Bladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the bladder. Cancer that is confined to the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer. Cancer that begins in the transitional cells may spread through the lining of the bladder and invade the muscle wall of the bladder or spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes; this is called invasive bladder cancer. Smoking, gender, and diet can affect the risk of developing bladder cancer.

The prognosis depends on the stage of the cancer (whether it is superficial or invasive bladder cancer, and whether it has spread to other places in the body); the type of bladder cancer cells and how they look under a microscope; and the patient’s general health. Bladder cancer in the early stages can often be cured.

Bladder Cancer Treatment at Moores UCSD Cancer Center