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UCLA’s Bladder Cancer Program offers the latest and most advanced care for bladder cancer. Our physicians are trained in urologic oncology and have been consistently ranked among the top bladder cancer practitioners in the United States. Additionally, our doctors are part of The UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology (the "IUO") and its multidisciplinary team of world-renowned physicians and scientists who are working together to personalize patient care and to develop revolutionary treatments for those diagnosed with bladder cancer.
Innovations in Treating Bladder & Kidney Cancer. UCLA urologist, Karim Chamie, MD, MSHS, presented a live-streaming webinar to discuss new cancer treatments that do not require the unnecessary removal of the kidney or bladder.
Bladder cancer is marked by the formation of malignant cells in the tissues of the bladder, the organ where urine is stored. The bladder is an organ located in the lower abdomen used to store urine. The urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder by two paired tubes called ureters. Bladder cancer occurs when uncontrolled growth and malignancy develops from cells originating from the bladder lining or urothelium.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2017 approximately 77,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with bladder cancer and about 16,390 people will die from this disease. Bladder cancer accounts for about 5% of all new cancers in the US. It is the fourth most common cancer in men, but it is less common in women.
Types of bladder cancer >
Bladder cancer symptoms may include blood in the urine, frequent urination and pain during urination.
Bladder cancer symptoms >
Bladder Cancer Brochure
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Both urological and imaging tests are used to diagnose bladder cancer. These tests include a physical exam, urine test, computerized tomography (CT) scan, cystoscopy and a biopsy.
More information about bladder cancer diagnosis, grading and staging >
The UCLA Bladder Cancer Program offers a variety of innovative treatment options to patients who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, including standard, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery, as well as clinical trials. Treatment plans are individualized to each patient’s cancer grade and stage as well as current state of health.
The management of bladder cancer requires extensive collaboration among specialists. The UCLA IUO holds bi-weekly conferences with a multidisciplinary team that provides a forum with diverse, specialized perspectives for deciding upon the best option for each individual patient.
UCLA has been a pioneer in the innovative, multidisciplinary, translational approach to care, including:
More information about bladder cancer treatment at UCLA >
Clinical trials are essential for developing new methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating bladder cancer. The UCLA Bladder Cancer Program offers patients access to ground-breaking experimental drugs in its Clinical Trials Program that allows patients to receive tomorrow’s approved drugs today.
The UCLA Bladder Cancer Program, in conjunction with the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology, is committed to ongoing bladder cancer research in a quest to develop new treatments for and offer ground-breaking clinical trials to all UCLA bladder cancer patients, along with a commitment to educate and train the next generation of leading physician-scientists. UCLA was an early innovator in treatments that bring the patient’s immune system to bear against cancer. Breakthroughs in immunotherapy are revolutionizing the treatment of genitourinary cancer, with new treatment options imminent for patients with bladder cancer.
Learn more about our research >
