Radiation Therapy Center in Pasadena, CA
Battling cancer is one of the most difficult challenges one can face in life – but with a world-class treatment team by your side, there’s always hope. At Pasadena CyberKnife, we’re passionate about helping patients throughout the greater Los Angeles area beat cancer through cutting-edge, high-quality treatments. We’re proud to treat almost any form of cancer at our oncology center, including all types & stages of bladder cancer.
Types of Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer refers to any tumor that forms in the tissues of the bladder, but there are several subtypes based on the specific type of cell in which the cancer originates. The most common types of bladder cancer include:
- Transitional Cell Bladder Cancer: Accounting for about 90% of cases, these cancers form in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Transitional cell cancers may be noninvasive, in which case they grow towards the center of the bladder cavity, or invasive, in which case they grow outwards through the layers of the bladder wall.
- Squamous Cell Bladder Cancer: These represent about 5% of cases and form in the squamous cells, which are cells that line the organs of the bodies.
- Adenocarcinoma: Affecting only 1-2% of patients, these tumors form in the cells of glands that produce mucus in the bladder.
Stages of Bladder Cancer
Similar to most forms of cancer, doctors use a four-stage system to assess the severity of bladder cancer. The stage is determined by assessing three key variables:
- Tumor: How large is the original tumor?
- Node: How many lymph nodes have been infected?
- Metastasis: Has the cancer spread to distant sites?
Your doctor assesses these factors holistically to determine the overarching stage of your cancer. Staging for bladder cancer runs as follows:
- Stage 0: This refers to cancers that are either still confined to the cells of the bladder lining or cancers that have grown inwards towards the hollow center of the bladder. In any case, the cancer hasn’t grown deeper into the bladder wall.
- Stage I: The tumor has spread to the connective tissue beneath the bladder lining, but no
deeper. It hasn’t reached lymph nodes or distant sites. - Stage II: The cancer has grown into the muscle layer of the bladder wall, but not yet reached the fatty tissue on the other side. It hasn’t reached lymph nodes or distant sites.
- Stage III: The cancer has spread to the fatty layer beyond the muscle wall, and may have spread to some nearby organs. However, it hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or distant sites.
- Stage IV: The cancer has either grown into the pelvic or abdominal wall, spread to nearby lymph nodes, or metastasized to distant sites.
Schedule A Consultation with Your Los Angeles CyberKnife Center
Getting diagnosed with any form of cancer is an extremely difficult experience, and if you or someone you know has been diagnosed, you deserve a dedicated team of experts at your side. At Pasadena CyberKnife, we’ve helped countless patients fight even the most severe forms of cancer, and we’re committed to standing with you through every phase of the treatment process. Call us today at 626.768.1021 to learn more about our treatments and schedule your consultation. We’ll help you beat cancer on your own terms and reclaim the healthy, normal life you deserve.