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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffIt's not always clear what causes bladder cancer. Bladder cancer has been linked to smoking, a parasitic infection, radiation and chemical exposure.
Bladder cancer develops when healthy cells in the bladder go awry. Rather than grow and divide in an orderly way, these cells develop mutations that cause them to grow out of control and not die. These abnormal cells form a tumor.
Types of bladder cancer
The type of bladder cell where cancer begins determines the type of cancer. Different types of cells in your bladder can become cancerous. Your bladder cancer type determines which treatments may work best for you. Types of bladder cancer include:
- Transitional cell carcinoma. Transitional cell carcinoma occurs in the cells that line the inside of your bladder. Transitional cells expand when your bladder is full and contract when your bladder is empty. These same cells line the inside of your ureters and your urethra, and tumors can form in those places as well. Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer in the United States.
- Squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cells appear in your bladder in response to infection and irritation. Over time they can become cancerous. Squamous cell bladder cancer is rare in the United States. It's a more common in parts of the world where a certain parasitic infection (schistosomiasis) is a prevalent cause of bladder infections.
- Adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma begins in cells that make up mucus-secreting glands in the bladder. Adenocarcinoma of the bladder is rare in the United States.
Some bladder cancers include more than one type of cell.
- What you need to know about bladder cancer. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/bladder/allpages. Accessed Feb. 17, 2010.
- Bladder cancer treatment (PDQ): Health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/bladder/healthprofessional/allpages/print. Accessed Feb. 17, 2010.
- Smith DC, et al. Carcinoma of the bladder. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:1635.
- Bladder and other urothelial cancers screening (PDQ): Health professional version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/bladder/healthprofessional/allpages/print. Accessed Feb. 17, 2010.
- Bladder cancer. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/bladder.pdf. Accessed Feb. 17, 2010.
- Guideline for the management of nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (stages Ta, T1 and Tis): 2007 update. Linthicum, Md.: American Urological Association. http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines.cfm?sub=bc. Accessed Feb. 23, 2010.
- Messing EM. Urothelial tumors of the bladder. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/185270227-3/0/1445/0.html. Accessed Feb. 23, 2010.
- La Rochelle J, et al. Chemoprevention of bladder cancer. BJU International. 2008;102:1274.
- Boehrn K, et al. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) for the prevention of cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2009:CD005004.
- Busby JE, et al. Chemoprevention for bladder cancer. The Journal of Urology. 2006;176:1914.
- Castle EP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. March 7, 2010.
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