Bladder Cancer
What is Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the bladder grow out of control. The bladder is a hollow organ in your lower abdomen that stores urine before it leaves your body. Most bladder cancers begin in the inner lining of the bladder wall.
The most common type is urothelial carcinoma, which starts in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Some bladder cancers stay in the inner lining and are called non-muscle invasive. Others grow deeper into the bladder wall and may spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes.
Early detection matters because bladder cancer caught early is often treatable. Most cases are found when the cancer is still in the bladder lining. Regular screening and paying attention to early warning signs can help catch this disease when treatment works best.
Symptoms
- Blood in urine, making it pink, red, or dark brown
- Frequent urination, needing to go more often than usual
- Painful urination or burning sensation while urinating
- Urgent need to urinate even when bladder is not full
- Lower back pain on one side of the body
- Difficulty urinating or weak urine stream
- Pelvic pain that does not go away
- Fatigue and weakness that persists
- Loss of appetite and unintended weight loss
- Bone pain in advanced cases
Blood in the urine, called hematuria, is often the first sign people notice. Sometimes the bleeding is painless and comes and goes. Some people with early bladder cancer have no symptoms at all, which is why testing is important if you have risk factors.
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Causes and risk factors
Smoking is the single biggest risk factor for bladder cancer, causing about half of all cases. Chemicals in tobacco smoke enter the bloodstream and get filtered by the kidneys into urine. These harmful substances sit in the bladder and damage the lining over time. Workplace exposure to certain chemicals also raises risk, including dyes, rubber, leather, paint, and printing materials.
Age plays a role, with most cases occurring in people over 55. Men develop bladder cancer about three to four times more often than women. Chronic bladder infections and bladder stones may increase risk. Radiation therapy to the pelvis and certain chemotherapy drugs can also damage bladder cells. Having a family history of bladder cancer or certain genetic conditions may make you more vulnerable.
How it's diagnosed
Bladder cancer diagnosis often starts with a urine test to check for blood and abnormal cells. Blood in the urine, even tiny amounts you cannot see, can be an early warning sign. A cystoscopy is usually needed to look inside the bladder with a thin camera tube. During this procedure, doctors can see tumors and take tissue samples for testing.
Rite Aid offers urine blood testing through Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide as part of our preventive health service. If your test shows blood in your urine, your doctor will recommend additional evaluation. Imaging tests like CT scans or ultrasounds help doctors see the bladder and surrounding areas. The earlier bladder cancer is found, the more treatment options you have.
Treatment options
- Quit smoking immediately to improve treatment outcomes and reduce recurrence risk
- Surgery to remove tumors, part of the bladder, or the entire bladder in advanced cases
- Immunotherapy drugs placed directly in the bladder to kill cancer cells and prevent return
- Chemotherapy given into the bladder or through the bloodstream for deeper cancers
- Radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells, sometimes combined with chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy drugs that attack specific changes in cancer cells
- Regular cystoscopy follow-ups every few months to watch for cancer return
- Drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins and support bladder health
- Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole foods to support healing
- Work closely with a urologist and oncologist to create your treatment plan
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- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Blood in the urine is the most common first symptom, appearing in about 8 out of 10 people with bladder cancer. The blood may make your urine look pink, orange, or dark red. Sometimes the blood is only visible under a microscope during a urine test. The bleeding is usually painless and may come and go over several weeks or months.
A urine test can detect blood in your urine, which is an important warning sign of bladder cancer. However, blood in urine can have many causes besides cancer. If your urine test shows blood, your doctor will order additional tests like a cystoscopy to look directly at your bladder. Urine tests can also check for cancer cells, but a tissue biopsy is needed to confirm diagnosis.
Smokers have the highest risk, being three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than non-smokers. People over age 55, men, and those with workplace chemical exposure are also at higher risk. If you have chronic bladder infections, bladder stones, or a family history of bladder cancer, your risk increases. People who have had pelvic radiation or certain chemotherapy drugs also face elevated risk.
Most people without symptoms or risk factors do not need routine bladder cancer screening. If you smoke, are over 55, or have been exposed to workplace chemicals, talk to your doctor about regular urine testing. People with a history of bladder cancer need cystoscopy exams every three to six months for several years. Anyone with blood in their urine should get tested right away, regardless of other risk factors.
Yes, bladder cancer found early has a high cure rate. About 70 percent of bladder cancers are caught when still confined to the inner bladder lining. At this stage, the five-year survival rate is about 96 percent. Early-stage bladder cancer can often be removed during a cystoscopy procedure. Regular monitoring is needed because bladder cancer can return, even after successful treatment.
Yes, quitting smoking improves your treatment outcomes and reduces the chance of cancer returning. People who quit smoking after diagnosis have better survival rates than those who continue. Smoking during treatment can make side effects worse and slow healing. It also increases the risk of developing a second cancer. Your medical team can connect you with smoking cessation resources.
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may help reduce bladder cancer risk. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain compounds that support detoxification. Drinking six to eight glasses of water daily helps flush toxins from your bladder. Some studies suggest that green tea and foods high in vitamin E and selenium may offer protection, though more research is needed.
Yes, bladder cancer can spread if it grows through the bladder wall into surrounding tissues. It may reach nearby lymph nodes first, then travel to the liver, lungs, or bones. This is called metastatic bladder cancer and requires more aggressive treatment. Regular monitoring after treatment helps catch any spread early. The deeper the original tumor, the higher the risk of spread.
Non-invasive bladder cancer stays in the inner lining of the bladder and has not grown into the muscle wall. This type is easier to treat and less likely to spread. Invasive bladder cancer has grown into or through the muscle wall of the bladder. It requires more aggressive treatment and has a higher risk of spreading to other organs.
Treatment length depends on the cancer stage and type of treatment needed. Early-stage tumors removed during cystoscopy may require follow-up immunotherapy for six weeks to two years. Surgery to remove the bladder requires several weeks of recovery and adjustment to urine drainage. Chemotherapy typically runs for several months. Most people need regular monitoring for at least five years after treatment ends.