Urinary bladder cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow in the bladder (the organ in your lower belly that stores urine).

It means the bladder lining develops cancer cells that form a tumor. These tumors can stay on the surface of the bladder or grow deeper and spread to other parts of the body.

Key points

• Most common sign: Blood in the urine (sometimes painless).
• Main cause: Smoking (chemicals pass from the blood into urine and harm the bladder).
• Other risks: Exposure to certain workplace chemicals, long-term bladder irritation, older age, being male.
• Treatment: Depends on stage; can include surgery to remove the tumor, medicines put directly into the bladder, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy.

Main causes & risks

• Smoking (the #1 risk factor — chemicals from tobacco get into urine and damage bladder cells)
• Contact with harmful chemicals at work (dyes, rubber, paints, leather)
• Chronic bladder problems (infections, irritation, long-term catheter use)
• Family history or genetics
• Age (risk increases after 55)

Common symptoms

• Blood in urine (reddish or cola-colored, may come and go)
• Needing to pee often
• Pain or burning while peeing
• Pelvic or back pain (if advanced)

How it’s diagnosed

• Urine test (to look for blood or cancer cells)
• Cystoscopy (tiny camera inside bladder)
• Biopsy (sample of bladder tissue checked under a microscope)
• Imaging (Ultrasound, CT, MRI)