A common type of cancer, bladder cancer, begins in the urothelial cells of the bladder and then begins to grow out of control. As these cells can also be found in the kidney and ureters, urothelial cancer can also happen in those parts. However, the condition mainly affects the bladder. In most cases, bladder cancer can be diagnosed early, but even early-stage cancers can reappear post-treatment. Read further to know more about bladder cancer.

What are the types of bladder cancer?
Mainly there are three different types of bladder cancer, each of which has been named for the cells they affect. However, there are other rare types of bladder cancer as well. They are:

Transitional cell carcinoma
One of the most common types of bladder cancer, about 90% of bladder cancers are transitional and are known as urothelial bladder cancer. This cancer starts in the transitional cells of the bladder’s inner lining. In this type of cancer, the cancerous cells spread from the inner lining to the other bladder layers. In rare cases, it may even spread to the surrounding fatty tissues.

Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cells are the thin and flat cells lining the bladder’s inside. It has been found that this type of cancer accounts for about 5% of all bladder cancers. Furthermore, people with long bouts of irritation and inflammation in the bladder are more susceptible to the condition.

Adenocarcinoma
The cancers formed in the glands lining the bladder are called adenocarcinoma cancers. These are sporadic forms of cancer, and about 1% or 2% of bladder cancers are Adenocarcinoma cancers.
Moreover, doctors also categorize bladder cancers as non-invasive, muscle-invasive, and non-muscle invasive depending on the placement of cancer cells and the area affected.

How does bladder cancer affect the body?
The bladder is a triangle-shaped organ centered between the hip bones. It is situated above the urethra and below the kidneys. Often, bladder cancer arises when specific cells in the bladder’s inner lining mutate or change. These abnormal cells then multiply and cause tumors in the bladder. Furthermore, if left untreated, cancer might grow through the bladder to the nearby lymph nodes and begin affecting other body parts, such as the liver and lungs.

How common is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancers are the 4th most common cancer affecting males and people designated male at birth (DMAB). Moreover, men and DMAB are four times more likely to develop this type of cancer than women and individuals designated female at birth (DFAB).

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
Usually, blood in the urine is a sure sign of bladder cancer. However, this symptom can also arise due to other underlying health conditions. Hence, here are some of the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer.

Blood in the urine (hematuria)
One of the most common symptoms of the condition, patients noticing this particular symptom must seek the advice of a healthcare expert at the earliest. For example, the blood in the urine might make the urine appear either bright red or cola-colored. In rare cases, the urine might appear normal, and the blood might get detected in a lab test called a urinalysis.

Painful urination
Patients with bladder cancer might also experience a stinging or burning sensation while passing urine or later. Furthermore, males and DMAB may also notice pain in the penis before or after passing urine.

Increase in the frequency of urination
Frequent urination means the patient passes urine frequently for 24 hours.

Trouble during urination
Some patients with the condition may also experience changes in urine flow, for example, it might either start and stop or may not be as strong as before.

Persistent bladder infections
In most cases, bladder infections and bladder cancers have similar symptoms. Hence, its imperative to contact a healthcare expert if a bladder infection persists even after treatment.

What are the causes/risk factors of bladder cancer?
Researchers and healthcare providers have not found the exact cause of the condition but have identified a few risk factors. Some of them are as follows:

Radiation exposure
In cases where radiation therapy has been employed to treat cancer, the radiation may increase the patient’s chances of developing bladder cancer.

Exposure to certain chemicals
Multiple studies have shown that people who work with certain chemicals used in rubber, dyes, leather, and paint have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.

Frequent bladder infections and other infections
People frequently diagnosed with bladder infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), or even bladder stones have an increased risk of developing the condition.

How is bladder cancer diagnosed and treated?
Doctors and healthcare providers suggest a series of tests to diagnose bladder cancer. This includes urinalysis, cytology, and cystoscopy. Further, suppose the test results show the presence of cancer cells. In that case, the doctors might suggest tests like Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI), computed tomography scan ( CT scan), and Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to learn further about the type of cancer.

After that, according to the diagnosis and the stage of bladder cancer, the patients might be advised on treatment methods, including:

Surgery
One of the most common forms of bladder cancer treatment, surgery completely removes the tumor or employs high-energy electricity to burn the cancerous cells. This is also known as fulguration, and the surgeons might remove the bladder and its surrounding organs during the surgery.

Chemotherapy
In this treatment method, healthcare providers use intravesical therapy delivered straight to the bladder. This treatment option targets cancer cells without causing much damage to healthy tissues and cells.

Immunotherapy
As a treatment method, immunotherapy often employs the patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells and fight them off using the patient’s nutrition and strength.

Conclusion
As bladder cancer is a life-endangering condition, one must always look out for symptoms and seek medical advice at the earliest.