Bladder Tumour Treatment
The bladder is one of the components of the human urinary system. It is a pelvic organ wherein urine produced by kidneys is temporarily stored. Bladder tumour refers to unusual growths or masses occurring within the urinary bladder. Some of the bladder tumours are benign (non-cancerous) while some are malignant (cancerous).
The top-notch urologists in Hyderabad under the roof of the Urology Department at Arete Hospitals are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of benign bladder tumours. They are the leaders in advanced surgery treatments for the removal and treatment of bladder tumours.
Benefits of Bladder Tumour Treatment
- Early treatment of bladder tumours can prevent its progression to more advanced stages
- Treatment can alleviate symptoms like blood in urine, frequent urination, and pain
- Minimising or removing tumours reduces the risk of cancer spreading to other organs
- It can improve the overall quality of life by addressing discomfort and urinary issues
- Successful treatment allows for regular monitoring to detect any recurrence early on.
Types of Benign Bladder Tumour
Benign Bladder Tumours are of various kinds, based on the body site where they grow, cell type, and appearance. They are:
- Papilloma- It is a type of benign tumour arising from an epithelial surface and growing in the outward direction. In the bladder, papilloma arises from the urothelial cells that line the inside of the urinary bladder.
- Inverted papilloma- It starts developing in the lining of the bladder and grows into the bladder wall.
- Leiomyoma- Also known as a fibroid, it is a benign smooth muscle tumour that is commonly seen in premenopausal women. It appears in the urinary bladder from the smooth muscles of the bladder wall.
- Hemangioma- It is a non-cancerous vascular tumour. In the bladder, it occurs because of the accumulation of extra blood vessels in the bladder wall.
- Neurofibroma- It is a kind of peripheral nerve tumour causing soft bumps. In the bladder, it can develop in the nerve tissues of the bladder wall.
- Fibroma- It is a benign tumour consisting of fibrous, connective tissues. In the bladder, the fibrous connective tissues of the bladder wall can result in bladder fibroma.
- Lipoma- It is a slow-growing, harmless fatty lump. A bladder lipoma arises from the adipose (fat) tissue that surrounds the bladder.
Bladder Tumour Can Convert into Bladder Cancer
A bladder tumour can turn into bladder cancer when the cells become malignant and can invade tissues and spread. This change is termed as progression. The process varies from person to person, depending on factors like the tumour's features and overall health. Detecting tumours early, getting a proper diagnosis, and the right treatment are vital in preventing cancer advancement.
If you're concerned or have symptoms like blood in urine, frequent urination, or pain, see a bladder cancer treatment doctor in Hyderabad. They can use tests like cystoscopy, imaging, and biopsies to diagnose the tumour and plan treatment if needed.
Symptoms of Benign Bladder Tumour
The signs and symptoms of Benign Bladder Tumour are often similar to other lower urinary tract problems, primarily the symptoms of lower urinary tract infection. Some of the common symptoms include:
- Hematuria (Blood in the urine)
- Increases urinary urgency
- Increased urinary frequency
- Burning feeling or discomfort while passing urine
- Inability to pass urine normally
- Pelvic pain.
In case a benign bladder tumour has grown in size, it can obstruct urine flow from the bladder. The difficulty of passing urine is also because of the location where the bladder tumour developed. It is recommended to immediately consult a urologist to discuss the possibility of a bladder tumour if having symptoms of recurrent urinary tract infection, facing trouble urinating or having a weakened urine stream.
Causes of Bladder Tumour
A tumour develops in the bladder when the bladder cells divide and grow at an excessive rate. Normally, old or damaged bladder cells die to be replaced with new, healthy bladder cells. A bladder tumour develops when the old/damaged cells die and remain to form an abnormal growth or mass.
The potential causes that have been identified for the development of benign bladder tumours include:
- Infection or inflammation
- Environmental factors such as radiation, toxins, or chemical exposure
- Stress
- Local trauma or injury
- Poor diet
- Genetics.
Diagnosis of Benign Bladder Tumour in Hyderabad
Urologists use different diagnostic techniques to diagnose benign bladder tumours. They start their diagnosis of benign bladder tumours by performing a physical exam (including looking at the patient's symptoms) and reviewing the patient’s medical history. A digital rectal or vaginal exam is performed to check for lumps or other abnormalities in the rectum or vagina.
A benign bladder tumour can be best diagnosed with a biopsy/ cystoscopy. During cystoscopy, a cystoscope is inserted through the urethra into the bladder to check for tumours and remove suspicious bladder tissues for biopsy. A cystoscope is a thin tube fitted with light and lens for viewing and a surgical tool to remove the tissues for biopsy. The collected tissue sample is viewed under a microscope to see if it's cancerous.
A benign bladder tumour can also be found and located using imaging tests such as MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, and X-rays. Laboratory tests may also be ordered to check for the presence of markers of bladder cancer and rule out its possibility. A urine test is done to microscopically examine cellular characteristics of bladder tumours or grow urine in culture to check for infection. The urine sample is checked for blood, bacteria, chemicals, or any substances released from bladder tumour cells in the urine.
