Bladder Cancer

Facing a bladder cancer diagnosis? Trust Hoag. Hoag leads the way in Orange County on muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treatments. From unique clinical trials for urological cancers to minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery to help patients recover faster with less pain, with Hoag on your team, you've got what it takes to fight and win against bladder cancer.

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We’re here for the things you can’t plan for. Hoag is the top cancer program in OC, with cancer survival rates that continuously exceed national averages.

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Bladder Cancer Care at Hoag

Why Hoag for bladder cancer treatment? Hoag's Center for Applied Genomic Technologies works with our Bladder Cancer team to provide physicians with a view of each patient's tumor down to the molecular level, for more precise treatment. And Hoag is also one of the few hospitals in California to offer minimally-invasive bladder reconstruction, for more complete recovery with fewer complications after urological cancer.

Common Questions

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is cancer that occurs in the bladder, the muscular organ that stores urine. The most common type of bladder cancer is urothelial carcinoma, which is a cancer that develops in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Read more about urothelial carcinoma here. 

Rarer types of bladder cancer include: 

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Small-cell carcinoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Sarcoma

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?

The symptoms of bladder cancer can be different for every patient, but the most common symptoms include: 

  • Blood in the urine
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • The frequent urge to urinate
  • Feeling like you need to urinate but being unable to
  • Pain in the lower back

What are the risk factors for bladder cancer?

There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing bladder cancers. These include: 

  • Smoking
  • A family history of bladder cancers
  • Being older, as most patients with bladder cancer are older than age 55
  • Being a man, because bladder cancer happens more often in men than women
  • On the job exposure to certain chemicals, including arsenic and certain chemicals used in making leather, rubber, dyes and paint. 
  • Previous cancer treatments that included radiation to the pelvis or the drug cyclophosphamide.
  •  

How can I reduce my risk of developing bladder cancer? 

Ways to reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer may include:

  • Eat a diet high in antioxidants
  • Use proper protective equipment, including a correctly-rated respirator and gloves, when using chemicals that might increase your risk of bladder cancer
  • Don’t smoke

How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
If you are experiencing any symptoms that might suggest bladder cancer, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms, likely followed by a thorough physical exam and bloodwork. Depending on the outcome of those tests, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for other tests that may include:

  • Cystoscopy, in which the doctor inserts a small, flexible camera through your urethra to examine the inside of your bladder to look for bladder tumors.
  • Surgical biopsy, in which a tissue sample is taken from the tumor for testing
  • Urine cytology, in which a urine sample is examined under high magnification to look for cancer cells. 
  • Imaging tests, which may include CT, PET or MRI scans. 
Common Questions

I’ve been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Now what do I do?

Trust Hoag for your urologic cancer care. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers world-class programs for urologic cancer of all types, with multidisciplinary teams, state-of-the-art facilities and technology and the latest in cancer therapies. For the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals Rankings named Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County,

Find more information about urologic cancer care at Hoag at this link.  Meet Hoag’s Urologic Cancer Team.

Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator Program

Hoag is a leader in peace of mind for cancer patients through our Clinical Nurse Navigator program. This unique program provides cancer patients and their families with access to nurses who have specialized training in specific cancers. These nurses serve primarily as facilitators and guides. Hoag has the only bladder cancer support group in OC. We also provide peer-to-peer navigation for patients who choose a urinary diversion surgery. By answering questions, providing support and serving as a trusted source of science-backed information at each phase of treatment, Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigators are a critical resource for patients during diagnosis, treatment and recovery.  Find more information about Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator program here.

What are the treatment options for bladder cancer?

