Bladder cancer is a malignant tumor, i.e. a cancer of the bladder. The bladder is part of the urinary organs, which stores the urine that is produced by the filtration of the blood through the kidneys and reaches the bladder via the ureters, up to the so-called micturition (urination). In most cases, cells of the bladder mucosa (so-called urothelium), which lines the bladder from the inside, degenerate into a malignant growth. These are therefore also called urothelial carcinomas. If the bladder cancer is not detected at an early stage, there is a risk that the cancer will spread into deeper layers of the bladder or possibly even spread beyond the bladder to other organs.
Causes
As with most cancers, bladder cancer is caused by a group of about 50 chemical substances. The most serious risk factor for bladder cancer today is clearly cigarette smoking; it is estimated to be responsible for half of all cases of bladder cancer in men and for about one third of the same disease in women. Even passive smoking of cigarettes carries not inconsiderable risks, also with regard to bladder cancer.
However, other chemicals can also pose a risk of bladder cancer, so there is an increased risk for people who work in the textile or printing industries, or those employed in companies where they come into contact with aluminium, rubber or other chemicals at work. Bladder cancer is recognized as an occupational disease for workers who have a proven history of prolonged and frequent contact with the above substances during the course of their work (even after retirement, of course). However, the most important known risk factor is a disease called schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia.
After contact with polluted water, an infection occurs through suction worms living in water snails (so-called schistosomes), which result in a severe inflammation of the urinary tract. Untreated, this can lead to the development of bladder cancer. Although the disease is relatively common worldwide, it is mainly concentrated in subtropical areas. Under certain circumstances, chemotherapy may even release cell toxins from a previous cancer, which in turn may promote the development of bladder cancer.