There are three types of urinary bladder cancer that develop in the cells of the bladder wall. These cancers are named depending on the type of the cells from which the malignant (cancerous) cells develop:
- tumors of the transition cells: are developed from the cells of the internal layer of the urinary bladder. These cells have the ability to change shape depending on the size of the bladder, regardless if it is empty or full, maintaining their integrity (most types of cancers of the urinary bladder develop in the transition cells)
- tumors of the squamous cells: (these are developed from the squamous cells which are thin, flat, and are created in the wall of the urinary bladder after infections or frequent irritation)
- adenocarcinomas: these are developed in the glandular cells; the glandular cells are found in the wall of the urinary bladder and are responsible with the secretion of fluids, such as mucus.
Superficial bladder cancer is limited to the wall of the bladder. The invasive urinary bladder cancer is developed in the transition cells which can overcome their superficial status, invading the muscle layer of the bladder or the neighboring organs and the nearby lymph nodes. Smoking, sex and diet can influence the risk of developing urinary bladder cancer.
Risk factors - The risk factors involved in the occurrence of urinary bladder cancer include: - smoking - professional exposure to certain substances, such as rubber, certain colorants and textiles, paint and cosmetic products used in hair salons - increase consumption of fried meat and fats - aged people, the male sex or the white race - infections caused by certain parasites.
Symptoms - Possible signs of bladder cancer include blood in the urine or pain during urination. These and other symptoms may occur in bladder cancer cases, but there are other afflictions as well where these symptoms are present.
Special consultation - You need to go see a specialist if you see one of the following symptoms: - blood in the urine (from a somewhat rusty coloring to bright red) - frequent urination or the feeling of urination without the ability to do so - pain during urination - pain in the lumbar area (the lower part of the back).
Treatment - Various types of treatments are available for bladder cancer patients. Some are standard treatments while others are currently being tested in clinical studies. Before the application of a certain therapy, the patients also need to consider their inclusion in clinical studies. The therapy used in clinical studies is experimental, and it is aimed at improving the current therapy or obtaining information on new potential treatments for bladder cancer. When clinical studies show that the new therapies are better than the standard ones, then the new ones replace the old ones.