Treatment options for bladder cancer depend on many factors, including how advanced the cancer is when detected, your age and any other health issues you may have. Treatments for bladder cancer vary from patient to patient, but may include:

  • Surgery to remove bladder tumors
  • Immunotherapy, which primes your immune system to fight the cancer
  • Chemotherapy introduced directly to the bladder, also known as intravesical chemotherapy
  • Whole-body chemotherapy, also known as systemic chemotherapy
  • Radiation Therapy, employing either radiation beamed from outside the body, or the implantation of radioactive sources directly into tumors. Hoag offers a robust Radiation Oncology Program, utilizing multiple treatment options to accurately administer radiation therapy.
    • Brachytherapy — also known as “internal radiation therapy,” brachytherapy is a radiation treatment in which a small radioactive source is temporarily placed inside the body. With this procedure, the position, timing and placement of radiation sources is precisely controlled, allowing the physician to shape the radiation dose to the target. Because of the high dose rate, brachytherapy treatments are usually delivered on an outpatient basis or with a minimal hospital stay. Find more information about brachytherapy and other advanced treatment options from Hoag at this link.
    • ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator — Hoag is one of only two hospitals in California with the ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator, the most advanced radiation treatment available in the United States for cancers of the abdomen. By utilizing MRI imaging with a linear accelerator, Hoag clinicians can obtain real-time, high resolution images of tumors and surrounding soft tissues. This allows for precise application of radiation during treatment, even if the tumor shifts due to breathing or other factors. That level of precision allows Hoag clinicians to deliver a higher, potentially more effective, radiation dose to the tumor with minimal impact on healthy surrounding tissue. Find more information about Hoag’s ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator at this link.
  • Precision Medicine, in which Hoag physicians test the DNA of patients’ tumors, then develop treatments tailored specifically to the mutations that caused the cancer. That allows physicians to treat the cancer very precisely. Hoag’s precision medicine team works seamlessly with Hoag’s Bladder Cancer Program to provide a precise molecular understanding of each patient’s tumor, leading to more personalized, effective cancer treatment plans. Hoag is a national leader in the use of precision medicine in several types of cancer. Explore precision medicine at Hoag.
  • Pelvic Floor Therapy — One of the biggest concerns for urologic cancer patients is the prospect of long-term incontinence. To help patients restore and retain normal urinary function, Hoag is also a national leader in pelvic floor therapy. With over a dozen dedicated therapists, Hoag has the largest pelvic floor program in California, combining this dignity-maintaining therapy with massage, pilates and other treatments to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Explore Pelvic Floor Therapy at Hoag.

Surgery and advanced treatments at Hoag

Facing surgery can be a frightening prospect, but it is a vital component in the successful treatment of many urologic cancers. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s medical team includes experienced, fellowship-trained urologic oncologists who utilize the latest techniques and technology in the surgical management of many different urologic cancers, including bladder cancer.

Robot-assisted surgery

To help patients recover faster and return to normal activities sooner, Hoag surgeons utilize the da Vinci® Surgical System to perform robot-assisted minimally invasive surgeries in some cases. Find more information about advanced robotic surgeries at Hoag at this link.

Non-surgical options

Hoag’s non surgical options, including chemotherapy and radiation therapies, are world-class as well. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian was recently named a Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence (RTCoE) by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), a distinction held by only 17 centers in the U.S. including Stanford Health Care, Harvard Medical School and the University of California — San Francisco.

Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s Radiation Oncology Program offers personalized services to treat urologic cancers. Explore advanced treatment technologies for urologic cancers available at Hoag.

Services at Hoag

Integrated Cancer Support Services at Hoag 

At Hoag Family Cancer Institute, we’re committed to offering the best support services, resources and educational information to our patients and their families at every stage of their cancer journey. Hoag’s Integrated Cancer Support Services are open to everyone regardless of their prognosis, cancer stage or phase of recovery. 

Resources include: 

Find more information about Integrated Cancer Support Services at Hoag at this link.

 

Cancer Survivorship and Sexual Function

Hoag offers many treatment options for sexual dysfunction after bladder cancer treatment including sexual counseling and therapy. For men with erectile dysfunction, Hoag urologists offer a number of therapies including medications, low intensity shock wave treatment, intracorporeal injections, and penile prosthesis placement.

Are there any clinical trials for bladder cancer?

Hoag is committed to leading the way in state-of-the-art technologies and advanced treatment options. Part of this commitment includes clinical research with the goal of helping patients live longer, healthier lives. Through carefully planned clinical trials, researchers evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases or conditions. Treatments studied in clinical trials might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or new ways to use existing treatments. Bladder cancer clinical trials we participate in are the Novel immunotherapeutic agents (including QUILT clinical trials, esp. N803). View clinical trials for bladder cancer here.

