The bladder is the organ in the body where urine is stored before it is expelled through urination. There are several different kinds of bladder
cancer:

Transitional cell carcinomas (cancer that begins in cells that normally make up the inner lining of the bladder) are the most common.

Squamous cell carcinoma is cancer that begins in thin, flat cells. Adenocarcinoma is cancer that begins in cells that make and release mucus and other
fluids. The cells that cause squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma grow in the inner lining of the bladder and are caused by chronic irritation
and inflammation. Cancer that is in cells in the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer.

Causes

Bladder cancer would appear to be, from the available evidence, a cancer caused by carcinogenic compounds absorbed from outside the body. Bladder
cancer is a cancer caused by environmental pollutants, whether they are lifestyle related, such as smoking, or chemicals in the workplace like
benzidine.Smoking is one of the most obvious risk factors that can contribute to bladder cancer. What's worse, by the time bladder cancer starts to
appear, the patient has likely been smoking for what may amount to decades. The ongoing deposit of carcinogens in the lungs and through the lungs into
the blood stream has been considerable.

Symptoms

The most easily detectable symptom is bloody urine. If a person goes to the bathroom and sees blood in their urine they should go to the doctor
immediately. Blood in urine can stem from other illnesses but is the major calling card of bladder cancer. Other symptoms include a higher frequency of
trips to the bathroom and pain while urinating. A person with this affliction will also experience harsh abdominal pains. When these symptoms all
combine, it is easy to figure out what is ailing the body. These symptoms are usually accompanied with weight loss due to a loss of appetite.

Treatment

Treatment depends mainly on the stage of cancer. The most common treatment options are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In
certain cases, your doctor may combine two or more treatment options, most commonly combining surgery with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Surgery
may be performed with both early and advanced bladder cancers. When bladder cancer is caught early on, the tumor may be removed through the urinary
opening, or urethra. Chemotherapy can also be used to treat bladder cancer, often in combination with surgery. Chemotherapy is a whole body treatment,
meaning it affects the entire body not just the bladder.