Bladder Cancer (Cont.)

Bladder Cancer (Cont.)

Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is cancer that begins in glandular (secretory) cells. Glandular cells, which are found in the lining of the bladder, make substances such as mucus.

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 cancer of the bladder.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors?
No one knows the exact cause of this cancer, and doctors can seldom explain why one person will get it and another person will not. However, it is clear that the cancer is not contagious, and no one can "catch" it from another person.

(Click Bladder Cancer Cause for more information about the cause of bladder cancer.)

Research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the condition. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease. Although risk factors do not cause cancer of the bladder, risk factors may act together to increase a person's risk.

Specific risk factors for this type of cancer include:

* Age
* Tobacco use
* Occupation
* Infection
* Treatment with cyclophosphamide or arsenic
* Race
* Gender
* Family history
* Previous history of bladder cancer.