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Chapter 2 of the book "Fast Facts: Bladder Cancer," Second edition, by Derek Raghavan and Michael Bailey is presented. It explores the pathology of bladder cancer and histological types of cancer cells. Moreover, the patterns of spread and recurrence, mortality associated with transitional cell cancer (TCC) and stages of the disease are discussed.

An encyclopedia entry for "cancer vaccines" is presented. It should activate a lymphocyte response which has an immediate anti-tumor effect as well as memory response against future tumor. The role of the vaccine is to treat cancer or prevent the recurrence of cancer in patients. The most direct means of immunization is the use of whole tumor cell preparations.

A definition of the term "relapse," as used in the cancer field, is presented. It refers to the re-emergence of disease symptoms after a complete or partial remission. Relapse, which can only be biological, is usually associated with a poorer prognosis, whatever the malignant conditions.

A definition of the term "field change" is presented. In bladder cancer, the concept of a field change is postulated that the entire epithelium of the bladder has a defect in patients which get the disease. This defect is the reason why the cancer recurs with a high frequency in patients when their bladders are not removed.