While some patients may not show any symptoms at all, there are a few warning clues that may indicate a diagnosis of ung thư bàng quang. Bladder cancer symptoms có thể mimic those of a urinary tract infection (UTI), and they may include the following:

• Tiểu máu (có máu trong nước tiểu)
• Dysuria (painful urination or a burning sensation)
• Urinary retention (inability to pass urine)
• Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
• Pain in the lower abdomen or back

Some patients may also experience urinary symptoms like frequent urination, nocturia (frequent urination at night), and a weak urine flow. Advanced bladder cancer symptoms can also include fatigue, swelling in the feet, and bone pain.

The first sign is usually haematuria, and in some cases, patients may only present with this symptom. At times, haematuria may even disappear for a period of weeks or months. Haematuria is typically classified into two categories: gross haematuria and microscopic haematuria. The former type is visible to the naked eye, while the latter can only be viewed under the microscope. This is because the red blood cells are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

However, it is important to note that the presence of blood does not necessarily mean that the patient has bladder cancer. But, as it can be a sign of bladder cancer, it is advisable to consult an experienced Senior Consultant Urologist like Tiến sĩ Terence Lim to carry out a detailed assessment.

Yes, it is highly treatable if detected in the early stages. While there are several management options, the điều trị ung thư bàng quang will depend on the type, stage, and grade of the cancer. The primary treatment for bladder cancer is surgery, but this may depend on the health and fitness of the patient. In some patients, surgery alone might be sufficient to treat the cancer, but some may need other treatments (or a combination) like radiation therapy or immunotherapy to treat it successfully.

Here are some of the common surgical treatment approaches:

Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumours (TURBT): This procedure involves the use of an endoscopic instrument known as a resectoscope that is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to remove the tumour. As this procedure can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, your urologist may also take a tissue sample for further analysis. This is essential to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the grade of the tumour and the extent of invasion.

Cystectomy: This surgery is useful to remove all or part of the bladder that contains cancer cells. In a partial cystectomy, as the name suggests, only a portion of the bladder is removed with the aim of preserving the bladder. A radical cystectomy, on the other hand, is performed when the entire bladder and the surrounding lymph nodes need to be removed. 

In addition, when the bladder is removed, an alternative pathway to pass urine out of the body will be required; this is done with the help of a urinary diversion. For bladder cancers in Singapore, urinary diversions are usually carried out either through an ileal conduit or a neobladder.

This surgery can also be performed by a robotic-assisted procedure that involves robotic technology in treating ung thư bàng quang. Tiến sĩ Terence Lim has a subspecialty in Uro-oncology and is frequently asked to mentor his colleagues and subordinates for his expertise in phẫu thuật robot. As a veteran robotic urologic surgeon, Dr Lim has been involved in over 700 robotic surgeries.

Bladder cancer is the 7th most common cancer in Singapore, and it is more commonly found in men than women, with a median age of diagnosis of 69 for men and 71 for women. As mentioned before, if detected early, the prognosis is quite good, typically resulting in enhanced survival rates. While the survival rate will depend on a number of factors, including the stage and grade of the cancer, the relative 5-year survival rate is over 90% for early-stage cancers and less than 10% for Stage IV bladder cancers. If the tumour is invasive with no metastasis (localised bladder cancer), the expected 5-year survival rate is around 70%.

The rate of the spread is determined by the type, grade, and stage of the cancer. In general, the later the stage and the higher the grade, the faster it will spread. While bladder cancers like adenocarcinoma and sarcoma are aggressive, the cancer spread can be prevented by điều trị ung thư bàng quang if presented early. Low-grade bladder cancers, on the other hand, spread at a much slower pace.