Most bladder cancers are superficial cancers. Invasive cancers are less common and occur when transitional cell cancers grow deeply into the wall of the bladder. These are more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas are less common bladder cancers.
Incidence
In Victoria, 630 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year.
Bladder cancer occurs most commonly from the age of 55 and is three times as common in men as in women.
Research funded
More than $600,000 has been given to fund research specifically into bladder cancer.
In addition, more than $16.2 million has been spent on research projects looking into the detection and treatment of all tumour types (including bladder).
Overall, Cancer Council
Victoria has funded $69 million worth of
lab-based research in Victorian hospitals, universities and research
institutions since 2003.
More on external research funded per tumour type.