5 Things You Need To Know About Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a health condition where malignant tumors start growing in the urinary bladder. While it is a condition that typically affects older adults, bladder cancer can affect all age groups. It is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, and has a 50-70 percent possibility of recurring.

1. What Is Bladder Cancer?

This type of cancer is characterized by aggressive cell growth in the bladder, a muscular organ that stores urine. Instead of a growing in the usual fashion, these mutated cells multiply rapidly and uncontrollably. Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer, and occurs in the bladder’s inner lining.

2. Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptoms include blood in the urine, frequent urination, severe itching, and general discomfort. Some may even experience excruciating pain. Just like prostate cancer, middle-aged men are the most susceptible to this disease. In fact, the symptoms are identical despite the fact that it affects different organs. Unfortunately, just like prostate cancer, the symptoms are not easily detected and it often develops quietly.

3. Causes

While the exact cause cannot be pinpointed, smoking is believed to be the leading cause of this type of cancer. Smoking forces the body to process harmful chemicals that are ultimately released through your urine. Exposure to industrial chemicals found in leather, rubber, paint, and even hair dyes can also trigger the growth of cancer cells. This explains why people who are most at risk include factory workers, machine setters, rubber workers, and hairstylists.

4. Detection and Prevention

To diagnose this cancer, a urologist will perform a cystoscopy procedure where a flexible tube with a camera is inserted in the urethra. Abnormal lesions are then biopsied and analyzed. Early detection of the disease can also be made through a patient’s urine sample.

To prevent this cancer, cut down or stop smoking tobacco. If you work in any of the professions that expose you to industrial chemicals, it may be wise to consider other career options to cut down the possibility of the disease. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables like carrots and citrus will also help you cut down the risks.

5. Treatment Options

In the United States alone, there is an estimated 55,000 yearly cases of this type of cancer. The good news is that it is curable given the right methods of treatment. Urologists in St Petersburg, for instance, give a number of options to combat cancer of the bladder and this includes the following: radiation therapy, surgery, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy.

However, before a patient is treated, a thorough examination should be done. This is because treatment is based on the cancer type and its specific stage. The cancer patient’s age and general wellness are also major factors to consider before choosing the treatment.

Regardless of the treatment choice, urologists in St Petersburg will suggest that cancer patients be well-aware of the risks. For one, it involves a commitment to strictly follow the doctor’s advice. Cancer of the bladder is something that should be addressed promptly. The earlier it is diagnosed and treated, the greater chance for full recovery.