Overview
Bladder cancer is a common type of cancer that starts in the cells of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ in the lower belly that holds urine.
Bladder cancer often starts in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. They are called urothelial cells. These cells also are found in the kidneys and the tubes, called ureters, that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Urothelial cancer can happen in the kidneys and ureters too. But it's much more common in the bladder.
Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage. But even early-stage bladder cancers can come back after successful treatment. For this reason, people with bladder cancer typically need follow-up tests after treatment to look for bladder cancer that comes back.
Types of bladder cancer
Different types of cells in the bladder can become cancer. The type of bladder cancer a person has is based on the type of cell where the cancer starts.
Types of bladder cancer include:
- Urothelial carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma starts in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Urothelial cells get bigger when the bladder is full and get smaller when the bladder is empty. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer in the United States. This type of cancer used to be called transitional cell carcinoma.
- Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma may be linked to ongoing irritation of the bladder. That kind of irritation might be caused by, for example, an infection or by using a urinary catheter for a long time. Squamous cell bladder cancer is rare in the United States. It's more common in parts of the world where a parasitic infection called schistosomiasis is a common cause of bladder infections.
- Adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma starts in cells within the glands that make mucus in the bladder. Adenocarcinoma of the bladder is very rare.
Some bladder cancers include more than one type of cell.
Symptoms
Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include:
- Blood in the urine, called hematuria. This is the most common symptom. The blood may turn urine red or brown. Sometimes the urine looks unchanged, and the blood is found only with a urine test.
- Urinating more often than usual.
- Feeling an urgent need to urinate.
- Pain or burning with urination.
Blood in the urine often is an early warning sign of bladder cancer. Other urinary symptoms, such as frequent or urgent urination and pain with urination, also can occur early.
Some bladder cancer symptoms can look like a urinary tract infection (UTI). Research found bladder cancer took longer to diagnose in women first diagnosed with a UTI than in men.
When to see a doctor
See a healthcare professional if you have unexplained blood in your urine or urinary symptoms that do not have a known cause.
Causes
It's not clear what causes bladder cancer. Genetic changes in bladder cells may play a role in how the cancer develops. Some of these changes can disrupt the way cells regulate growth and help tumor cells develop.
As bladder cancer grows, it can invade deeper layers of the bladder and nearby tissues. Some bladder cancers also spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Cancer that spreads to another part of the body is called metastatic cancer.
Risk factors
Factors that may raise the risk of bladder cancer include:
- Smoking. Smoking can raise the risk of bladder cancer by causing harmful chemicals to build up in the urine. These harmful chemicals may damage the lining of the bladder, raising the risk of cancer.
- Age. Bladder cancer can happen at any age, but it is more common in older adults.
- Sex at birth. Men are more likely to get bladder cancer than are women.
- Some chemicals. Often being around some types of chemicals may raise the risk of bladder cancer. Those chemicals include arsenic and chemicals used to make dyes, rubber, leather, textiles and paint products.
- Certain cancer treatments. Treatment for cancer with the medicine cyclophosphamide raises the risk of bladder cancer. People who have had radiation treatments aimed at the pelvis also have a higher risk of bladder cancer.
- Bladder inflammation. Urinary inflammation, called cystitis, or urinary infection that lasts or that keeps coming back may raise the risk of squamous cell bladder cancer. That could happen with long-term use of a urinary catheter. In some areas of the world, squamous cell carcinoma is linked to long-lasting bladder inflammation caused by a parasitic infection called schistosomiasis.
- Personal or family history of cancer. If you've had bladder cancer before, you're more likely to get it again. If a blood relative, such as a parent, sibling or child, has had bladder cancer, you might have a higher risk of the disease too. Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition that can raise the risk of urothelial cancer.
Prevention
There's no sure way to prevent bladder cancer. But taking the following steps may lower your risk:
- Don't smoke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you smoke, talk with your healthcare professional about a plan to help you stop.
- Use chemicals carefully. If you work with chemicals, follow all safety instructions.
- Choose a healthy diet. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Limit foods high in sodium. Research suggests that a high intake of sodium may be linked to a higher risk of bladder cancer, but more research is needed.