Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news
Cancer of the Bladder - Bladder Cancer
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Bladder cancer is a form of cancer affecting the internal lining of the bladder. Bladder cancer can be superficial or invasive.
What is going on in the body?
Cancer occurs when a cell undergoes changes that cause it to grow and multiply uncontrollably. Eventually a tumor will form. More than one tumor in the bladder may develop at the same time. If not treated, a tumor will grow through the bladder wall. It may then spread to structures around the bladder. Cells from the tumor can also enter the bloodstream and spread to distant parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
Use of tobacco products, smoking in particular, may lead to bladder cancer. The cancer-causing chemicals are absorbed in the lungs and then excreted into the urine. The lining of the bladder is exposed to concentrated amounts of these poisons for long periods. Other chemicals, such as aniline dyes, are known to cause similar damage.
The following occupations are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer:
Other known risk factors for bladder cancer include the following:
Suspected risk factors include: