Bladder Cancer Information
Your bladder is a small organ that is shaped much like a balloon. The wall of your bladder consists of many layers. When you initially develop bladder cancer, the cancer will usually affect the cells that line the inner most layer of your bladder. Early detection of bladder cancer is easier to treat. If the cancer manages to penetrate to the other layers of your bladder, treatment becomes increasingly more difficult. Several types of bladder cancer exist.
Causes
When you develop cancer, the cancer is the result of healthy cells in your body going haywire. Normal cells are supposed to grow and die, and have a normal life span. When you have cancer, abnormal cells will develop mutations. As a result, these abnormal cells will grow, multiply, and never die. Eventually the out-of-control cells will form a tumor within your body.
Symptoms
The first sign of bladder cancer may be the appearance of blood in your urine. According to the Mayo Clinic, your urine may look cola-colored, or bright red. You may also need to use the restroom more than usual, and it may be painful to urinate. Urinary tract infections are also a common sign of potential bladder cancer, especially if treatments don't cure the UTI. Other symptoms may include back pain and abdominal pain.
Transitional Cell Carcinoma
According to the American Cancer Society, transitional cell carcinoma is "the most common type of bladder cancer." This form of cancer takes place within the cells that line the inner bladder. Transitional cell carcinoma can either be low grade or high grade. If the cells are low grade, the cells will still look somewhat normal. if the cells are high grade, the cells are abnormal. Low grade carcinoma has a better outcome in treatment than high grade carcinoma. Transitional cell carcinoma can also be noninvasive or invasive. If the carcinoma is noninvasive, the cancer is only retained within the lining of the bladder. If the carcinoma is invasive, the cancer has spread into other layers of your bladder.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
According to the American Cancer Society, most forms of squamous cell carcinomas are invasive forms of cancer. The appearance of squamous cells may be the result of an infection or irritation of your bladder. The squamous cells eventually become cancerous. In many cases, squamous cell carcinoma can be the result of a parasitic infection, such as schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis are parasitic worms, and the chance of developing this type of infection within the U.S. is rare. Squamous Cell Carcinoma accounts for maybe 2 percent of bladder cancers within the U.S.
Other Bladder Cancers
Other forms of bladder cancer include tumors such as papillary tumors, flat carcinomas, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma. Papillary tumors are usually contained within the inner bladder, and treatment with this form of cancer have a great outcome. Flat carcinomas involves the inner layers of your bladder, though the cancer can spread to other layers. Adednocarcinoma is a rare form of bladder cancer. According to the American cancer Society, usually all adenocarcinomas are considered invasive. Small cell carcinoma is also a rare form of bladder cancer and only affects a small percentage of Americans.
Treatments
There are various treatments for bladder cancer. Treatment depends on the severity of your cancer, and also on how your physician chooses to attack the cancer. Surgery may be necessary to remove tumors, or a small portion of your bladder. Small portions of the bladder may be removed if they contain cancer cells. If the cancer is severe, the entire removal of your bladder may be necessary. Your physician may then create a new route for urine to exit through your body. Chemotherapy and radiation will also be performed to kill any signs of cancer cells.
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