Bladder cancer can be broken down into two main groups.
- Non-invasive
- Invasive
The wall of the bladder wall has three principal tissue layers or coats:
* mucosa
* submucosa
* muscular layer
This is a very simplified explanation. For a more detailed explanation goto Full Article
Non-Invasive - can generally be killed off without removing the bladder.
The Mucosa membrane lines the inside of the bladder and also lines the inside of the ureters and urethra. This is the area where the non-invasive cancer is found.
Invasive - generally requires the removal of the bladder.
Submucous coat (lamina propria)–areolar connective tissue; interlaced with the muscular coat. This layer contains blood vessels, nerves, and in some regions, glands.
A tumor which has spread to this layer can metastasize to the rest of the body via the lymphatics and blood vessels.
Once the cancer is established within the muscle layer of the bladder, the cancer cells have very little distance to go before they are able to breach the outside of the wall and gain access to the abdominal cavity.
Serous coat (serosa)–covers the outer wall of the bladder facing the abdominal cavity.
Once the cancer cell has breached the bladder wall and has gained access to the abdominal cavity they generally attack the lymph nodes, in the groin, first. Once the lymph nodes are infected then the cancer can spread to every part of your body by the Lymphatic system.
What is the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic system is a system of thin tubes that runs throughout the body. These tubes are called ‘lymph vessels’. You may also hear them called ‘lymphatic vessels’.
The lymphatic system is like the blood circulation - the tubes branch through all parts of the body like the arteries and veins that carry blood. Except that the lymphatic system carries a colourless liquid called ‘lymph’.
Lymph is a clear fluid that circulates around the body tissues. It contains a high number of lymphocytes (white blood cells). Plasma leaks out of the capillaries to surround and bathe the body tissues. This then drains into the lymph vessels.
The fluid, now called lymph, then flows through the lymphatic system to the biggest lymph vessel - the thoracic duct. The thoracic duct then empties back into the blood circulation.
Lymph glands
Along the lymph vessels are small bean-shaped lymph glands or ‘nodes’. You can probably feel some of your lymph nodes.
There are lymph nodes
* Under your arms, in your armpits
* In each groin (at the top of your legs)
* In your neck
There are also lymph nodes that you cannot feel in
* Your abdomen
* Your pelvis
* Your chest
From this simplified explanation, you can see why it is so important to have bladder cancer diagnosed and treated before the cancer breaches the bladder wall.
Posted on July 25th, 2008 by Neil
Filed under: Bladder Cancer - Background, My Cancer
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