At Hoag, our clinical research team is committed to excellence in research and a continuing commitment to protect the interests and well-being of patients. Contact us at 949-536-7332 to see if joining a clinical trial for bladder cancer is right for you.

Common Questions

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is cancer that occurs in the bladder, the muscular organ that stores urine. The most common type of bladder cancer is urothelial carcinoma, which is a cancer that develops in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Read more about urothelial carcinoma here. 

Rarer types of bladder cancer include: 

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Small-cell carcinoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Sarcoma

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?

The symptoms of bladder cancer can be different for every patient, but the most common symptoms include: 

  • Blood in the urine
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • The frequent urge to urinate
  • Feeling like you need to urinate but being unable to
  • Pain in the lower back

What are the risk factors for bladder cancer?

There are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing bladder cancers. These include: 

  • Smoking
  • A family history of bladder cancers
  • Being older, as most patients with bladder cancer are older than age 55
  • Being a man, because bladder cancer happens more often in men than women
  • On the job exposure to certain chemicals, including arsenic and certain chemicals used in making leather, rubber, dyes and paint. 
  • Previous cancer treatments that included radiation to the pelvis or the drug cyclophosphamide.
  •  

How can I reduce my risk of developing bladder cancer? 

Ways to reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer may include:

  • Eat a diet high in antioxidants
  • Use proper protective equipment, including a correctly-rated respirator and gloves, when using chemicals that might increase your risk of bladder cancer
  • Don’t smoke

How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
If you are experiencing any symptoms that might suggest bladder cancer, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms, likely followed by a thorough physical exam and bloodwork. Depending on the outcome of those tests, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for other tests that may include:

  • Cystoscopy, in which the doctor inserts a small, flexible camera through your urethra to examine the inside of your bladder to look for bladder tumors.
  • Surgical biopsy, in which a tissue sample is taken from the tumor for testing
  • Urine cytology, in which a urine sample is examined under high magnification to look for cancer cells. 
  • Imaging tests, which may include CT, PET or MRI scans. 

Common Questions

I’ve been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Now what do I do?

Trust Hoag for your urologic cancer care. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers world-class programs for urologic cancer of all types, with multidisciplinary teams, state-of-the-art facilities and technology and the latest in cancer therapies. For the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals Rankings named Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County,

Find more information about urologic cancer care at Hoag at this link.  Meet Hoag’s Urologic Cancer Team.

Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator Program

Hoag is a leader in peace of mind for cancer patients through our Clinical Nurse Navigator program. This unique program provides cancer patients and their families with access to nurses who have specialized training in specific cancers. These nurses serve primarily as facilitators and guides. Hoag has the only bladder cancer support group in OC. We also provide peer-to-peer navigation for patients who choose a urinary diversion surgery. By answering questions, providing support and serving as a trusted source of science-backed information at each phase of treatment, Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigators are a critical resource for patients during diagnosis, treatment and recovery.  Find more information about Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator program here.

What are the treatment options for bladder cancer?

Treatment options for bladder cancer depend on many factors, including how advanced the cancer is when detected, your age and any other health issues you may have. Treatments for bladder cancer vary from patient to patient, but may include:

