Bladder cancer can often be successfully treated if found and treated early. Fortunately, most bladder cancer is found early.
The most common type of bladder cancer is called transitional cell cancer. This cancer starts in the inner layer of the bladder. It happens most often in people who are over 60 years old or older.
Experts don’t know what causes bladder cancer. But smoking cigarettes or being exposed to certain chemicals can raise your risk. Like other cancers, changes in cell DNA seem to play a role in bladder cancer as well.
Blood in the urine is the main symptom of bladder cancer. Other symptoms may include having to urinate often or feeling pain when you urinate.
These symptoms can also be caused by other problems not associated with cancer, including a urinary tract infection. Always call your doctor if you see blood in your urine.
To diagnose bladder cancer, your doctor will:
- Ask about your medical history and do a physical exam, including a vaginal or rectal exam.
- Run laboratory tests on your urine to look for blood or abnormal cells.
- Do a cystoscopy, a test that lets your doctor look into your bladder with a thin, lighted viewing tool. Small tissue samples (biopsies) are taken and looked at under a microscope to find out if there are cancer cells.
To treat any cancer, it is very important to catch it early as it increases success treatment rates.
Contact your doctor for regular physicals and other screenings to reduce your risk of cancer. Talk to others about bladder cancer awareness. Bladder cancer is successfully treated when caught early.