The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower part of the abdomen that stores urine. It is shaped like a small balloon, and it has a muscular wall that allows it to change in size. Urine is the liquid waste that is made by the kidneys when they clean the blood. Urine passes from the two kidneys into the bladder through two tubes called ureters. When the bladder is emptied during urination, the urine goes from the bladder to the outside of the body through another tube called the urethra.
Bladder cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells are found in the bladder.
If a patient has these symptoms, a doctor may use several tests to look for cancer of the bladder. A urine sample may be sent to a laboratory for tests to see if any cancer cells are present. For this x-ray, a special dye containing iodine is injected into a vein. The dye goes into the urine, making the bladder easier to see on the x-rays. The patient may feel warm as the dye is injected.