What is Bladder Cancer?

Executive Summary

The bladder is the hollow, flexible organ in the lower abdomen stores urine. Bladder cancer is a common heterogeneous disease of the bladder that originates due to the uncontrollable growth of urinary bladder cells. Around 45,000 men and 17,000 women per year are diagnosed with bladder tumour. It is mainly diagnosed at early stages and can be treated effectively. Also, mutations in the bladder tend to occur, and in many cases, these mutated cells die or are attacked by our immune system and later forms tumor and shows metastasis to other body parts.

What is Bladder Cancer?

Bladder cancer is a common and heterogeneous disease with high mortality rates if not treated correctly. The bladder is a hollow, flexible organ in the lower abdomen stores urine. It starts when the cells of the urinary bladder start growing uncontrollably ​1​.

It can be benign if it remains confined or cancerous (malignant), resulting in more and more cells growing and beginning to form tumors and further spreading to other parts of the body. Most Bladder tumour can be diagnosed at early stages and treated effectively.

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 45,000 men and 17,000 women per year are diagnosed with the disease.

Also Read: Symptoms based on Cancer types

Bladder cancer forms when DNA in the bladder cells mutate or has been changed. In many cases, these mutated cells can die or be attacked by our immune system, but if they escape, they form a tumor in the bladder and spread to other parts of the body ​2​.

References

  1. 1.
    Lenis AT, Lec PM, Chamie K, MSHS M. Bladder Cancer. JAMA. Published online November 17, 2020:1980. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.17598
  2. 2.
    Dobruch J, Oszczudłowski M. Bladder Cancer: Current Challenges and Future Directions. Medicina. Published online July 24, 2021:749. doi:10.3390/medicina57080749