HJAR Jul/Aug 2023

48 JUL / AUG 2023 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS DIALOGUE COLUMN UROLOGY ACCORDING to the National Cancer Insti- tute, both the diagnosis and death rate from bladder cancer have edged down over the past two decades. Between 1992 and 2020, the number of those diagnosed with blad- der cancer in the U.S. every year dropped from 20.3 to 15.8 per 100,000 citizens, while the death rate dropped from 4.5 to 4.0 per 100,000. Even with these advancements, bladder cancer is still a significant killer, taking the lives of just under 17,000Americans annual- ly while impacting the lifelong urinary func- tion of many of those who recover. Thank- fully, it is a fairly survivable cancer if caught in men, with around 62,400 men projected to be diagnosed this year. There are several types of cancer that can start in the bladder, including squamous cell carcinoma (1-2% of cases), adenocarcinoma (1%), and small cell carcinoma (<1%). Howev- er, the most common type of bladder cancer by far is urothelial carcinoma, also known as transitional cell carcinoma or TCC, which accounts for over 90% of cases. Urothelial carcinoma begins in the tran- sitional epithelium, which is the innermost layer of the bladder wall. As these cells also line other parts of the urinary tract, includ- ing the ureters, urethra, and renal pelvis, early and treated. As physicians, it’s up to us to serve as the front-line defense for our patients. When it comes to bladder cancer, we best do that by keeping a wary eye out for common symp- toms, especially if seen in patients whose age, gender, career, and other risk factors put them in its crosshairs. Overview According to estimates by the American Cancer Society, about 82,000 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, accounting for 4.2% of all cancers. A sizable majority of those cases will be found Bladder Cancer: A Case for Increased Vigilance