The bladder is the organ in your body that stores urine, and bladder cancer develops in the tissues of this muscular organ. The American Cancer Society estimates that men have a one in 26 lifetime risk of developing bladder cancer, while women have a one in 84 risk of developing the disease. In nearly 75 percent of cases, the cancer is diagnosed before it has spread to any other organs.
Significance
The American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States in 2010, approximately 70,530 new diagnoses of bladder cancer will be diagnosed, and over 14,000 individuals will die from the disease. Bladder cancer is typically diagnosed in older individuals, with nearly 90 percent of diagnoses being made in individuals 55 years old and older.
Features
Blood in the urine is typically the first symptom of bladder cancer, notes the American Cancer Society. A change in bladder habits, irritation during urination and lower back pain can also be symptoms of bladder cancer. These symptoms can also signify other ailments, and a thorough examination by a health care provider is needed to rule out other diseases.
Diagnosis
Various tests and procedures are done to diagnose bladder cancer. A cystoscopy is one of these procedures, which involves inserting a tube with a lens into the bladder through the urethra, allowing a doctor to view the inside of the bladder. Any abnormal growths or areas may be biopsied and sent to a lab for further testing. Fluorescence cystoscopy may be done, which is when substances are inserted into the bladder during cystoscopy; cancerous cells pick up these substances and under a special light, the substance glows, indicating cancerous areas. An intravenous pyelogram is another test that provides an x-ray of the urinary system when dye is injected into a vein. According to the American Cancer Society, the kidneys absorb the dye and pass it through the bladder, illuminating any abnormal areas or tumors. Other tests that may be done include a chest x-ray to check for metastases, a CT scan, PET scan, ultrasound, bone scan and MRI.
Staging
Once bladder cancer is diagnosed, it is then staged. Staging involves classifying the cancer based on the size of the tumor, the spread of the cancer, lymph node involvement and if the cancer has spread to distant organs, called metastasis. The National Cancer Institute describes bladder cancer as having five stages, with stage 0 being non-invasive cancer, and stage IV being metastatic cancer.
Time Frame
Cancer survival rates are discussed in terms of five-year survival, or the percentage of patients still alive five years after their diagnosis. The American Cancer Society lists these survival rates: stage 0 bladder cancer has a 98 percent survival rate, stage I has an 88 percent survival rate, stage II carries a 63 percent rate of survival, stage III has a 46 percent survival rate, and stage IV has a 15 percent rate of survival.
References
- American Cancer Society: Bladder Cancer: What are the key statistics for bladder cancer?
- National Cancer Institute: Bladder Cancer: Treatment
- American Cancer Society: Bladder Cancer: How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
- National Cancer Institute: Bladder Cancer: Stages of Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Bladder Cancer: Survival Rate by Stage
