Bladder Cancer

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer (sometimes referred to as urothelial cancer), is a disease of the urinary tract. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen whose main job is to store urine. It has flexible, muscular walls that can stretch to hold urine and squeeze to send it out of the body. Bladder cancer occurs when there is a growth of abnormal tissue, known as a tumour, which develops in the bladder lining. In some cases, the tumour spreads into the bladder muscle and requires more aggressive treatment.

Bladder cancer 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). 

There are different types of bladder cancer that start from different types of cells in the bladder lining. 

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

What are the stages of bladder cancer?

• Non muscle-invasive (Stage 0-I): These tumours are usually less aggressive and can often be treated successfully with minimal intervention. 
  
• Muscle-Invasive (Stages II-III): These cancers can invade the bladder wall and surrounding tissues, making them more aggressive and potentially leading to metastasis (spreading to other organs). 
• Metastatic (Stage IV): At this stage, bladder cancer has spread beyond the bladder to distant organs. This form is highly aggressive and more challenging to treat.