What is bladder cancer?

A tumour (cancer) is any type of tissue growth in an organ or organ system.
Benign bladder tumours are very rare. More common are malignant tumours. Most such tumours have their origins in the lining of the bladder (the mucosa), but they can grow into all layers of the bladder wall and into nearby organs. If the tumour penetrates into blood vessels or lymph vessels, it can spread via these vessels to other organs or organ systems.

How common is bladder cancer in Germany?

What causes it?

Harmful environmental factors (especially significant long-term contact with aromatic amines, used for manufacturing paints and varnishes) and cigarette smoking can increase the likelihood of developing bladder cancer.
Rarely, bladder cancer can also be caused by a tropical disease (bladder schistosomiasis). This is a special form of bladder cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). X-rays of the pelvis and some chemotherapy drugs can also increase the likelihood of developing bladder cancer.

Are there any warning signs?

The main symptom (present in 80% of cases) is blood in the urine, usually without any pain. Other symptoms include sudden urges to urinate, needing to urinate more often or an ultrasound finding of renal congestion which was not previously present.