Bladder Cancer
The bladder is a hollow organ located in the lower abdomen that holds urine. The wall of the bladder has several layers. Bladder cancer develops in the cells in the lining of the bladder and can grow into the organ’s walls.
About Bladder Cancer
Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer. It begins in the transitional cells, which stretch as the bladder expands and shrinks. Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are less common types of bladder cancer.
Cancer that is only in the cells of the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer, also call in situ. Superficial cancer that grows through the lining into the wall of the bladder is invasive cancer. Invasive cancer may extend through the bladder wall, grow into nearby organs, and invade the wall of the abdomen.
Who’s at Risk?
Each year in the U.S., 38,000 men and 15,000 women are diagnosed with bladder cancer. It is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the eighth most common in women. Bladder cancer is more common in older people. Nearly 90 percent of people with this cancer are over the age of 55.
Risk Factors
The following risk factors have been linked to bladder cancer:
- Smoking: Smoking increases the risk by two to three times.
- Occupation: Exposure to certain chemicals in the rubber, chemical and leather industries are at risk. This includes hairdressers, machinists, metal workers, printers, painters, textile workers and truck drivers.
- Infections: Infection with certain parasites found in the tropics.
- Arsenic: This and other drugs are sometimes used to treat cancer and other conditions.
- Family history: Family members with bladder cancer.
- Personal history: A previous diagnosis of the disease.
Treatment
Treatment options for bladder cancer include surgery, radiation therapy (external or internal), chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
Depending on the stage of the cancer, surgery may be performed to remove the bladder and nearby organs in a procedure called a radical cystectomy. The surgeon will create a new way to collect urine, which may involve the use of a bag inside or outside of the body. If only part of the bladder is removed, the operation is called a segmental cystectomy.
Some information on this page is provided by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.