Learn The BasicsBladder cancer is a common type of cancer that originates from the cells of the bladder, the hollow muscular organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine.
Bladder cancer is the ninth most common type of cancer worldwide, with an estimated 84,870 new cases in 2025.
What causes bladder cancer?
The exact cause of bladder cancer is not known. However, there are many known factors that can increase the risk of bladder cancer.
For example, smoking tobacco doubles the risk of bladder cancer. Other factors that increase the risk of bladder cancer include exposure to radiation through radiotherapy for cancer, chemotherapy, certain chemicals like the ones used in dyes, rubber, leather and paint and some textiles and hairdressing supplies.
Finally, frequent bladder infections and the chronic use of a catheter may also increase the risk of bladder cancer.
Symptoms of bladder cancer
The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine.
However, bladder cancer may also cause other symptoms like pain, burning, stinging or itching sensations when urinating, repeated urinary tract infections and an increased or sudden need to urinate.
Other, more general symptoms of bladder cancer may include weight loss, back or abdominal pain, aching bones and feeling tired or generally unwell.
It is important to note that these symptoms may be caused by other conditions and are not specific to bladder cancer.
How do doctors diagnose bladder cancer?
Tests and procedures used to diagnose bladder cancer include cystoscopy, in which a small, narrow tube called a cystoscope, which has a lens at the end, is inserted through the urethra to see the inside of the bladder.
Doctors may also take a small sample of tissue, also known as a biopsy, from the bladder during a cystoscopy to test in the laboratory.
A urine cytology, in which a urine sample is analyzed under the microscope for the presence of cancer cells, may also be performed.
Finally, imaging tests like a computerized tomography urogram or retrograde pyelogram may be performed.
How is bladder cancer treated?
The most common treatment option for bladder cancer is surgery.
The type of surgery depends on the location of the cancer. Surgical options include:
- Transurethral resection (TUR) with fulguration, in which a cystoscope is passed via the urethra to locate and burn tumor cells with high-energy electricity
- Partial cystectomy, in which a part of the bladder is removed
- Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion, in which the whole bladder is removed and the urine is diverted either to the colon with a catheter or to a bag outside the body
Other treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies.
Radiation therapy aims to kill cancer cells with high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation, while chemotherapy does this with the help of drugs. Some chemotherapy drugs aim to stop the division of cancer cells.
Immunotherapy aims to “train” the body’s own immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells.
Finally, targeted therapies use drugs or other chemicals to block the action of certain enzymes, proteins or other molecules that play a role in the growth and spread of cancer cells.