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.
The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. Other common symptoms are painful urination and pelvic pain.
Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer are often mistaken for symptoms of a urinary tract infection or kidney stones. However, if you notice blood in your urine, or any of the other symptoms listed, even if they come and go, please go to the doctor so that the cause can be investigated.
There is no guaranteed way to prevent bladder cancer, however you can reduce your risk by:
Tests and procedures used to diagnose bladder cancer may include:
The type of treatment recommended for bladder cancer depends on the grade and stage of the cancer. Treatment generally involves surgery to remove the cancerous tissue (transurethral resection). Removal of the bladder may be necessary if the cancer is more advanced. In cases where the bladder is removed, reconstruction is needed to create a new way for urine to exit the body.
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be recommended. Chemotherapy involves administering a drug or combination of drugs to kill the cancer cells or control their growth. Radiation therapy uses powerful, focused beams of energy to kill cancer cells. A combination of treatments, e.g. surgery + chemotherapy or surgery + radiation therapy or a combination of all three may be recommended to treat bladder cancer. In some cases, immunotherapy may be recommended to trigger the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells.
Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is usually treated by:
Muscle-invasive bladder cancer which has a high chance of spreading to other parts of the body is usually aggressively treated by:
Sometimes a combination of treatment with chemotherapy with surgery or radiation is needed to improve the chances of cure in patients with advanced bladder cancer.
Q1: Is bladder cancer usually curable?
Bladder cancer can often be treated successfully, especially when detected early. The likelihood of a cure depends on several factors, including:
Q2: What is the expected life expectancy for someone diagnosed with bladder cancer?
The life expectancy for someone diagnosed with bladder cancer varies based on several factors, including the stage of cancer at diagnosis, the specific type of bladder cancer, the patient's overall health, and how well the cancer responds to treatment.
General statistics indicated that for early-stage bladder cancer (localised or non-invasive), the 5-year survival rate can be around 70% to 90%. Many people with early stage bladder cancer can be effectively treated and remain cancer-free.
For more advanced stages of bladder cancer (muscle-invasive or metastatic), the 5-year survival rate drops significantly to about 30% to 60%, depending on how far the cancer has spread.
Q3: What are the first signs and symptoms of bladder cancer?
The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, painful urination and pelvic pain. The symptoms of bladder cancer are often mistaken for those of a urinary tract infection or kidney stones, therefore individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention so that the doctor can investigate the cause of the symptoms.
Q4: How aggressive is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer can vary in aggressiveness, influenced by several factors, including the stage of the cancer at diagnosis, the specific type of bladder cancer, the patient’s overall health, and how well the cancer responds to treatment.
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