Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer information such as how many people get bladder cancer, what is bladder cancer, risk factors of bladder cancer and screening recommendations.
According to American Cancer Society approximately 63,210 people in the United States will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2005 and approximately 13,180 people will die from bladder cancer in 2005. Bladder cancer, when found early has a good survival rate. It occurs more often in men than women and more often among white populations than black populations. Bladder cancer begins in the lining layer and grows into the bladder wall. The bladder is a hollow balloon-like organ that stores urine and is lined with layers of transitional cells. The same types of cells line the kidneys, the ureters (tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder) and the urethra (tube that empties the bladder out of the body). Cancer can begin in any of these cells. The three main types of bladder cancer are Urothelial Carcinoma or Transitional Cell Carcinoma (the most common type), Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma.
Bladder Cancer Risk Factors
Certain risk factors increase a person?Ĵs chance of getting the disease. This does not mean the person will get the disease nor does it mean people without specific risk factors will not get the disease. It only means there is an increased chance. Bladder Cancer Risk
Factors:
- Smoking (twice as often those who don?Ĵt smoke)
- Job risks (chemicals used in dyes)
- White populations
- Risk increases with age
- Men (4 times as often as women)
- Chronic bladder inflammation (linked to)
- Personal history
- Birth defects
- Previous cancer treatment
- Arsenic
Bladder Cancer Screening Recommendations
Screening tests are not used for bladder cancer unless the person has strong risk factors. Tests such as urine cytology or cystoscopy may be performed. If there is reason to suspect bladder cancer such as blood in the urine or changes in bladder habits the following tests/methods:
- Medical history and physical exam
- Cystoscopy
- Urine cytology
- Urine culture
- Biopsy
- Bladder tumor marker studies
- Imaging tests
Information gathered: 6-28-05.