Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is cancer of the bladder. In the majority of cases, the cancer forms in the inner lining of the bladder, but it can occasionally develop on the exterior or in nerve cells. Bladder cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer in the United States, with nearly 75,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Most bladder cancers are diagnosed early and have a five-year survival rate approaching 70%. Though it can occur at any age, 90% of bladder cancers are diagnosed in adults over the age of 55. Men are approximately three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than women. The most common risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking. Symptoms include lower back pain, blood in the urine, an increased urge to urinate, and pain during urination. The stages of bladder cancer range from zero to IV, depending on tumor size and how widely it has spread. Bladder cancer is frequently treated with surgery, but patients may also undergo drug, biological, and radiation therapies.