Bladder Cancer Awareness Day Date in the current year: May 7, 2024

Bladder cancer is an umbrella term for several types of cancer that affect the tissues of the urinary bladder. The most common type of bladder cancer is transitional cell carcinoma; it accounts for 95% of bladder cancer cases. Other types include squamous-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, affecting about 1.6 million people globally and causing around 200,000 deaths every year.

The main risk factors for bladder cancer are tobacco smoking in any form (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and even passive smoking, although to a less considerable degree), occupational exposure to carcinogens, schistosomiasis, high consumption of cholesterol in men, and a history of external beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which may or may not be visible. The main difference between bladder cancer and other conditions characterized by blood in the urine (bladder stones, kidney disorders, infection) in terms of symptoms is that bladder cancer is painless, while other conditions would typically be painful. Other possible symptoms include feeling the need to urinate without being able to do so or frequent urination. People with advanced bladder cancer may experience pelvic or abdominal pain and leg swelling.

As you can see, the symptoms of bladder cancer are non-specific and may also be caused by many other conditions, so the best way to diagnose bladder cancer is cystoscopy, i.e. endoscopy of the urinary bladder via the urethra. If any suspicious lesions are discovered during the procedure, samples are taken for a biopsy. Additional examinations are carried out to establish the cell type and stage of the tumor.

Like with most other cancer types, bladder cancer treatment depends on its stage. It usually involves come combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. Advanced cancer typically requires radical cystectomy, i.e. radical surgical removal of the entire urinary bladder along with surrounding lymph nodes and other organs that have been invaded by cancer. The typical five-year survival rates for bladder cancer in developed countries range from 68% (Europe) to 77% (United States).

Bladder Cancer Awareness Day was first observed on May 7, 2014 to educate the general public about bladder cancer and support those affected by the disease. Since then, the entire month of May has been designated as World Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.

There are many ways to get involved with Bladder Cancer Awareness Day. You can wear a marigold yellow, purple and blue awareness ribbon to start conversations, spread awareness on social media with the hashtag #BladderCancerAwarenessDay, donate to an organization that funds bladder cancer research or supports people affected by the disease and their families, volunteer at a local cancer center, or host an awareness or fundraising event in your community.