Malignant cancer cells can develop in the bladder, part of the urinary tract. The three different types of cancer (each named for the type of cells that are affected) that can develop are:
Urothelial Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
The stage of the cancer depends on where the cancer is located.
Cancer that is contained inside the bladder is known as superficial bladder cancer.
Cancer that has spread through the lining of the bladder and into the bladder muscle wall or spread outside of the bladder is called invasive bladder cancer.
Stages for bladder cancer range from Stage 0 through Stage 4, with each stage indicating where the tumor is located, if it has spread to lymph nodes, and if it has metastasized. (See Stages of Cancer)
Some risk factors for Bladder Cancer are:
Smoking: Smoking or using other tobacco products greatly increases a person’s risk for bladder cancer.
Family history: The chance of developing bladder cancer increases when immediate family members have had the disease.
Personal history: A person’s risk is increased with a history of recurrent bladder infections or long-time urinary catheter use.
Exposure: Certain paints, dyes, metals, or petroleum, as well as consuming water with high levels of arsenic or treated with chlorine, may increase a person’s risk.
Prior treatment: Receiving previous radiation therapy treatment to the pelvis or certain anti-cancer drugs may cause an increased risk.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms are different for each patient. It’s important to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your physician. They may include:
Blood in the urine (most common)
Frequent and/or painful urination
Inability to urinate or urinating less than normally
Pain in the lower back
Screening & Diagnostic Testing
A complete physical exam and medical history should be completed. The exam will check for any unusual physical signs, and the medical history helps to fully understand a person’s health habits, family history, previous illnesses, and exposure. Additional testing may include:
Urinalysis
Urine Cytology
Cystoscopy
Biopsy
Imaging (CT Scan, Intravenous Pyelogram)
Helpful Patient Resources:
We understand that receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a very scary and emotional time for patients and their families. It is very important to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your oncologist. We highly recommend that if you do any research about your disease, you do so only with reputable sources. For your convenience, we’ve listed some below.
