"Drink. Pee. Repeat:" the Analysis of Bladder Cancer

Hi! Bladder Cancer is an extremely complicated and interesting cancer. In the following essay, I will explain the basics of Bladder Cancer, the causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests, treatments, stages, and the biology of Bladder Cancer. My information was obtained from the following sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001517
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/bladder/Patient
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bladder-cancer/DS00177
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bladder_cancer/article_em.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/bladder_cancer/article.htm
http://www.urologychannel.com/bladdercancer/overview-of-bladder-cancer.shtml
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladdercancer.html
http://blcwebcafe.org/
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/bladder-cancer
http://www.acancer.net/bladder_cancer/stage1.php
http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Orphan_designation/2009/10/WC500006117.pdf
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/bladder-cancer/about/types-of-bladder-cancer
http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/path/urinary/uroth4.cfm
BSCS Biology Textbook
(No copy-right intended!)

Bladder Cancer
Shelby Marcus
2/14/11

Bladder Cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Every year more than 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with bladder cancer. Of those diagnosed, 13,000 will die. Tumors are created when cells become mutated and begin to multiply extremely fast. The new cells form tumors. The tumors either become so big that they takes over other tissues and take their resources, or metastasize, which means travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The three main kinds of bladder cancers are Transitive Cell Carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
The most common kind of bladder cancer is Transitive Cell Carcinoma. 90% of Americans with Bladder Cancer suffer from Transitive Cell Carcinoma. The biggest cause of TCC is smoking. Fortunately, Transitive Cell Carcinoma is treatable and not life-threatening because it is a superficial cancer. TCC is a superficial cancer because it is in the lining of the bladder and doesn’t penetrate, spread, or invades past the lining of the bladder.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a very rare kind of bladder cancer. 3%-8% of Bladder Cancers are Squamous Cell Carcinomas. SCC is an invasive cancer meaning it goes through metastasis, spreading and invading throughout the body, most likely through the lymphatic system. Invasive bladder cancers are extremely hard to cure because they spread throughout the body, making it harder to eradicate. SCC forms thin like cells in the tissue of the surface of the skin. The biggest cause of SCC is long-term irritation, inflammation, and infection. In the Middle East and Africa, the infection of the parasite Schistosomiasis can also cause SCC.
Adenocarcinoma is the rarest kind of Bladder Cancer. 1% to 2% of Bladder Cancers are Adenocarcinoma. Like SCC, Adenocarcinoma is very hard to treat since it’s invasive, which makes the eradication of the cancer extremely hard. After long-term irritation, Adenocarcinoma is formed in the glandular cells of the bladder.
TCC is considered a superficial cancer because it is in the lining of the bladder. SCC and Adenocarcinoma are invasive cancers because they invade and spread throughout the body. TCC is much more common and treatable, while SCC and Adenocarcinoma are extremely rare and usually untreatable.
In Transitive Cell Carcinoma there are either papillary or non-papillary (sessile) tumors. Papillary tumors have a wart like appearance and are attached to a stalk. They aren’t invasive and can be easily removed. Non-papillary (sessile) tumors are harder to treat because they are invasive and can spread throughout the body through lymph nodes, etc. Papillary tumors are more common than non-papillary tumors in Transitive Cell Carcinoma.
Smoking is one of the biggest causes of Bladder Cancer. Smoking was the cause of bladder cancer for 50% of men and 30% of women who have Bladder Cancer. Exposure to carcinogens (chemicals) caused Bladder Cancer for ¼ of people. Radiation and chemotherapy can also cause Bladder Cancer. Bladder infections and irritations increase the risk of SCC. However, doesn’t increase the risk of TCC. Parasite infection can also lead to Bladder Cancer. The most common symptom of Bladder Cancer is blood in urine. Frequent urination, pain during urination, and lower pack pain are also common symptoms. There are many causes of Bladder Cancer, however Bladder Cancer isn’t usually hereditary. Bladder Cancer is caused by environmental issues, smoking, infections, that create mutations in genes.
There is no specific gene mutation that causes Bladder Cancer. Tumors are created in the bladder through considerable mutations of the genes. Usually in normal cells, when the structure of DNA undergoes mutation, tumor suppressors check the DNA to make sure it is correct, and if not, corrects it. However when tumor suppressors become mutated, they can’t check the DNA structure, and the mutated genes build up and create tumors. Furthermore, if proto-oncogenes become mutated to form oncogenes, the cell cycle can’t stop anymore and the tumor becomes bigger and bigger. The combination of mutated tumor suppressors and oncogenes create a cancerous tumor. The reason for the mutation of tumor suppressors and oncogenes is of the environmental issues, smoking, infections, etc.
There are many diagnostic tests that can determine whether someone has Bladder Cancer. One diagnostic test is an abdominal CT scan. Another is Cytoscopy where a small camera examines the inside of the bladder. A bladder biopsy can also be performed during Cytoscopy, which is when a small part of the tissue is taken away. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP,) is a series of x-ray pictures of the ureter & bladder. Urinalysis examines the physical color, microscopic, and chemical appearance of urine. Urine cytology is the examination of cells in urine. Through these tests, doctors can determine if the patient has Bladder Cancer.
The treatment for Bladder Cancer is based on which stage of cancer the patient has. For Stage 0 and 1, which is a tumor in the transitional cells or lining of the bladder, a simply Transurethral Resection of the Bladder (TURB) can be done, which is the removal of the tumor through surgery. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are also options. For Stage 2 or 3 Bladder Cancer, which is bladder cancer between the lining of the bladder and muscle area, there are many options. One option is radical cystecomy, which is removal of the bladder through surgery or partial removal of the bladder followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Before surgery, chemotherapy can be used to try to shrink the tumor. Chemotherapy and radiation is also an option for patients who choose not to do surgery. Unfortunately, Stage 4 Bladder Cancer is usually incurable.

Here is a powerpoint on Bladder Cancer.
The words in RED are what I would say during the presentation.

Bladder Cancer

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Here are the information & picture sources:

Web Sources (information):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001517
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/bladder/Patient
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bladder-cancer/DS00177
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bladder_cancer/article_em.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/bladder_cancer/article.htm
http://www.urologychannel.com/bladdercancer/overview-of-bladder-cancer.shtml
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladdercancer.html
http://blcwebcafe.org/
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/bladder-cancer
http://www.acancer.net/bladder_cancer/stage1.php
http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Orphan_designation/2009/10/WC500006117.pdf
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/bladder-cancer/about/types-of-bladder-cancer
http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/path/urinary/uroth4.cfm

BSCS Biology Textbook

Picture sources:
http://www.mountnittany.org/wellness-library/healthsheets/documents?ID=6786
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0Qz9deUTbkDWCB-D4uBLz3LpSo-qW52MXuwXy_KecBSdQhlmaITh1071wGk3LzbsbR-HNVYX6YJ8HcLxq61-NLm-4bfCHEnYOidalA_g1rVCZwK28qZz2d1GzIrNeTqs_mb4VKY3o_8/s1600-h/drink+pee+repeat.jpg
http://www.zazzle.com/pee_on_bladder_cancer_poster-228150471902362783
http://www.personalizedcause.com/shop/collections/knowmore/magnets/classic/detail/yellow.html



Hope you learned a lot!!!!