  • Surgery to remove bladder tumors
  • Immunotherapy, which primes your immune system to fight the cancer
  • Chemotherapy introduced directly to the bladder, also known as intravesical chemotherapy
  • Whole-body chemotherapy, also known as systemic chemotherapy
  • Radiation Therapy, employing either radiation beamed from outside the body, or the implantation of radioactive sources directly into tumors. Hoag offers a robust Radiation Oncology Program, utilizing multiple treatment options to accurately administer radiation therapy.
    • Brachytherapy — also known as “internal radiation therapy,” brachytherapy is a radiation treatment in which a small radioactive source is temporarily placed inside the body. With this procedure, the position, timing and placement of radiation sources is precisely controlled, allowing the physician to shape the radiation dose to the target. Because of the high dose rate, brachytherapy treatments are usually delivered on an outpatient basis or with a minimal hospital stay. Find more information about brachytherapy and other advanced treatment options from Hoag at this link.
    • ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator — Hoag is one of only two hospitals in California with the ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator, the most advanced radiation treatment available in the United States for cancers of the abdomen. By utilizing MRI imaging with a linear accelerator, Hoag clinicians can obtain real-time, high resolution images of tumors and surrounding soft tissues. This allows for precise application of radiation during treatment, even if the tumor shifts due to breathing or other factors. That level of precision allows Hoag clinicians to deliver a higher, potentially more effective, radiation dose to the tumor with minimal impact on healthy surrounding tissue. Find more information about Hoag’s ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator at this link.
  • Precision Medicine, in which Hoag physicians test the DNA of patients’ tumors, then develop treatments tailored specifically to the mutations that caused the cancer. That allows physicians to treat the cancer very precisely. Hoag’s precision medicine team works seamlessly with Hoag’s Bladder Cancer Program to provide a precise molecular understanding of each patient’s tumor, leading to more personalized, effective cancer treatment plans. Hoag is a national leader in the use of precision medicine in several types of cancer. Explore precision medicine at Hoag.
  • Pelvic Floor Therapy — One of the biggest concerns for urologic cancer patients is the prospect of long-term incontinence. To help patients restore and retain normal urinary function, Hoag is also a national leader in pelvic floor therapy. With over a dozen dedicated therapists, Hoag has the largest pelvic floor program in California, combining this dignity-maintaining therapy with massage, pilates and other treatments to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Explore Pelvic Floor Therapy at Hoag.

Surgery and advanced treatments at Hoag

Facing surgery can be a frightening prospect, but it is a vital component in the successful treatment of many urologic cancers. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s medical team includes experienced, fellowship-trained urologic oncologists who utilize the latest techniques and technology in the surgical management of many different urologic cancers, including bladder cancer.

Robot-assisted surgery

To help patients recover faster and return to normal activities sooner, Hoag surgeons utilize the da Vinci® Surgical System to perform robot-assisted minimally invasive surgeries in some cases. Find more information about advanced robotic surgeries at Hoag at this link.

Non-surgical options

Hoag’s non surgical options, including chemotherapy and radiation therapies, are world-class as well. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian was recently named a Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence (RTCoE) by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI), a distinction held by only 17 centers in the U.S. including Stanford Health Care, Harvard Medical School and the University of California — San Francisco.

Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s Radiation Oncology Program offers personalized services to treat urologic cancers. Explore advanced treatment technologies for urologic cancers available at Hoag.

Services at Hoag

Integrated Cancer Support Services at Hoag 

At Hoag Family Cancer Institute, we’re committed to offering the best support services, resources and educational information to our patients and their families at every stage of their cancer journey. Hoag’s Integrated Cancer Support Services are open to everyone regardless of their prognosis, cancer stage or phase of recovery. 

Resources include: 

Find more information about Integrated Cancer Support Services at Hoag at this link.

 

Cancer Survivorship and Sexual Function

Hoag offers many treatment options for sexual dysfunction after bladder cancer treatment including sexual counseling and therapy. For men with erectile dysfunction, Hoag urologists offer a number of therapies including medications, low intensity shock wave treatment, intracorporeal injections, and penile prosthesis placement.

Are there any clinical trials for bladder cancer?

Hoag is committed to leading the way in state-of-the-art technologies and advanced treatment options. Part of this commitment includes clinical research with the goal of helping patients live longer, healthier lives. Through carefully planned clinical trials, researchers evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases or conditions. Treatments studied in clinical trials might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or new ways to use existing treatments. Bladder cancer clinical trials we participate in are the Novel immunotherapeutic agents (including QUILT clinical trials, esp. N803). View clinical trials for bladder cancer here.

At Hoag, our clinical research team is committed to excellence in research and a continuing commitment to protect the interests and well-being of patients. Contact us at 949-536-7332 to see if joining a clinical trial for bladder cancer is right for you.