Around 74,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with bladder cancer every year. Unfortunately, 17,000 people will die from this type of cancer yearly, making a serious health concern for everyone. However, there are certain risk factors you can avoid to lower your chances of developing this cancer. If you’re interested in learning more about bladder cancer, you can search online right now to discover factors that have been linked to bladder cancer.
Getting an early diagnosis is crucial so bladder cancer doesn’t have time to spread to other parts of the body. You can search online to learn the early signs of this disease and when you should see a doctor.
Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer affects the urinary system. It commonly starts in the urothelial cells, and when it’s found there it’s specifically called urothelial carcinoma. This type of bladder cancer makes up more than 90 percent of all cases. Fortunately, this cancer can be caught at an early stage before it grows deeper into the bladder wall’s muscle layer.
It’s possible that no symptoms will appear in the early stages of bladder cancer. When signs and symptoms of this condition do appear, they can include:
- Blood in the urine (possibly turning it an orange, pink, or red color)
- Frequent urination and urgent need to urinate
- Burning or pain while urinating
- Difficulty urinating or having weak stream of urine
- Low back pain or pain in the pelvis
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it could be the early signs of bladder cancer. Though it’s always possible for these health concerns to be linked to other health conditions, you should see your doctor right away to get checked out.
Risk Factors
Your risk for bladder cancer increases as you get older. It’s commonly diagnosed in men and people older than age 55. Despite the patterns, it’s still possible for bladder cancer to appear in women and people of any age.
Although cancer isn’t always preventable, one factor that could potentially increase your risk is smoking. The harmful chemicals processed by your body can damage the lining of your bladder and potentially lead to cancerous growths.
Other risk factors that have been linked to bladder cancer include:
- Exposure to certain chemicals used in the manufacture of dyes, rubber leather, textiles and paint products
- Previous cancer treatment with the anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide
- Chronic bladder inflammation or infections
- Having a family history of cancer
You can’t always prevent bladder cancer, but there are ways to lower the odds. Not smoking, taking caution around chemicals, and having a rich diet full of antioxidants may help reduce your risk of cancer.
Diagnosing Bladder Cancer
If a patient is showing symptoms of bladder cancer, a doctor will give them a physical exam and see if there is a family history. From there, the doctor will order some tests and procedures to find the exact cause for discomfort.
One method is called a cystoscopy. This involves a doctor inserting a small and narrow tube through the urethra. The attached lens will allow the doctor to see the inside of the bladder and find any warning signs. The doctor might also perform a biopsy during the cystoscopy by collecting a small cell sample that can be closely examined under a microscope.
Since changes in urine color are the most common symptoms, a sample of urine might be collected for a urine cytology. This means it will be checked for cancer cells through a microscope. Other imaging tests such as a CT scan might also be ordered.
After looking for cancer, doctors will label the condition with a stage. Factors that are considered when naming a stage include how far the cancer has grown in the bladder wall, if the cancer has reached nearby tissues or organs, and if the cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes or distant organs. The stage will ultimately determine how doctors will treat the disease.
Treating Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer treatments are comparable to the treatments used for most other types of cancer. A team of urologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists will decide on a course of action to either eliminate the cancer or help patients manage symptoms.
Early-stage bladder cancer might be able to be eliminated through surgery. In cases when the cancer has grown into the muscle layer of the bladder wall, parts of the bladder or even the entire bladder will be removed through a cystectomy.
A transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is another method doctors use to remove tumors. It involves removing tumors through the urethra. Immunotherapy may be placed directly under the bladder after a TURBT is performed to further treat the cancer.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are two more possible treatments for bladder cancer. Depending on the patient, a combination of treatments may be done to target the cancer. The average five-year survival rate for people with bladder cancer is 77 percent, making it a cancer that has a good chance of being successfully treated.
Search Online to Learn More About Bladder Cancer
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of bladder cancer, see a doctor right away. This includes seeing blood in the urine, frequent urination or discomfort while urinating. The chances of it being removed are a lot higher the sooner patients receive a diagnosis.
To find out more about the risk factors involved with bladder cancer, start an online search. You can lower your chances of developing this cancer by not smoking, working in a safe environment, and living a healthy lifestyle.