This is by far the majority of all diagnosed Bladder Cancers, amounting to nearly 90% of all cases. Cells in the lining of the bladder often come into contact with toxic chemicals in urine waste. Since some of these chemicals are carcinogens, these cells can get damaged and form into tumors.
Over time, the cancer can spread into the tissue surrounding the bladder and metastasize from there. Almost all Bladder Cancers begin with transitional cell cancer, as these transitional cells are the most prone to contact with the body's waste.
The chances of developing transitional Cell Bladder Cancer can be offset by avoiding certain risk factors. The greatest controllable risk factor is smoking. Smokers can have up to a fourfold increase in the likelihood of developing Bladder Cancer. In fact, about 50% of Bladder Cancer in the United States is thought to be caused, in part, by cigarette smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes breaks down into compounds known as nitrosamines when burned, a substance known to be a carcinogen. Since the lining of the bladder wall replaces itself at a high rate, old age simply increases the chances of cells not reproducing properly and causing the growth of malignant tumors. People who have had cancer in the past are also at an elevated risk, as the treatment drug Cytoxan is known to increase the risk of Bladder Cancer specifically.
Transitional Cell Bladder Cancer can be either low-grade or high-grade. Low-grade carcinomas are the most treatable, as the cancer has stayed with the transitional cells on the surface layer of the bladder only. IVI Therapy is especially good at eliminating this. But the problem becomes much more severe in high-grade transitional cell carcinomas. In this case, the cancer has spread past the surface layer of the bladder and into the fibrous muscle tissue around it. From there, the cancer can be carried away through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Almost every death from Bladder Cancer is due to these high-grade transitional cell cancers.
Squamous cells are specialized cells that line the vital internal organs of the body. Similarly to transitional cells, squamous cells regularly come into contact with the body's waste and are exposed to a whole host of toxins as a result. When infected, they die quickly, so they are less prone to growing out of control and becoming cancerous than transitional cells. Squamous cells are identified by their spongy nature and flat, rectangular shape. They are found in the lining of the bladder in conjunction with transitional cells, and can be infected by cancer easily as a result. Most common in parts of the world with high levels of schistosomiasis, a disease caused by worm infections, squamous cell Bladder Cancer amounts to about 5% of diagnosed cases.
Although there is no substitute for a properly administered medical exam, there are telltale signs of having cancer. These include bone pains, bladder distention, and foot/ankle/joint swelling, but the primary identifiers are related to problems with urination. The inability to pass urine is often indicative of the presence of a tumor. Moreover, any blood present in urine is also a cause for concern, whether or not pain is experienced. Often times the problem occurs only intermittently. Encountering any of these symptoms for excessive periods of time is grounds for a conversation with your doctor.
Recent years have yielded advances in treatment of Bladder Cancer. One of the most promising is the application of photodynamic therapy. This practice involves injecting small, light-sensitive chemicals into the bloodstream of a patient. These chemicals accrue along the lining of the bladder and “stick” to cancerous cells. Then, physicians can fire high-intensity light at the PDT chemicals, causing them to morph into a new chemical that is toxic to cancer cells. This technique is effective at killing cancer cells along the lining of the bladder wall, but often times will miss deeper tumors entirely.
A recent study conducted by the University of San Diego examines how advances in photodynamic therapy have developed over the past decade. While concluding that PDT is an effective treatment that will soon be viable for mass use, it notes that the field does have a ways to go before it can be considered above more conventional treatments like chemotherapy. It cites the inability for PDT compounds to penetrate necrotic tissue (dead cells that serve as a breeding ground for disease) and the expensive nature of creating these chemicals as the two major drawbacks to this therapy.
Fortunately, most Bladder Cancer patients - Stages I, II, and III - will not experience tissue necrosis and will not forgo PDT on that basis. Additionally, as the field continues to progress, we will see a decrease in the cost of synthesizing PDT compounds as more research is conducted and the process is more widely used.
Intravesical immunotherapy is a promising new style of Bladder Cancer treatment. Doctors administer drugs to a patient’s bladder by directly introducing them via a catheter instead of giving the patient a pill or an injection. This method can be used to deliver chemotherapy drugs, but is more commonly used for delivering immunotherapy drugs.
Often times, Bladder Cancers can be made much worse by a bacteria commonly present in human bodies: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. Now, doctors are taking to giving patients dead forms of BCG using intravesical therapy and enabling them to quickly develop antibodies suited to killing BCG in their immune system. While this may not cure Bladder Cancer entirely, it can stop it from getting worse, and can often cause remission for Stage I patients.
Additionally, intravesical immunotherapy involves doctors introducing compounds called interferons to patients’ bladders. Interferons are synthesized compounds that are highly effective at stimulating the immune system at desired areas. The intravesical method enables doctors to administer interferons and stimulate the immunse system right where it is needed to kill off cancer cells and stop tumor growths. Although the success rate for more advanced cancer is relative low, the treatment is notable for prompting remission in Stage I patients.
The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network uses a variety of angles to combat Bladder Cancer. It is led by a panel of urologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists known as the Scientific Advisory Board that convenes to guide BCAN’s research efforts as knowledge of Bladder Cancer grows. These scientists and doctors are some of the leading experts in their respective fields, and you can find a complete list of the members of the SAB here .
One way BCAN fights Bladder Cancer is through active medical research. It offers three Young Investigator Awards to graduate students conducting research on Bladder Cancer. These $100,000 research grants fund researchers who work in basic, translational, clinical, epidemiologic, bioengineering or any other scientific or research field, and are also working in a research environment capable of supporting transformational Bladder Cancer research. Additionally, BCAN offers the John Quale Travel Fellowship.
Bladder Cancer thrives on misinformation and ignorance, so BCAN uses a variety of education and support communities to attack to eventually render the lack of information a non-issue. For those worried about Bladder Cancer, BCAN offers the Patient Insight Webinar Series: freely available recordings of lectures given by BCAN associates on a variety of topics surrounding Bladder Cancer. For those afflicted with this disease, BCAN offers support through the BCAN Online Support Community and the In Person Support Groups.
Bladder Cancer Canada is a non-profit advocacy organization committed to fighting Bladder Cancer. Although based in Canada, it operates worldwide. Founded by Bladder Cancer survivors (or “thrivers” as they call themselves!), BCC is a transparent organization that focuses on patient interaction. Its Board of Directors works closely with a series of scientists comprising the Medical Advisory Board and Medical Research Board.
BCC has a specific set of objectives. It seeks to assist newly diagnosed and long term Bladder Cancer survivors by providing a central contact information service, one-on-one support, information meetings, educational materials, and references to medical support facilities and websites. Additionally, it interfaces with other research organizations in the medical community to conduct clinical trials and organize focus groups.
The online age has developed easy and free communication between millions of people on the planet. You can aid the fight against Bladder Cancer without having to open your wallet at all! Getting others informed is one of the single best contributors to detection and survivability. This is the power of word of mouth, the power of sharing our thoughts and ideas to make a change. You can click on the buttons below to get started. Spread the word!