Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

Bladder cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer in the United States, with estimates that in 2024 more than 83,000 people would be diagnosed with it and nearly 17,000 die from it. Bladder cancer begins in the cells of the bladder, a hollow muscular organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. These urothelial cells are also found in the kidneys and tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.
Bladder cancer is most likely to affect white males, with a rate twice as high as among Black, Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islander men. The incidence of bladder cancer is four times higher among men than women. Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, when they are highly treatable. However, they can return after successful treatment, so follow-up tests are needed.
Three Major Types
There are three major types of bladder cancer:
Transitional cell carcinoma. It begins in cells in the bladder’s innermost tissue layer.
Squamous cell carcinoma. This type may form after a long-term infection or irritation.
Adenocarcinoma. This begins in the glandular cells in the bladder’s lining.
Risk factors include smoking, increasing age, exposure to harmful chemicals, previous cancer treatment, chronic bladder inflammation, or personal or family history of cancer. Symptoms may include such things as blood in the urine, frequent or painful urination, and back pain. The good news is that over a recent seven-year period, 78% of those diagnosed with bladder cancer survived for at least five years.
Talk with Your Doctor
Go get checked. Talk with your primary care provider about cancer screenings. Also, if you have a loved one or friend who is suffering from bladder cancer, consider organizing an event or fundraiser to help attack this dreaded disease.
You may also want to consider donating to our Good Samaritan Cancer Fund, which helps patients who are struggling to pay for their medication, transportation to appointments, hotel stays for long visits, and other costs.