Bladder Cancer Information
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Welcome to Cancer Treatment Centers of America. We specialize in treating many types of cancer, including bladder cancer.
The National Cancer Institute says bladder cancer is diagnosed in about 15,000 women, and about 38,000 men each year in the United States. These numbers make bladder cancer the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and fourth most common cancer in men.
The Risk Factors Related to Bladder Cancer
Cigarette smokers are up to three times more likely to get bladder cancer than nonsmokers. Both cigar and pipe smoking increase the risk of bladder cancer. In some cases your work place can increase your chances of having bladder cancer. Workers who are surrounded by carcinogens are at a higher risk of bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer found only in the lining of the bladder is known as superficial bladder cancer or carcinoma in situ, which is cancer that has not spread beyond the cells it began in.
Bladder cancer that begins as a superficial tumor may grow through the lining and into the muscular wall of the bladder. When this happens doctors refer to this as invasive bladder cancer. Invasive bladder cancer may extend through the bladder wall and into a nearby organ. Organs that may be affected by invasive bladder cancer are the uterus or vagina in women. Men may have invasive bladder cancer spreading to their prostate gland.
When bladder cancer spreads outside the bladder, cancer cells may be found in lymph nodes that are nearby. Bladder cancer can also spread outside the lymph nodes to other organs such as the liver, lungs and bones.
Bladder Cancer: Transitional Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Transitional cells and squamous cells are the names given to the cells that line the walls of the bladder. Transitional cells can vary in shape depending on whether the tissue is being stretched. Transitional cells can be stretched without breaking. Squamous cells are flat and look a little like fish cells when viewed under a microscope. More than ninety percent of bladder cancer cases begin in the transitional cells. Bladder Cancer in the transitional cells is called transitional cell carcinoma. Roughly eight percent of bladder cancer patients have squamous cell carcinoma. Their bladder cancer is located in the squamous cells.
Bladder Cancer - More Information
Cancer Treatment Centers of America uses many tools to help you fight bladder cancer. Please explore our site to learn more, including information on metastatic bladder cancer and causes of bladder cancer.
