Bladder cancer

Bladder cancer most often begins in the cells (urothelial cells) that line the inside of your bladder. Urothelial cells are also found in your kidneys and the tubes (ureters) that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Urothelial cancer can happen in the kidneys and ureters, too, but it’s much more common in the bladder.

Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, when the cancer is highly treatable. But even early-stage bladder cancers can come back after successful treatment. For this reason, people with bladder cancer typically need follow-up tests for years after treatment to look for bladder cancer that recurs.

Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include:

  • Blood in urine (hematuria), which may cause urine to appear bright red or cola colored, though sometimes the urine appears normal and blood is detected on a lab test.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Painful urination.
  • Back pain.

Causes

Bladder cancer begins when cells in the bladder develop changes (mutations) in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes tell the cell to multiply rapidly and to go on living when healthy cells would die. The abnormal cells form a tumor that can invade and destroy normal body tissue. In time, the abnormal cells can break away and spread (metastasize) through the body.

Types of bladder cancer

Different types of cells in your bladder can become cancerous. The type of bladder cell where cancer begins determines the type of bladder cancer. Doctors use this information to determine which treatments may work best for you. 

Types of bladder cancer include:

  • Urothelial carcinoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Adenocarcinoma

Risk factors

Factors that may increase bladder cancer risk include:

  • Smoking.
  • Increasing age.
  • Being male.
  • Exposure to certain chemicals.
  • Previous cancer treatment.
  • Chronic bladder inflammation. 
  • Personal or family history of cancer. If you've had bladder cancer, you're more likely to get it again. If one of your blood relatives - a parent, sibling or child - has a history of bladder cancer, you may have an increased risk of the disease, although it's rare for bladder cancer to run in families.

Prevention

Although there's no guaranteed way to prevent bladder cancer, you can take steps to help reduce your risk. For instance:

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Take caution around chemicals.
  • Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables. 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bladder-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20356104