
Get answers to your Genitourinary cancer questions.
Dr. Heather Mannuel’s Bio | Q&A Archive
Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
Bladder cancer is a cancerous tumor in the bladder -- the organ that holds urine.
In the United States, bladder cancers usually start from the cells lining the bladder (transitional cells).
These tumors may be classified based on the way they grow:
As with most other cancers, the exact cause of bladder cancer is uncertain. However, several factors may contribute to its development:
The association between artificial sweeteners and bladder cancer has been studied and is weak or nonexistent.
Bladder cancers are classified, or staged, based on their aggressiveness and how much they differ from the surrounding bladder tissue. There are several different ways to stage tumors. Recently, the TNM (Tumor, Nodes, Metastasis) staging system has become common. This staging system categorizes tumors using the following scale:
Bladder cancer spreads by extending into the nearby organs, including the:
It can also spread to lymph nodes in the pelvis, or to other parts of the body, such as:
Bajorin D. Tumors of the kidney, bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia , Pa : Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 207.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Bladder Cancer, Including Upper Tract Tumors and Urothelial Carcinoma of the Prostate. 2009. Version 1.2009.