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What is Bladder Cancer?
The bladder is located in your lower abdomen and stores urine. Urine is the waste product left behind after your kidneys filter your blood. Urine then travels from your kidneys to your bladder through tubes called ureters, and is stored there until it leaves your body through a tube called the urethra. Your bladder has an elastic inner layer (lining) and muscular middle layers that allow it to expand and contract to store different amounts of urine. Bladder cancer usually starts in the cells lining the inside of the bladder and grows towards the outer walls. There are three main types of bladder cancer:
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Transitional cell
Transitional cell carcinomas account for about 90% of all bladder cancers. Or more recently, referred to as urothelial carcinoma. This type of bladder cancer forms in the urothelial cells that line the inner layer of the bladder, and usually grows deeper towards the outer bladder wall layers. Some transitional cell carcinomas form finger-line projections called papillae that grow inwards towards the hollow center of the bladder, rather than into the wall. Bladder cancer that remains in the inner layer is called non-invasive, while cancer that grows through deeper layers of tissue is called invasive and is harder to treat.
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Squamous cell
Squamous cell carcinomas account for ~5% and form in thin, flat cells in the inner layer of the bladder. Squamous cells form as a result of infection or irritation. These cells are not normally in the bladder so, this form of bladder cancer is more rare, but also more aggressive.
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Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinomas also start in the inner layer of the bladder and may be caused by chronic infection, irritation, or inflammation. These tumors are also very rare and often found in the dome or top of the bladder in an embryonic remnant called a urachus. If they arise from the urachus they tend to follow a slow course but when they arise from the bladder or urethra they are more aggressive.
Bladder Cancer in Women
Bladder cancer is traditionally thought of as a disease of older men. Men are about twice as likely to get bladder cancer as women, but when women get bladder cancer, it is usually more advanced and aggressive. This is due to the fact that women often ignore the main symptom – blood in the urine – which may be mistaken for another less serious condition. It is extremely important for women to see their doctor immediately if they have any blood in their urine or experience any other symptoms.
