Bladder cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor of the lining of the bladder. For most patients, the first symptom is blood in the urine, which may or may not be visible to the naked eye.

Bladder Cancer: Why Choose Johns Hopkins

• Our team is part of the Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute, a first-of-its-kind, virtual institute that explores innovative new strategies of preventing, detecting and treating bladder cancer.
• Your surgeons, oncologists and radiologists are also renowned bladder cancer researchers who understand all the latest and upcoming treatments — and can connect patients with promising clinical trials, when appropriate.
• Our patients have access to tumor sequencing to identify the exact tumor type and help us design the most efficient and effective treatment plans.
• Your care is managed by a multidisciplinary team that meets weekly or daily to review your case, review test results and progress, and collaborate on next steps.

Treatment for Bladder Cancer

At your consultation, your surgeon will discuss the various bladder cancer treatment options, which will depend on the stage and grade of your tumor, and whether the cancer has invaded the wall of the bladder or spread to other organs.

• Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Options may include tumor cauterization or resection, or chemotherapy or immunotherapy drugs placed directly into the bladder through a catheter.
• Muscle invasive bladder cancer. Advanced bladder cancer often requires some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and even immunotherapy. If bladder removal is necessary, bladder reconstruction surgery will also be required.