The American Cancer Society estimates 80,470 new cases of bladder cancer—approximately 61,700 in men and 18,770 in women—this year. Bladder cancer occurs when a malignant tumour develops within the cells of the bladder, with the potential to spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. The bladder is an essential part of the urinary system. This organ is meant to store urine made by the kidneys.

An individual’s risk of developing bladder cancer is affected by certain risk factors (i.e., smoking, chemical exposure, and chronic bladder infections, etc.), which may also contribute to different types of bladder cancer, for instance:

1. Urothelial carcinoma
This is one of the common bladder cancers diagnosed, accounting for about 90% of all bladder cancers, and more than 15% of kidney cancers diagnosed in American adults. This type of bladder cancer is also referred to as transitional cell carcinoma, and develops in the urothelial cells of the urinary tract.

2. Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell type of cancer is less common, making up only 4% of all bladder cancers. Squamous cells begin to grow in the bladder lining. Experts believe that over time, the chronic irritation and the inflammation end up causing cancerous cell growth.

3. Adenocarcinoma
This type of bladder cancer usually develops in the glandular cells. This type of bladder cancer is considered rare and accounts for a mere 2% of all bladder cancers.

4. Sarcoma
Sarcoma is also a less common type of bladder cancer that usually begins in the fat or muscle layers of the bladder. Although rare, this bladder cancer may end up spreading aggressively to other areas of the body.