Bladder cancer is caused by an abnormal tissue growth, known as a tumour, which grows and spreads inside the bladder.It’s a relatively common type of cancer in older adults.The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your urine. This isn’t usually painful.Read more about the symptoms of bladder cancer.The bladderThe bladder is a hollow, balloon-like organ that is located in the pelvis.The kidneys filter waste products out of your blood. The waste products are mixed with water to create urine which passes down two tubes called ureters and into your bladder. When your bladder is full, the urine passes out of your body through a tube called the urethra, which is when you go to urinate.Types of bladder cancerIf the cancerous cells are contained inside the lining of the bladder, doctors describe it as superficial or non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. This is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for 7 out of 10 cases, and the least serious. Most people do not die as a result of it.When the cancerous cells have spread beyond the lining into the surrounding muscles of the bladder, it’s referred to as muscle invasive bladder cancer. This is less common and has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body (metastasising) and resulting in death.Treating bladder cancerIn cases of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, it is usually possible to remove the cancerous cells while leaving the rest of the bladder intact. This is done using a surgical technique called transurethral resection (TUR). TUR is usually followed by a course of chemotherapy which is placed directly into the bladder to prevent the cancer returning. (Using chemotherapy in this way reduces the risk of side-effects such as hair loss)In some cases, a medication known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is also injected into the bladder as it has been found to encourage the immune system to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. The immune system is the body’s natural defence against infection and illness.Treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer usually involves surgically removing the bladder in an operation that is known as a cystectomy. Alternatively, you may have a course of radiotherapy.Further surgery will also be required to find another way of passing urine out of the bladder. Possible options include creating a hole (stoma) in the abdomen so that urine can be passed out of the bladder, or constructing a new bladder out of a section of bowel.Read more about treating bladder cancer.Causes of bladder cancerMost cases of bladder cancer appear to be caused when the tissue of the bladder is exposed to harmful substances which, over the course of main years, lead to abnormal biological changes in the bladder’s cells. The most common harmful substance is tobacco smoke. It is estimated that half of all cases of bladder cancer are caused by smoking.Coming into contact with certain chemicals that are used in manufacturing was previously thought to be responsible for around one-in-four cases. However, these cases are thought to be becoming less common due to improvements in workplace safety standards.Read more about the possible causes of bladder cancer.Who is affected by bladder cancer?Bladder cancer is associated with ageing. Most cases occur in older adults, with the average age at diagnosis being 68 years old.Rates of bladder cancer are four times higher in men than in women, which is possibly because in the past men were more likely to smoke and had a higher risk of occupational exposure. However, women tend to have a worse outlook than men because they are more likely to develop the muscle-invasive type of bladder cancer.OutlookThe outlook for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is usually good. It is estimated that between 80%-90% of people with this type of bladder cancer will live at least five years after being diagnosed, and many of them will live much longer than that.Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer has a high risk of returning at a later date, which occurs in more than half of all people with this type of bladder cancer. In around 1 in 10 cases, the cancer can return as the more invasive type.The outlook for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is less favourable because achieving a complete cure is not often possible. Around half of people diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer will die within five years.Abdomen: The abdomen is the part of the body between the chest and the hips.Bladder:The bladder is a small organ near the pelvis that holds urine until it is ready to be passed from the body.Immune system: The immune system is the body’s defence system, which helps protect it from disease, bacteria and viruses.Lymph nodes: Lymph nodes are small oval tissues that remove unwanted bacteria and particles from the body. Part of the immune system.Peritoneum:The peritoneum is the lining on the inside of the abdomen. It also covers and holds the digestive organs in place.Tissue:Body tissue is made up of groups of cells that perform a specific job, such as protecting the body against infection, producing movement or storing fat. Google+ Overview of Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is caused by an abnormal tissue growth, known as a tumour, which grows and spreads inside the bladder.
It’s a relatively common type of cancer in older adults.
The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in your urine. This isn’t usually painful.
Read more about the symptoms of bladder cancer.
The bladder
The bladder is a hollow, balloon-like organ that is located in the pelvis.
The kidneys filter waste products out of your blood. The waste products are mixed with water to create urine which passes down two tubes called ureters and into your bladder. When your bladder is full, the urine passes out of your body through a tube called the urethra, which is when you go to urinate.
Types of bladder cancer
If the cancerous cells are contained inside the lining of the bladder, doctors describe it as superficial or non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. This is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for 7 out of 10 cases, and the least serious. Most people do not die as a result of it.
When the cancerous cells have spread beyond the lining into the surrounding muscles of the bladder, it’s referred to as muscle invasive bladder cancer. This is less common and has a higher chance of spreading to other parts of the body (metastasising) and resulting in death.
Treating bladder cancer
In cases of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, it is usually possible to remove the cancerous cells while leaving the rest of the bladder intact. This is done using a surgical technique called transurethral resection (TUR). TUR is usually followed by a course of chemotherapy which is placed directly into the bladder to prevent the cancer returning. (Using chemotherapy in this way reduces the risk of side-effects such as hair loss)
In some cases, a medication known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is also injected into the bladder as it has been found to encourage the immune system to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. The immune system is the body’s natural defence against infection and illness.
Treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer usually involves surgically removing the bladder in an operation that is known as a cystectomy. Alternatively, you may have a course of radiotherapy.
Further surgery will also be required to find another way of passing urine out of the bladder. Possible options include creating a hole (stoma) in the abdomen so that urine can be passed out of the bladder, or constructing a new bladder out of a section of bowel.
Read more about treating bladder cancer.
Causes of bladder cancer
Most cases of bladder cancer appear to be caused when the tissue of the bladder is exposed to harmful substances which, over the course of main years, lead to abnormal biological changes in the bladder’s cells. The most common harmful substance is tobacco smoke. It is estimated that half of all cases of bladder cancer are caused by smoking.
Coming into contact with certain chemicals that are used in manufacturing was previously thought to be responsible for around one-in-four cases. However, these cases are thought to be becoming less common due to improvements in workplace safety standards.
Read more about the possible causes of bladder cancer.
Who is affected by bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is associated with ageing. Most cases occur in older adults, with the average age at diagnosis being 68 years old.
Rates of bladder cancer are four times higher in men than in women, which is possibly because in the past men were more likely to smoke and had a higher risk of occupational exposure. However, women tend to have a worse outlook than men because they are more likely to develop the muscle-invasive type of bladder cancer.
Outlook
The outlook for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is usually good. It is estimated that between 80%-90% of people with this type of bladder cancer will live at least five years after being diagnosed, and many of them will live much longer than that.
Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer has a high risk of returning at a later date, which occurs in more than half of all people with this type of bladder cancer. In around 1 in 10 cases, the cancer can return as the more invasive type.
The outlook for muscle-invasive bladder cancer is less favourable because achieving a complete cure is not often possible. Around half of people diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer will die within five years.
Abdomen: The abdomen is the part of the body between the chest and the hips.Bladder:The bladder is a small organ near the pelvis that holds urine until it is ready to be passed from the body.Immune system: The immune system is the body’s defence system, which helps protect it from disease, bacteria and viruses.Lymph nodes: Lymph nodes are small oval tissues that remove unwanted bacteria and particles from the body. Part of the immune system.Peritoneum:The peritoneum is the lining on the inside of the abdomen. It also covers and holds the digestive organs in place.Tissue:Body tissue is made up of groups of cells that perform a specific job, such as protecting the body against infection, producing movement or storing fat.
