Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the 10 most common types of cancer in the United States. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 84,870 people in the United States will receive a diagnosis of bladder cancer in 2025. Furthermore, approximately 17,420 people are expected to die from the disease this year, according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.

Approximately, 79% of people diagnosed with cancer of the bladder survive for at least five years after the diagnosis. The NCI estimates that more than 744,000 people in the United States are living with this type of cancer.

types of cancer

Cancer of the bladder occurs in four main types, named for the kind of cells that become malignant.

  • Transitional cell carcinoma, which is also called urothelial carcinoma and is the most common form of bladder cancer, begins in the urothelial cells that line the bladder and urinary tract.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the squamous cells. This type may form after long-term infection or irritation.
  • Adenocarcinoma begins in glandular (secretory) cells in the lining of the bladder.
  • Small cell carcinoma of the bladder begins in neuroendocrine cells.

bladder cancer is more common among men than women

Men are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the bladder than women. In fact, almost four times as many men in the United States are diagnosed with the disease as women. However, women have a slightly lower rate of survival. This is because they tend to be diagnosed at a later stage of the disease than men. As usual, survival rates in both sexes are higher when the disease is diagnosed when it is still localized to the bladder. Survival rates drop when the cancer has spread to other organs of the body.

Tobacco use is a major risk factor for cancer of the bladder. Other risk factors include having a family history of the disease, exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace, drinking water with high levels of arsenic and chlorine, and having a bladder infection caused by a parasite called Schistosoma haematobium.

Bladder Cancer Screening (NCI) Bladder Cancer Treatment (NCI)

Source: National Cancer Institute