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Bladder Cancer

  • Posted: 08/30/2010

About This Booklet

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 10-1559) is about cancer that starts in the bladder.

In 2012, about 56,000 men and 18,000 women will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States. Most will be over 70 years old.

More than 9 of 10 Americans with bladder cancer have a type called transitional cell cancer (TCC). This booklet is about TCC of the bladder.

TCC begins in the cells on the surface of the inner lining of the bladder. These cells are called transitional cells. They are able to stretch when the bladder is full and shrink when it’s emptied.

Learning about medical care for bladder cancer can help you take an active part in making choices about your care. This booklet tells about:

  • Diagnosis and staging
  • Treatment and rehabilitation
  • Taking part in research studies

This booklet has lists of questions that you may want to ask your doctor. Many people find it helpful to take a list of questions to a doctor visit. To help remember what your doctor says, you can take notes. You may also want to have a family member or friend go with you when you talk with the doctor—to take notes, ask questions, or just listen.



Glossary Terms

cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
cell (sel)
The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.
transitional cell (tran-ZIH-shuh-nul sel)
A cell that varies in shape depending on whether the tissue is being stretched. Transitional cells may be stretched without breaking apart. They line hollow organs such as the bladder.
transitional cell cancer (tran-ZIH-shuh-nul sel KAN-ser)
Cancer that forms in transitional cells in the lining of the bladder, ureter, or renal pelvis (the part of the kidney that collects, holds, and drains urine). Transitional cells are cells that can change shape and stretch without breaking apart.