Bladder Cancer

Specific genetic mutations may account for nearly one-third of all bladder cancers.The bladder is an organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine after it is released from the kidneys until it is passed out of the body. Bladder cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the United States and causes approximately 13,000 deaths annually. Bladder cancer occurs predominantly in elderly men and less frequently in women and younger men.As knowledge regarding the practical application of genetics moves forward in the medical arena, the identification of specific genetic mutations that place an individual at a higher risk of a specific cancer may allow for appropriate screening.