Bladder cancers can be diagnosed at early and advanced stages, and there is a recommended treatment and follow up schedule which is engineered to dramatically lower the chases of a negative outcome, no matter what the diagnosed stage. Advanced bladder cancer can be dangerous, and it is important that high risk patients are screened regularly, and patients are treated quickly when the cancer is highly treatable. Bladder cancer typically need follow-up tests for years after treatment to look for bladder cancer that recurs

Symptoms and Diagnosis

• 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

Types of bladder cancer

Different types of bladder cancer are possible depending on what cells are involved. Your treatment, while often similar at the beginning, can change depending on the type of cancer you have, involving other treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.

• Urothelial carcinoma. Urothelial carcinoma, also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) , occurs in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. These same cells line the inside of the ureters and the urethra, and once you have a tumor at one place, the entire lining of the urinary tarct is thought to be at risk. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer detected.
• Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is associated with chronic irritation of the bladder from a chronic infection or from long-term use of a urinary catheter. It can also be caused by some rare conditions in different parts of the world. It also can occur in conjunction with urothelial cell carcinoma.
  Adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma begins in mucus secreting cells in the bladder.
• Adenocarcinoma of the bladder is very rare, and may present in an advanced stage and require multidisciplinary management.

Risk factors

• Smoking. Smoking cigarettes, cannabis, cigars or pipes may increase the risk of bladder cancer by causing harmful chemicals to accumulate in the urine. There is an increaed risk in electronic cigarettes as well which is less well defined.
• Increasing age. Bladder cancer risk increases as you get older, though it can occur at any age. Most people diagnosed with bladder cancer are older than 55.
• Being male. Men are more likely to develop bladder cancer than women are. However, due to misdiagnosis and delays, women who are diagnosed tend to have concerning more advanced features. It is crucial for women to see their doctors early for any blood in their urine.
• Exposure to certain chemicals. Many chemicals that you inhale, or ingest make their way into the bladder through your kidneys. As a result of the concentrating of these substances, certain chemicals may increase the risk of bladder cancer. Chemicals linked to bladder cancer include arsenic, industrial dyes, or chemicals used in the manufacturing of rubber, leather, textiles and paint products.
• Previous cancer treatment. Treatment with a chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide increases the risk of bladder cancer. People who received radiation treatments to surrounding pelvic structures have a higher risk of developing bladder cancer.
  Chronic bladder inflammation. Chronic or repeated urinary infections or inflammations, or long-term use of a urinary catheter, may increase the risk of a squamous cell bladder cancer. In some African or Middle-Eastern locations, squamous cell carcinoma is linked to chronic bladder inflammation caused by the parasitic infection known as schistosomiasis.
• 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. A family history of Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), can increase the risk of cancer in the urinary system, as well as in the colon, uterus, ovaries and other organs.

Prevention

Don’t smoke, protect yourself around chemicals at work, eat a diet rich with fruits and vegetables, and get checked if you are concerned.