Question

Understanding Bladder Cancer?

Answer 1

The primary function of the bladder is to the store the urine drained into the bladder from the kidneys and urinary tract. Bladder cancer develops when the cells within the bladder begin to grow abnormally. Similar to other types of cancer, bladder cancer can spread to other organs in the body. Common organs where bladder cancer spreads include the bones, lungs, and liver. In the United States, men are diagnosed with bladder cancer at a higher rate than women.Types of Bladder CancerThe appearance of cells when looked at under a microscope determines that type of bladder of cancer present. Three common types of bladder cancer exist, which include urothelial carcinoma, adenocarcinoma of the bladder, and squamous cell carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer and accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all bladder cancer cases. Urothelial carcinoma is directly connected to cigarette smoking. Two percent of bladder cancer cases result in adenocarcinoma of the bladder, which is strongly associated with prolonged infection and inflammation of the bladder. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for one percent of all bladder cancer cases and is also associated with infection and inflammation of the bladder.SymptomsThe most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which in most cases can be seen with the naked eye. Individuals may experience times when no bleeding is present, which causes many people to assume that the problem has disappeared. Other symptoms may include a frequent need to urinate or the inability to hold urine.DiagnosisThe most common way to diagnose bladder cancer is to investigate the cause of blood in the urine. A physician typically orders a urine test first to determine if blood is present in the urine and if an infection has occurred in the bladder. A doctor may order a urine cytology, which test for cancer cells in the urine. If the test comes back positive, it is a good indication that the individual has bladder cancer. An ultrasound, CT scan, or an MRI can determine if a tumor is present in the bladder.