Benign Bladder Tumour Treatment in Hyderabad
Treatment of bladder tumours in Hyderabad depends upon the results of the biopsy, the location of the tumour, and the symptoms experienced by the patient. Often, benign bladder tumour is treated by surgical removal of the tumour. Surgery can only be performed if the tumour is in a location where surgical intervention won’t injure the blood vessels and nerves of the bladder and its surrounding area. In case, the benign bladder tumour does not pose any direct threat to the patient, won’t grow, or isn’t likely to cause any illness, urologists recommend the patient to continue with monitoring of the tumour for any changes.
- TURBT: TransUrethral Removal of Bladder Tumour is a surgery designed to remove bladder tumours through the urethra. It is performed using a cystoscope which is inserted into the urethra. A cystoscope can be used for both diagnosis and removal of bladder tumours. It has an optic fibre inside it, a camera, an eyepiece, and light at one end. The surgeon can view the bladder through an eyepiece or see the images on a TV screen/computer monitor. Through the cystoscope, the surgeon passes small surgical instruments to take out any tumours developed on the bladder lining. Lastly, a probe is used to cauterise (seal) the site of tumour removal and stop any bleeding. The surgery is performed under spinal or general anaesthesia.
- Intravesical Therapy: After TURBT in Hyderabad, intravesical therapy is conducted to prevent tumour reappearance. This process involves the instillation of a liquid drug directly into the bladder, such as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) or chemotherapy drugs.
- Partial or Radical Cystectomy: This is performed in case of more advanced or invasive bladder tumours. A partial cystectomy involves removing a portion of the bladder containing the tumour, while a radical cystectomy involves the complete removal of the bladder. After a radical cystectomy, a urinary diversion is essential to redirect urine out of the body.
- Radiation Therapy: It uses high-energy X-rays to target and kill cancer cells. It may be used in combination with surgery or as the primary treatment for bladder cancer in Hyderabad, particularly in cases where surgery is not an option.
- Chemotherapy: It is used to treat advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. Chemotherapy drugs can be given orally or through an IV, and they circulate throughout the body to target cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: Immune checkpoint inhibitors drugs have been approved for the treatment of advanced bladder cancer. They work by boosting the body's immune system to fight cancer cells.
1. What happens if a benign bladder tumour is left untreated?
Mostly benign bladder tumours are harmless and not life-threatening. Therefore, they can be left alone as there is a rare chance of them damaging any part of the body. Treatment for a benign bladder tumour becomes necessary if the patient shows symptoms and experiences complications. Otherwise, the patient can live with a benign bladder tumour indefinitely. The doctor needs to keep checking benign bladder tumours for any changes like growth in size.
In case a bladder tumour is malignant and is not timely removed, it may grow through the bladder walls to nearby lymph nodes and other organs of the body such as the liver, lungs, or bones. The damage caused to body organs can be fatal.
2. Do benign bladder tumours grow back?
Usually, benign bladder tumours don’t grow back after surgical removal of a benign neoplasm. For more details consult Best Doctors for Urinary Bladder Cancer Treatment in Hyderabad at Arete Hospitals.
3. How does a benign bladder tumour differ from a malignant bladder tumour?
Benign bladder tumours are non-cancerous growths that do not invade healthy surrounding tissues such as bladder muscles. Most benign bladder tumours slowly grow and do not metastasize (spread to other body parts). When a tumour is removed and visualised under the microscope, bladder tumour cells appear smooth with very distinct borders. A benign bladder tumour may or may not require treatment. In contrast, malignant bladder tumours are cancerous growths that invade local tissues. Mostly malignant bladder tumours rapidly grow and spread to be called bladder cancer. The bladder cancer cells are irregular in shape. Bladder cancer requires treatment.
4. Can benign bladder tumours turn malignant?
Benign bladder tumours can't become cancerous (malignant), although some specific benign tumours like colon polyps can. A benign tumour means it cannot pass to other body parts and turn into cancer. There is a possibility that a bladder tumour that was thought to be benign (non-cancerous) turns out to be malignant (cancerous) as it grows and develops.
5. Are benign bladder tumours common?
Although there are varieties of benign growths that can occur in the urinary bladder, these are uncommon. Benign bladder tumours account for fewer than a percent of all benign masses.
6. How can I reduce my risk of benign bladder tumours?
As there is no single cause of a benign bladder tumour, there is no way to predict its occurrence or prevent it from growing. However, an individual can stay healthy and reduce their chances of having benign bladder tumours by staying stress-free, eating a healthy diet, avoiding toxins/chemicals/radiations, and preventing inflammations and infections.
For more details on Urinary Bladder Tumour Treatment in Hyderabad, schedule a visit at Arete Hospitals.
It is one of the leading Bladder Tumour Treatment Hospitals in Hyderabad and has the state of the art technology, experts like oncosurgeons, urologists, and infrastructure to treat the medical issues.
