Facts About Bladder Cancer

* Globally, bladder cancer is ranked 4th and 8th in men and women respectively as the most common form of cancer causing mortality. It is expected that the incidence of bladder cancer will continue to increase concurrent with an increase in industrialization, lifestyle factors and an aging population.
* Risk factors for bladder cancer include age, tobacco use, occupation (carcinogens in the workplace), infections, drinking arsenic-contaminated water, Caucasian race, male gender, family history, treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, low fluid consumption and personal history of the disease.

* Over 500,000 people in the United States are survivors of this cancer. It is the fourth most frequent cancer diagnosed in men in the US, and the ninth most frequent cancer diagnosed in women. Bladder cancer is 4 times more likely to be found in men than women. Many of the survivors need frequent follow up and treatment, some as often as 2-4 times per year.
* The American Cancer Society estimates that 63,210 men and women (47,010 men and 16,200 women) will be diagnosed with and 13,180 men and women will die from cancer of the bladder in 2005
* Common symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine (making the urine slightly rusty to deep red), pain during urination, and frequent urination, or feeling the need to urinate without results.

For further information, see these sources:
-American Cancer Society, Key Statistics for Bladder Cancer, www.cancer.org.
-National Cancer Institute, Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results, seer.cancer.gov.
-National Cancer Institute, Cancer Topics, Bladder Cancer, www.cancer.org.

About Photocure
PhotoCure ASA is a Norwegian pharmaceutical company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company develops and sells pharmaceuticals and medical devices for the treatment and diagnosis of different types of cancer. The products are based on proprietary photodynamic technologies, targeting specific dermatology and oncology markets.

Through worldwide studies, PhotoCure is developing its technology for new indications, such as acne, colon cancer and cervical cancer. The aim is to create a broad pipeline of follow-on products and technologies. PhotoCure is also developing photochemical internalization (PCI), a technology for light-directed drug delivery through its subsidiary PCI Biotech AS. For more information about PhotoCure, visit our website at www.photocure.com.

Back to HCB News

More Industry Headlines