Bladder cancer: What it is

Bladder Cancer - What it is

Bladder cancer (sometimes referred to as urothelial cancer), is a disease of the urinary tract. The urinary bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine produced by the kidneys before it is discharged from the body. This allows us to control when we want to pass urine, and allows one to pass urine at an appropriate time.

Bladder cancer occurs when there is abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells within the urinary bladder with the potential to spread to other parts of the body. It is more common in men and in those who are over the age of 60 (the median age at diagnosis is 69 years). Other risk factors include smoking, exposure to certain chemicals at work, chronic bladder problems or repeated urinary tract infections, family history of bladder cancer and genetic conditions (e.g Lynch Syndrome).

Figure 1: Bladder Cancer

The most common type (about 90% of bladder cancer cases) is transitional cell carcinoma, which starts in the urothelial cells in the bladder lining. Other types include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and small cell bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is commonly categorised into:

Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) (Stage 0-1): These tumours affect the shallow layers within the bladder and are usually less aggressive. They can often be treated successfully with minimal intervention. The main goal of treatment is organ (bladder) preservation whilst achieving maximal cancer-free rates.
Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC) (Stages 2-3): In these cases, the tumour has spread to involve the muscle layers in the urinary bladder wall. These cancers can invade surrounding tissues, making them more aggressive and potentially leading to metastasis.
Metastatic (Stage 4): At this stage, bladder cancer has spread beyond the bladder to distant organs. This form is highly aggressive and more challenging to treat.

Figure 2: Classification of Bladder Cancer