Bladder cancer

Bladder cancer
Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The white in the bladder is contrast.
SpecialtyOncology, urology
SymptomsBlood in the urine, pain with urination[1]
Usual onset65 to 84 years old[2]
TypesTransitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma[1]
Risk factorsSmoking, family history, prior radiation therapy, frequent bladder infections, certain chemicals[1]
Diagnostic methodCystoscopy with tissue biopsies[1]
TreatmentSurgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy[1]
PrognosisFive-year survival rates ~77% (US)[2]
Frequency549,000 new cases (2018)[3]
Deaths200,000 (2018)[3]

Bladder cancer is any of several types of cancer arising from the tissues of the urinary bladder.[1] Symptoms include blood in the urine, pain with urination, and low back pain.[1] It is caused when epithelial cells that line the bladder become malignant.[4]

Risk factors for bladder cancer include smoking, family history, prior radiation therapy, frequent bladder infections, and exposure to certain chemicals.[1] The most common type is transitional cell carcinoma.[1] Other types include squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.[1] Diagnosis is typically by cystoscopy with tissue biopsies.[5] Staging of the cancer is determined by transurethral resection and medical imaging.[1][6][7]

Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer.[1] It may include some combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.[1] Surgical options may include transurethral resection, partial or complete removal of the bladder, or urinary diversion.[1] The typical five-year survival rates in the United States is 77%, Canada is 75%, and Europe is 68%.[2][8][9]

Bladder cancer, as of 2018, affected about 1.6 million people globally with 549,000 new cases and 200,000 deaths.[3] Age of onset is most often between 65 and 84 years of age.[2] Males are more often affected than females.[2] In 2018, the highest rate of bladder cancer occurred in Southern and Western Europe followed by North America with rates of 15, 13, and 12 cases per 100,000 people.[3] The highest rates of bladder cancer deaths were seen in Northern Africa and Western Asia followed by Southern Europe.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Bladder Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version - National Cancer Institute". www.cancer.gov. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Cancer of the Urinary Bladder - Cancer Stat Facts". SEER. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Bladder Cancer Factsheet" (PDF). Global Cancer Observatory. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. ^ Heyes S.M., Prior K.N., Whitehead D., Bond M.J. Toward an Understanding of Patients' and Their Partners' Experiences of Bladder Cancer. Cancer Nurs.. 2020;43(5):E254-E263. doi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000000718
  5. ^ "Bladder Cancer Treatment". National Cancer Institute. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 14 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  6. ^ "EAU Guidelines: Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer". Uroweb.
  7. ^ "Bladder Cancer - Stages and Grades". Cancer.Net. 25 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Bladder cancer". World Cancer Research Fund. 24 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Survival statistics for bladder cancer - Canadian Cancer Society". www.cancer.ca.