General overview of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common malignancy and is one of the most expensive to manage. This tumour typically affects middle-aged and elderly patients and is more common in men. These demographics reflect the aetiological links between BC and tobacco smoking and occupational exposure to carcinogens. While the presenting symptom of BC is usually painless visible haematuria, around one-quarter of tumours present with irritative voiding symptoms, recurrent or antibiotic-refractory urinary tract infections, non-visible haematuria, or are found by chance during the investigation of unrelated symptoms. As such, these urological symptoms require urgent investigation in patients at risk of BC. The diagnosis of BC is confirmed by endoscopic transurethral resection. This procedure requires meticulous tumour excision, sampling of the underlying detrusor muscle and the flat urothelium or prostatic urethra in patients with high-grade cancers. The prognosis of BC depends upon tumour grade, stage, and other features.