Bladder Cancer

Question 1

Define Bladder Cancer?

Answer 1

Malignancy of bladder cells

Question 2

What are bladder cancers?

Answer 2

Most bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinoma

RARELY, bladder cancers may be squamous cell carcinomas associated with chronic inflammation (e.g. schistosomiasis)

Question 3

What are the risk factors of bladder cancers?

Answer 3

Smoking
Dye stuffs (naphthylamines and benzidine)
Cyclophosphamide treatment 
Pelvic Irradiation
Chronic UTIs 
Schistosomiasis

Question 4

What is the epidemiology of bladder cancer?

Answer 4

2% of cancers
2nd most common cancer of the genitourinary tract
2-3x more common in males
Peak incidence: 50-70 years

Question 5

What are the presenting symptoms of bladder cancer?

Answer 5

Painless macroscopic haematuria
Irritative/storage symptoms (frequency, urgency, nocturia)
Recurrent UTIs
Ureteral Obstruction

Question 6

What are the signs of bladder cancer on physical examination?

Answer 6

Often NO signs

Bimanual examination may be performed as part of disease staging