Over 50,000 cases of urinary bladder cancer are diagnosed every year and is the 5th most common cancer detected in the United States. These cancers occur three times more commonly in men than in women.

Anatomy and Physiology

• The bladder is located in the pelvis. It is held in place by ligaments and can be felt in the lower abdomen when full
• The urinary bladder is a hollow muscular organ that serves as a reservoir of urine. Normally the bladder can hold 350 - 450 cc (12 - 15 ounces) of urine
• Urine is produced in the kidneys and travels down through the ureters to enter the bladder
• The urethra is located at the base (lowest part) of the bladder and drains the urine out of the bladder. In women the outlet of the urethra can be seen just in front of the vagina. In men the urethra lies within the penis
• Sphincters (small circular muscles that contract to hold the urine within the bladder) control the passage of urine through the urethra. Fullness of the bladder sends signals to the brain, and voluntary control determines whether the sphincter remains contracted or allows relaxation for urination
• In males, the bladder has the prostate gland below (through which the urethra passes), and the seminal vesicles (which store sperm) and vas deferentia (which transport sperm) behind. The rectum is also located behind the bladder (Figure 1) (See Prostatectomy)

Figure 1 - Male anatomy. See description in the text. © A. Bhandary