Your bladder is a hollow organ that is in your pelvis. Her function is to store urine. Wastes are filtered out of your blood via the kidneys. Your body makes urine from it by adding water. The fluid then enters your bladder through the ureter. When this organ is completely filled, you get the feeling that you have to urinate.
In case of bladder cancer, cancer cells develop in your bladder. The most important symptom is the presence of blood in your urine. However, this also immediately indicates an advanced stage of the disease.
There are different types of bladder cancer, depending on the type of cell in which the cancer develops. The most common form of bladder cancer is transitional cell carcinoma or TCC. This form of cancer occurs within the contours of the bladder. Other, less frequent forms are adenocarcinoma, in which cancer develops in cells that are specifically responsible for mucosal production, and Squamous cell carcinoma, which develops in the upper alignment of the bladder.
The disease is more common in older people and in particular in people over sixty. In addition to age, sex is also a risk factor: about two-thirds of the patients are men. The most important factor that seriously increases the risk of bladder cancer is smoking. Smoking behavior would be the direct cause of about half of the bladder cancer diagnoses.
As with other forms of cancer, the prognosis for bladder cancer depends strongly on the nature of the cancer and the stage at which it is detected. Two types are distinguished here. In non-invasive bladder cancer, the cancer cells remain within the contours of the bladder. The prognosis for this form is pretty positive. Effective treatment is available and the majority of patients survive the disease.
In invasive bladder cancer, the cancer cells spread beyond the contours of the bladder and attack the surrounding muscles. The prognosis for this form is less positive and a complete cure is not possible. Approximately half of the patients with invasive bladder cancer die a few years after the diagnosis.
In case of bladder cancer, cancer cells develop in your bladder. The most important symptom is the presence of blood in your urine. However, this also immediately indicates an advanced stage of the disease.
Transitional Cell Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma
There are different types of bladder cancer, depending on the type of cell in which the cancer develops. The most common form of bladder cancer is transitional cell carcinoma or TCC. This form of cancer occurs within the contours of the bladder. Other, less frequent forms are adenocarcinoma, in which cancer develops in cells that are specifically responsible for mucosal production, and Squamous cell carcinoma, which develops in the upper alignment of the bladder.
What causes bladder cancer?
The disease is more common in older people and in particular in people over sixty. In addition to age, sex is also a risk factor: about two-thirds of the patients are men. The most important factor that seriously increases the risk of bladder cancer is smoking. Smoking behavior would be the direct cause of about half of the bladder cancer diagnoses.
Bladder cancer prognosis
As with other forms of cancer, the prognosis for bladder cancer depends strongly on the nature of the cancer and the stage at which it is detected. Two types are distinguished here. In non-invasive bladder cancer, the cancer cells remain within the contours of the bladder. The prognosis for this form is pretty positive. Effective treatment is available and the majority of patients survive the disease.
In invasive bladder cancer, the cancer cells spread beyond the contours of the bladder and attack the surrounding muscles. The prognosis for this form is less positive and a complete cure is not possible. Approximately half of the patients with invasive bladder cancer die a few years after the diagnosis.