer has a very high survival rate.
   Proper treatment and surveillance is the key to heading off progression or catching it while still treatable.

2. Always get a second opinion from a major center that handles a high volume of bladder cancer.
   Make a list of your questions before you go and take someone with you to take notes. Read More

3. When I hear about stage and grade what does it mean? Read More

4. What type of treatment do they use for non-invasive bladder cancer? Read More

5. You are not alone. There are an estimated 1/2 million bladder cancer survivors in the USA alone
   and 3/4 of them have non-invasive bladder cancer. This bladder cancer community is free and open to all
   to share support and gather information.

CIS

From Cornell University
Carcinoma in situ, or CIS, is the presence of cancerous-appearing cells, proliferating in an abnormally high number, but are confined to the transitional epithelium. That is, they have not invaded into deeper tissue layers such as muscle, or even the fibrous layers separating the epithelium from the muscle. CIS represents a rather confusing stage in the development of bladder cancer. As described previously (see "What is cancer?"), cancer occurs when a tumor has the potential to invade into a different tissue layer. However, in the case of CIS, the cancerous condition has not yet penetrated beyond its normal position in the body. In general CIS tends to be a far more malignant process with greater metastatic potential than some large low grade tumors that have begun to invade through the bladder wall.

Read More

From WebMD
CIS can develop alone or in association with papillary tumors. This type of cancer can be difficult to diagnose because patients may present only with irritative voiding symptoms, which is a common problem in a urology office. Patients usually have microscopic or gross hematuria and are often misdiagnosed with a bladder infection and are treated as such. Cystoscopy may reveal a characteristic red, velvety appearance that resembles an area of inflammation, although, at times, CIS is not visible. Diagnostic tests include a urine cytology test and/or one of several available bladder cancer markers. These tests are highly sensitive in detecting CIS. Bladder biopsies are needed to firmly establish a diagnosis.

Read More

From the American Bladder Cancer Society
Stage 0 bladder cancer includes noninvasive papillary carcinoma (Ta) and flat noninvasive carcinoma (Tis). This early stage of bladder cancer is most often treated with transurethral resection (TUR). This may be followed by intravesical therapy.

Read More

Intravesical Therapy is a treatment that is put directly into the bladder (through a catheter) rather than being given by mouth or injected into a veinRead More

Upper Tract

"Urothelial tumors of the renal pelvis and ureters (upper urinary tract) are relatively rare. Tumors of the renal pelvis account for approximately 10% of all renal tumors and approximately 5% of all urothelial tumors. Urethral tumors are even more uncommon, occurring with one quarter the frequency of renal pelvis tumors. Transitional (TCC) accounts for more than 90% of urothelial tumors of the upper urinary tract."

Renal pelvis
The renal pelvis is the portion of the urinary collecting system formed by the confluence of 2 or 3 major calices.

Ureter
The ureter is a 20- to 30-cm tubular structure lying on the psoas muscle. It follows an S-shaped curve, passing medially to the sacroiliac joint and then coursing laterally near the ischial spine before passing medially to penetrate the base of the bladder. It passes through a submucosal tunnel to empty into the bladder.

Histology
The renal pelvis and ureter are lined by a transitional epithelium. The next layer is the lamina propria. External to the lamina propria is smooth muscle arranged in a spiral and longitudinal manner. The outermost adventitia is composed of fibrous connective tissue.

From the National Cancer Institute Read More

From Medical News Today Read More

Invasive BLC

Bladder Cancer is considered to be invasive if cancer cells have gone through the bladders lining and are present in the muscle.

When asked what five things they wish they had been told about their invasive bladder cancer
at the beginning, these were the top five answers.

1. Always get a second opinion from a major center that deals with a high volume of bladder cancer. Studies have shown that the experience of the Urological Surgeon, Oncologist and Pathologists can make a difference in outcomes. Read More

2. What are the treatments for invasive bladder cancer? Read More

3. What does stage and grade mean? Read More

4. When you go to your doctor take along a list of your questions and someone to take notes.

5. You are not alone. There are an estimated 1/2 million bladder cancer survivors in the USA alone. This bladder cancer community is free and open to all allowing them to share support and gather information.

Metatastic

From the University of Florida’s Shand Cancer Center
Overview Patients with stage IV bladder cancer have cancer that has extended through the bladder wall and invaded the pelvic and/or abdominal wall and/or has lymph node involvement and/or spread to distant sites. Stage IV bladder cancer is also referred to as "metastatic" bladder cancer.

Read More

From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
First-line treatment for metastatic bladder cancer includes both standard chemotherapeutic regimens as well as novel drug regimens that are available to patients enrolled in clinical trials

Read More

From the National Cancer Institute
Are new treatments for metastatic cancer being developed? Yes, many new cancer treatments are under study. To develop new treatments, the NCI sponsors clinical (research studies) with cancer patients in many hospitals, universities, medical schools, and cancer centers around the country. Clinical trials are a critical step in the improvement of treatment. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct studies to find out whether the treatment is both safe for patients and effective against the disease. The results of such studies have led to progress not only in the treatment of cancer, but in the detection, diagnosis and prevention of the disease as well. Patients interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor.

Read More

Our Clinical Trial Page

Read More

BLC and Sexuality

Video Tutorials

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

Types of BLC

From the American Cancer Society
Read More
Types of bladder cancer
Bladder tumors are grouped into several types by how their cells look under a microscope. The type of bladder cancer you have can affect your treatment options. This is because different types can respond differently to treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. The main types of cancers that affect the bladder are:

* transitional cell carcinoma (also called urothelial carcinoma)
* squamous cell carcinoma
* adenocarcinoma
* small cell

These same types of cancer can also grow in other places in the urinary tract, such as the lining of the kidney (called the renal pelvis), the ureters, and the urethra. In fact, patients with bladder cancer sometimes have a similar tumor in the lining of the kidneys, ureters, or urethra. Therefore, when someone is found to have a cancer in one part of their urinary system, the entire urinary tract needs to be checked for tumors.


From John Hopkins Pathology
Read More
From Cornell University
Read More
From the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Read More

Glossary of terms

Staging and Grading

When diagnosed one of the questions that need answering is what stage and grade is my bladder cancer?

1. Wiktionary’s definition of a Pathologist is Pathologist (plural: pathologists) “An expert in pathology; a specialist who examines samples of body tissues for diagnostic purpose.”

2. The pathology report is very important as it will help your doctors know what your appropriate treatment path is.

3. A pathology report is written in very technical language. Because of this it is a good idea to ask for a copy of your report and to have your doctor go over it with you.

4. Stage tells how far into the bladder lining the bladder cancer has grown.

5. Grade tells how different the cancer cells look from normal cells.

6. What does stage and grade mean? Read More

   
   

BLC Resources

Please click below for a list of cancer related resources.Read More

Clinical Trials

Read More