SNP Shot: Genomic Insights

Bladder cancer is a condition where cells within the bladder, an organ in the lower abdomen responsible for storing urine, become damaged and grow uncontrollably, leading to tumor formation.

Symptoms of bladder cancer can include blood in the urine, painful urination, increased frequency of urination, a persistent urge to urinate even when the bladder is empty, and lower back discomfort. It's important to note that these symptoms are often nonspecific, meaning they can be associated with various other health conditions. The presence of one or more of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate bladder cancer; it could be caused by a different issue, such as an infection.

Bladder cancer arises from the development of tumors within the bladder lining. Different types of bladder cancer exist, classified by the specific cell type that becomes cancerous. The most prevalent type is transitional cell carcinoma (also called urothelial carcinoma), while other less common types include squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. When the tumor spreads (metastasizes) beyond the bladder lining to adjacent tissues or organs, it is classified as invasive bladder cancer.

Inheritance:

Bladder cancer is generally not an inherited condition. It typically results from somatic mutations, which are genetic changes that occur in bladder cells during a person's life. However, in rare cases, a predisposition to bladder cancer can be passed down through families. In these instances, the increased cancer risk follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, meaning that inheriting just one copy of the altered gene in each cell is enough to elevate an individual's risk of developing the disease. It is crucial to understand that individuals inherit an increased susceptibility to cancer, not the cancer itself. Not everyone who inherits these gene mutations will ultimately develop bladder cancer.