Bladder cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer in the United States, with an estimated 80,500 new cases diagnosed in 2019 alone. This type of cancer represents approximately 4.6% of all cancer cases and is four times more likely to affect men than women. A person’s risk of developing bladder cancer significantly increases with age; the average age of diagnoses is 73 and over 90% of cases occur in people over 55 years old.
Bladder cancer occurs when cells in and around the bladder mutate and begin to grow at an unhealthy rate, causing malignant tumors that may spread to other bodily tissues if left untreated. Catching the disease early is the key to successful treatment and dramatically increases life expectancy. Here, we discuss the most common signs and symptoms to watch out for.
Types of Bladder Cancer
The most common type of bladder cancer is Urothelial Carcinoma (also known as transitional cell carcinoma, or TCC). This type of bladder cancer originates in the urothelial cells which make up the lining of the bladder and urinary tract.
Other types of bladder cancer include:
- Small cell carcinoma: A fast-spreading bladder cancer that starts in the neuroendocrine cells and usually warrants treatment with chemotherapy. It is responsible for fewer than 1% of all bladder cancer cases in the US.
- Sarcoma: An incredibly rare form of bladder cancer which begins in the muscle cells. It behaves and can be treated much like transitional cell carcinoma.
- Adenocarcinoma: A rare but typically invasive form of bladder cancer, responsible for around 1% of all cases in the US.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: An invasive type of bladder cancer which begins in the skin cell-like squamous cells. It represents 1 to 2% of all cases in the US.
Early Signs and Symptoms
In its earliest stages, bladder cancer may not present with any noticeable symptoms. In fact, most cases are diagnosed when the patient visits their doctor having noticed blood in their urine. When there is enough blood in urine to be visible, this is known as “gross hematuria”. Marginally less often, a diagnosis is made when microscopic traces of blood are found during a urine test. In these cases, the urine test is usually conducted as a result of the patient visiting their doctor with other common symptoms. These may include:
- Pain, discomfort, or a burning sensation when urinating
- Unusually frequent urination
- The feeling of needing to pass urine but not being able to
- Waking frequently to urinate during the night
- Pain in the lower back, usually on one side of the body
Note that these symptoms can also be the result of other, less harmful conditions. Urinary tract infections can cause all of the above, along with blood in the urine.
Treatment Options
Bladder cancer typically responds well to treatment when caught early. Which treatment your doctor recommends will depend on the type and severity of the cancer in question. The main bladder cancer treatment options include:
Chemotherapy: For early-stage bladder cancer, chemotherapy drugs may be injected directly into the affected area of the bladder. Advanced bladder cancer may warrant standard chemotherapy, which involves injecting drugs into a vein.
Radiotherapy: This involves killing cancerous tissue with targeted beams of radiation. It is a suitable treatment option for localized cancer which has not yet spread to other organs and tissues.
Immunotherapy: A suitable treatment only for very early stage bladder cancer, immunotherapy involves a course of injections that support the patient’s own immune system in destroying cancer cells.
Surgery: The type of surgical treatment a patient receives will depend on the severity and spread of the cancer. In some cases, it may be possible to remove cancerous growths without affecting the bladder or urinary function. In severe cases, removal of the bladder or a portion of the urinary tract may be warranted.
When To Seek Medical Attention
Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms outlined in this article. They will test for the presence of bladder cancer and other possible causes of your symptoms. The disease is very treatable when caught early, so it is important not to delay if you have concerns.