Bladder Cancer

Hoag leads the way in Orange County for muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treatments. Our multidisciplinary team specializes in bladder cancer care using advanced treatments and therapeutics. Hoag's exclusive technologies include MR-guided ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator and single- and multi-port DaVinci robotic surgical systems. With Hoag on your team, you've got what it takes to fight and win against bladder cancer.

You plan for everything.

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.

Call 949-722-6237 Meet Our Team
  • If you require immediate medical assistance, please call your doctor’s office or dial 911.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

You are not alone.

Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s team of specialized bladder cancer experts offer each patient a personalized treatment plan. Joining forces with our precision medicine team, our expertly trained medical and surgical oncologists are able to understand each patient’s tumor down to the molecular level for more precise treatment planning. With exclusive technologies like the MR-guided ViewRay MRIdian™ linear accelerator and single- and multi-port DaVinci robotic surgical systems, Hoag is one of the few hospitals in California to offer minimally-invasive bladder reconstruction for a more complete recovery with fewer complications after bladder cancer.  Hoag has what it takes help you win against bladder cancer. 

 

 

 

Diagnosing Bladder Cancer

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 urologic 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. 
Next Steps for Those Diagnosed with Bladder Cancer

You can trust Hoag for your bladder 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. 

Learn more about Hoag’s Urologic Cancer Program and our multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Team.

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. The treatments Hoag recommends for bladder cancer vary from patient to patient.

Advanced Surgical Treatments at Hoag

The Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s bladder cancer team includes experienced, fellowship-trained urologic surgical oncologists who utilize the latest techniques and technology in the surgical management of bladder cancer. Advanced bladder cancer surgical treatments at Hoag include:

  • Minimally invasive surgical removal of the tumor through laparoscopic or robotic surgery. Learn more about the benefits of robotic surgery at Hoag.
Non-Surgical Treatments

As a full-service cancer center, Hoag offers both inpatient and outpatient settings in order to provide the full spectrum of therapeutic care and support a cancer patient needs. You won’t need to travel far as all our outpatient services are located within Orange County. Our non-surgical treatment options for bladder cancer include:

Research & 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. View clinical trials for bladder cancer here.

Do I have bladder 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
    • Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers a Hereditary Cancer Program to assess a person’s family history and any associated risk for cancer. 
  • 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