Facts About Bladder Cancer

The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for bladder cancer in the United States are for 2009:

• 70,980 new cases of bladder cancer
• 14,330 deaths from bladder cancer
• The chance of a man having this cancer is about 1 in 27
• For women, it is 1 in 85

Bladder cancer is more common among men than women and more common among whites than blacks. Nearly 90 percent of people with this cancer are over the age of 55. The earlier this cancer is found and treated, the better the outcome.

Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is most often found in older white men, but it can be diagnosed in anyone at any age. Other risk factors include:

• Smoking tobacco products.
• Working in jobs where there is possible chemical exposure. For example, dye workers, textile workers, tire and rubber workers, painters, truck drivers, chemical workers, petroleum workers, hairdressers and aluminum workers.
• Chronic bladder inflammation, such as urinary infections, bladder stones and kidney stones.
• Drinking water with high levels of arsenic.

About Bladder Cancer

The bladder is in the pelvis. It collects and stores urine and has a muscular wall that allows it to contract and expand.

• Cancer that is only in the bladder lining is called superficial (or non-invasive) bladder cancer. More than 75 percent of bladder cancer is diagnosed as superficial disease and has an excellent survival rate.
• Invasive bladder cancer penetrates the layers of the bladder and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

• Blood in urine.
• Painful urination.
• Frequent urination.
• Feeling the need to urinate without being able to.
• Lower back pain.

These symptoms may not be a sign of cancer, but it’s important to have them checked by a doctor.

Diagnosing Bladder Cancer

If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of bladder cancer, your doctor will first examine you and then conduct one or more of the following tests:

• Urinalysis checks the urine for bacteria, blood, protein, sugar and other substances.
• Your doctor may also examine your urine under a microscope to look for cancerous cells. This is called a urine cytology.
• An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is a test in which a "contrast solution" is put into a vein. X-rays are then taken to see your kidneys, bladder and ureters (the thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder).
• A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis uses X-rays and a computer to get detailed images of the kidneys, bladder and ureters.
• During a cystoscopy, a thin, telescope-like instrument with a light is inserted gently into the urethra (the tube that carries urine to the outside) and passed into the bladder to examine its lining. The cystoscope also lets your doctor remove a tissue sample to examine it for cancer.

If you are diagnosed with cancer, your doctor may order more tests to see if cancer cells have spread from the bladder to other parts of the body.

Treating Bladder Cancer

Treatment options are based on the type of cancer, your age and overall health. Bladder cancer, if caught early, can often be cured. The main treatments include:

• Surgery by a surgical oncologist or urologist to remove the cancer or possibly part or all of the bladder.
• Radiation therapy where radiation oncologists use high energy X-rays to destroy the tumor.
• Chemotherapy where a medical oncologist uses drugs to eliminate the cancer. In some instances, drugs may be put directly into the bladder.
• Biologic therapy (also called immunotherapy) where doctors stimulate your immune system to more effectively fight the cancer.

Surgery is often the primary treatment for bladder cancer. In some cases, to help patients preserve their bladder, doctors are able to surgically remove part of the bladder and follow up with radiation and chemotherapy. Early results show these treatments to be as effective as complete removal of the bladder, and the surgery allows many patients to preserve normal urinary function.

Radiation Therapy Options for Bladder Cancer

External beam radiation therapy is the main type of radiation used to treat bladder cancer, often in combination with chemotherapy. Internal radiation therapy is also sometimes used.

Additional Information