When it comes to malignancies of the urinary tract, bladder cancer ranks high. It is projected that more than 83,000 new cases of bladder cancer were detected in the US in 2023. The majority of bladder cancer cases are curable when caught early, with surgery being the main treatment option. The ability to make educated decisions and take charge of one’s health is greatly enhanced when patients have a thorough understanding of the various surgical procedures, their advantages, disadvantages, and post-operative care.
Different Approaches to Bladder Cancer Surgery
The extent and stage of bladder cancer dictate the type of surgery that will be necessary. Surgical procedures mostly include:
- TURBT or Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor
When it comes to treating bladder cancer in its early stages, TURBT is by far the most popular surgery. A cystoscope, a tiny camera-equipped tube, is sent into the bladder via the urethra in order to do this procedure. After locating the tumor on the bladder wall, the surgeon will use a tool to remove it. When the tumor has not yet reached the bladder’s muscle layer, a type of bladder cancer known as non-muscle-invasive, this procedure is typically performed.
- Removal of the Radical Cancer
A radical cystectomy is a more comprehensive surgical procedure that may be necessary when the cancer has spread to the bladder’s muscle layer or is of high grade. Both the male and female reproductive systems are entirely removed during this operation, along with the lymph nodes around the bladder and, in men, the prostate; in women, the uterus and a portion of the vagina are removed.
After Surgery, How to Use a Urinary Diversion System
Due to the bladder’s ineffectiveness following a radical cystectomy, patients will require a different means of pee storage and elimination. Several methods exist for redirecting urine flow, such as:
- Ileal Conduit
An external stoma is made on the abdomen to direct urine flow from the kidneys to a urostomy bag, and a section of the small intestine is used to establish this channel. The ileal conduit is the urine diversion method that is most frequently employed.
- Urine Reservoir on the Continent
Making a pouch inside the digestive tract to store urine is the method used in a continent urinary reservoir. To empty the pouch at predetermined times, the patient might introduce a catheter into a stoma. An improvement in quality of life due to increased control over urine.
- Reconstructing the Neobladder
A neobladder, or artificial bladder, can be surgically implanted into certain patients by using a piece of the small intestine. A more natural way to pee, via the urethra, is made possible with the neobladder. It is the most accurate representation of how the bladder normally works .The treatment is complex and requires a longer recuperation period, which is a disadvantage.
Surgery for Bladder Cancer: Potential Dangers and Issues
Surgery to treat bladder cancer, like any other type of surgery, is not without its hazards. Problems that often arise are:
- The risk of infection: is higher at surgical sites, especially those that involve urine diversion.
- Bleeding: Some patients may need extra medical attention due to significant bleeding that occurred during or after surgery.
- Blood clots: The likelihood of developing a clot in the lungs or legs after a lengthy period of immobilization following surgery is increased.
- Patients may experience difficulty regulating their urine: especially following surgeries such as neobladder reconstruction, which is known as urinary incontinence.
- Sexual dysfunction: Both men and women may experience changes to their sexual function after undergoing a radical cystectomy. Although nerve-sparing procedures may lessen the likelihood of this consequence, many patients still worry about it.
Conclusion
Depending on the stage of the disease, patients with bladder cancer have viable treatment options available through surgery. Surgical therapies, whether they are less intrusive (like transurethral bladder resection) or more extensive (like radical cystectomy), have increased survival rates and improved quality of life for several patients.
But before you get one of these operations, make sure you’re comfortable with the lifestyle adjustments and hazards involved. Effective management of bladder cancer requires open communication with a healthcare team, familiarity with surgical choices, and knowledge of post-operative care.
