An overview of Bladder Cancer

A relatively uncommon type of cancer that begins in the lining of your bladder iscalled bladder cancer. Your bladder is a tiny, hollow organ where you urinate(urine). Bladder cancer can be treated in a variety of ways, including throughsurgery to remove the disease. People with bladder cancer should be attentive inmaking sure they follow up with their healthcare providers because bladder cancermay recur after therapy.

Early-stage bladder cancer, or cancer that is discovered and treated before itspreads, is treatable, but roughly 75% of early-stage bladder tumors recur.

There are three types of bladder cancer. Each type is named for the cells that linethe wall of your bladder where the cancer started. Bladder cancer types include:

The two general types of lung cancer include:

Transitional cell carcinoma : On the inner lining of your bladder wall,transitional cells are where this cancer develops. Transitional bladder tumors makefor about 90% of all cases. This type of cancer spreads aberrant cells from thebladder's inner lining to deeper bladder layers or through the bladder wall into thefatty tissues that encircle the bladder. Urothelial bladder cancer is another namefor this specific form of bladder cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma : Your bladder's interior is lined by squamous cells,which are small, flat cells. This type of bladder cancer, which makes up around 5%of all cases, usually appears in persons who have experienced repeated episodes ofbladder inflammation or irritation.

Adenocarcinoma : Adenocarcinoma cancers are cancers in the glands that lineyour organs, including your bladder. This is a very rare type of bladder cancer,accounting for 1% to 2% of all bladder cancers.

Small cell carcinoma of the bladder : This extremely rare type of bladdercancer affects about 1,000 people in the U.S.

Sarcoma : Rarely, soft tissue sarcomas start in bladder muscle cells.

As bladder cells experience DNA changes (mutations), bladder cancer starts to spread.The DNA of a cell carries instructions that direct the cell's actions. Theadjustments instruct the cell to proliferate quickly and to continue to exist whenhealthy cells would. A tumor created by the aberrant cells can penetrate andobliterate healthy body tissue. With time, the aberrant cells might break free andspread (metastasize) through the body.

Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include:

1. Blood in urine (hematuria), which may cause urine to appear bright red or colacolored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a labtest

2. Frequent urination

3. Painful urination

4. Back pain

Because doctors don’t yet know what causes bladder cancer, it may not be preventablein all cases. The following factors and behaviors can reduce your risk of gettingbladder cancer:

1. not smoking

2. avoiding secondhand cigarette smoke

3. avoiding other carcinogenic chemicals

4. drinking plenty of water

Healthcare providers do a series of tests to diagnose bladder cancer, including:

Urinalysis : Providers use a variety of tests to analyze your pee. In thiscase, they may do urinalysis to rule out infection.

Cytology : Providers examine cells under a microscope for signs of cancer.

Cystoscopy : This is the primary test to identify and diagnose bladder cancer.For this test, providers use a pencil-sized lighted tube called a cystoscope to viewthe inside of your bladder and urethra. They may use a fluorescent dye and a specialblue light that makes it easier to see cancer in your bladder. Providers may alsotake tissue samples while doing cystoscopies.

There are four types of bladder cancer treatment. Providers may use any or all ofthese treatments and may combine treatments.

Surgery : Surgery is frequently used to treat bladder cancer. On the basis ofthe cancer stage, providers selected surgical treatments. For instance, the TURBTtechnique, which is used to identify bladder cancer, can frequently treat bladdercancer that has not yet progressed. Either the tumor is surgically removed, or aprocedure known as fulguration uses high-energy electricity to burn the tumor away.Another option for treatment is a radical cystectomy. Your bladder and associatedorgans are removed during surgery. Whether a person has early-stage tumors all overtheir bladder or cancer that has spread outside of their bladder, it is performed.In men and people DMAB, this surgery removes prostates and seminal vesicles. Inwomen and people DFMB, providers may remove ovaries, their uterus and part of theirvagina. Providers also do surgery known as urinary diversion so people can stillpass pee.

Radiation therapy : Radiation therapy may be an alternative to surgery.Healthcare providers may combine radiation therapy with TURBT and chemotherapy. Thistreatment is an alternative to bladder removal surgery. Healthcare providersconsider factors such as tumor growth and tumor characteristics before recommendingthis treatment

Targeted therapy : Targeted therapy focuses on the genetic changes that turnhealthy cells into cancer cells. For example, drugs called FGFR gene inhibitorstarget cells with gene changes that help cancer cells grow.

Chemotherapy : These are cancer-killing drugs. Providers may use intravesicaltherapy to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to your bladder via a tube insertedinto your urethra. Intravesical therapy targets cancer without damaging healthytissue.

Immunotherapy : Our bodies usually recognize cells that are damaged or harmfuland destroy them. Cancer has ways to hide from the immune system to keep from beingdestroyed. Immunotherapy reveals cancer cells to your immune system so your own bodycan fight cancer.