Bladder Health and Cancer
Our experts offer care for all types of bladder conditions, including UTIs, incontinence, urgency, frequency, and cancer.
If you are constantly running to the bathroom, have trouble emptying your bladder, or experience pain while urinating, Virtua can help. Our team uses the latest minimally invasive approaches to diagnose and treat your bladder condition.
How Do I Know if I Have a Bladder Problem?
Signs of a bladder problem can include:
- Urinary incontinence (Inability to hold urine or leaking urine)
- Needing to urinate eight or more times in one day
- Waking up many times at night to urinate
- Sudden and urgent need to urinate
- Pain or burning before, during, or after urinating
- Cloudy or bloody urine
- Passing only small amounts of urine after strong urges to urinate
- Trouble starting or having a weak stream while urinating
- Trouble emptying the bladder
Both women and men can develop urinary incontinence. In women, it may be due to weakening of the pelvic floor muscles or neurologic control of the bladder. In men, problems in urinary function are often linked to prostate enlargement. Conditions such as stroke, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis can also contribute to bladder urinary problems.
What Is Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancers are classified (staged) by how deep they are in the bladder wall, which has several layers. Superficial bladder cancer is limited to the innermost linings of the bladder. Invasive bladder cancer penetrates the muscular layer of the bladder wall. Types of bladder cancer include:
- Transitional cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Adenocarcinoma
How Is Bladder Cancer Diagnosed?
Your doctor may order tests, including urinalysis, imaging, or a cystoscopy procedure to diagnose bladder cancer and determine a treatment plan. A cystoscopy uses a small tube with a camera at the tip to examine the lining of the bladder.
Virtua is among select health systems in the region using Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview®, a technology that helps our team more accurately detect and remove early-stage bladder cancer. Traditional cystoscopy uses white light to view the bladder. Blue light, in combination with an imaging dye called Cysview, makes cancer cells glow bright pink, improving detection of difficult-to-detect cancer cells so they can be removed.
Bladder Cancer Treatments We Offer
Virtua Health offers highly specialized bladder cancer treatments. Interdisciplinary teams of board-certified, fellowship-trained urologic oncologists and advanced practice nurses provide expert treatment, education, and support for you and your family.
Surgery is a common treatment option for people who have bladder cancer. Our surgeons are skilled in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical techniques. They are also specially trained in pelvic surgery and reconstruction techniques that help to improve surgical outcomes and minimize the potential effects of surgery to this sensitive area of the body.
Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may also be part of your recommended treatment plan. Experts in radiation oncology and medical oncology for bladder cancer are part of your comprehensive care team at the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program.
View our Cancer Treatment Locations
Virtua offers several cancer treatment locations, close to home in South Jersey.
The Virtua Difference for Bladder Cancer Care
An integrated team focused on you
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer requires a coordinated team of experts to collaborate on all aspects of patient care. The Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program team includes Penn Medicine and Virtua physicians working together in New Jersey to provide individualized, state-of-the-art treatment and personalized care. Your case is reviewed by a team of oncology doctors, nurses, and other specialists. Working together, they develop a comprehensive plan to treat you, not just your cancer.
An integrated team focused on you
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer requires a coordinated team of experts to collaborate on all aspects of patient care. The Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program team includes Penn Medicine and Virtua physicians working together in New Jersey to provide individualized, state-of-the-art treatment and personalized care. Your case is reviewed by a team of oncology doctors, nurses, and other specialists. Working together, they develop a comprehensive plan to treat you, not just your cancer.
Care for the whole person
Cancer affects all aspects of your life. That’s why we take a big-picture approach to your care. At the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program, your care plan includes more than medical or surgical treatments. You also have access to cancer support services like counseling, pain management, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and specialized care for your sexual well-being. This holistic approach led to our accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
Care for the whole person
Cancer affects all aspects of your life. That’s why we take a big-picture approach to your care. At the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program, your care plan includes more than medical or surgical treatments. You also have access to cancer support services like counseling, pain management, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, and specialized care for your sexual well-being. This holistic approach led to our accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
Cancer clinical trials
We’re constantly working to improve treatments through clinical trials. When you participate in a trial, you may have access to a promising new therapy before it’s widely available. We lead studies on immunotherapy drugs that attack the cancer cells in your body. And we investigate medications that target specific genetic mutations associated with several cancers.
Cancer clinical trials
We’re constantly working to improve treatments through clinical trials. When you participate in a trial, you may have access to a promising new therapy before it’s widely available. We lead studies on immunotherapy drugs that attack the cancer cells in your body. And we investigate medications that target specific genetic mutations associated with several cancers.
Virtua Specialty Pharmacy
If you need a specialty medication as part of your cancer care, we can take care of your needs from start to finish. We work closely with your care team, your insurance provider, and anyone else involved with getting you the medications you need, when you need it – with free delivery straight to your door.
Virtua Specialty Pharmacy
If you need a specialty medication as part of your cancer care, we can take care of your needs from start to finish. We work closely with your care team, your insurance provider, and anyone else involved with getting you the medications you need, when you need it – with free delivery straight to your door.