The Irish Cancer Society uses the most up-to-date cancer statistics from the National Cancer Registry Ireland, available on www.ncri.ie
Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer affects about 500 people in Ireland each year. It is more common in men than women.*
Signs and symptoms
Learn about the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer. You are more likely to survive cancer if you find it at an earlier stage.
Treatments
There are a number of different treatments available for bladder cancer. Your medical team will explain the best treatment options for you.
What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer starts when abnormal cells appear in the lining of your bladder or in the bladder wall. This can affect how the bladder works.
What are the types of bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer can be described by whether or not it has grown into the layers of the bladder, if it has spread to other parts of the body and by the type of cells affected.
The 2 main types of bladder cancer are non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
This cancer only affects the lining of the bladder or the layer of tissue just beneath the surface lining of the bladder. It has not grown as far as the muscle or deeper layers of the bladder. It usually appears as small growths, shaped like mushrooms, found growing out of the bladder lining. This is called papillary bladder cancer. When it appears as flat, red patches, it is known as carcinoma in situ.
Muscle-invasive bladder cancer is when the cancer cells have grown into the muscle layer of the bladder, or beyond. Muscle-invasive bladder cancer needs more intensive treatment than non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This is because there is a risk that it could spread to other parts of the body.
Bladder cancer that has spread beyond the bladder to other parts of your body is called advanced (metastatic) bladder cancer.
What type of cell is affected?
Urothelial bladder cancers affect urothelial cells, found in the lining of the bladder (urothelium). About 9 out of every 10 bladder cancers diagnosed in Ireland are urothelial cancers.
What is the bladder and what does it do?
Your bladder is a hollow organ like a balloon that sits in your pelvis - the lower part of your tummy between your hips. The bladder has a number of layers. The bladder wall is made of muscles and lined with cells known as urothelial (‘yur-o-thee-lee-all’) cells.
Your bladder stores urine (wee) until it is full. When you need go to the toilet, the bladder muscle contracts. This forces the urine out through a tube called the urethra.
What increases my risk of bladder cancer?
These risk factors that can increase your chance of getting bladder cancer:
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for bladder cancer. The chemicals in cigarettes damage the lining of the bladder, causing cancer.
The risk of bladder cancer increases with age. Most bladder cancers occur in men and women over the age of 50. It is rarely seen in those under the age of 40.
White men and women are slightly more at risk.
Bladder cancer occurs in more men than women.
Certain chemicals once used in dye, rubber, paints, plastics and gasworks industries can lead to bladder cancer. These chemicals have long been banned and are no longer in use.
Your risk of bladder cancer increases if you have repeated urinary tract infections or bladder stones. An untreated infection with the parasite schistosoma (also called bilharzia) can lead to bladder cancer. This parasite is often found in water in the developing world.
If you were previously treated for cancer with radiotherapy to the pelvic area or with the chemotherapy drug, cyclophosphamide, your risk may be higher.
If you had a previous bladder cancer, you are more at risk of developing another one.
Having a risk factor doesn’t mean you will definitely get cancer. Sometimes people with no risk factors get the disease. If you’re worried, talk to your GP or talk to one of our cancer nurses. Call our Support Line on 1800 200 700 or visit a Daffodil Centre.
Reducing your risk of bladder cancer
Reducing your risk of bladder cancer
The most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of bladder cancer is to:
- Stop smoking
Medical content updated from our 'Understanding muscle-invasive and advanced bladder cancer' booklet (2023), reviewed by Catherine Dowling, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Robert McConkey, RANP Urology (bladder cancer), Anne Daniels, ANP Urology, Lynn Casey ANP Urology, Catherine McGarvey cANP Urology, Aoife McDonnell cANP Urology, Karen Fitzmaurice, Daffodil Centre Nurse.
Publications about bladder cancer
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