Introduction

Bladder cancer is a well-known condition that affects men more often than women. The disease will be the fourth most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in men in the United States in 2008. Bladder cancer overwhelmingly occurs in those over 55 years old.

Your bladder is a hollow organ in the lower part of your abdomen that collects liquid waste (urine) and stores it until the urine is ready to exit your body. Bladder cancer develops when a part of the bladder rapidly produces too many cells. These cells show out-of-control growth and can become cancer. Most bladder cancer forms on the walls of the organ.

Other names for cancer of the bladder are bladder carcinoma (carcinoma of the bladder) and adenocarcinoma of the bladder. "Carcinoma" means cancer of the cells that make up linings within organs. "Adenocarcinoma" means cancer of the glandular structures within many organs, including the bladder. Glandular structures normally release substances important to body well-being.

The exact cause of bladder cancer is not known. The most important risk factor for bladder cancer is believed to be smoking. Smoking causes about half of the deaths from bladder cancer in men and more than one-third of bladder cancer deaths in women. Other risk factors for bladder cancer include a family history of bladder cancer, exposure to certain chemicals, having a long-term bladder infection or other irritation, and older age.