Bladder cancer, as the name suggests, is a type of cancer than begins in your bladder, which is the hollow, muscular organ in your pelvic region, where urine is stored. In most instances the cancer begins in the cells that are present in the inner lining of the bladder. There are several types of malignant growth or tumors that can crop up in the urinary bladder, leading to bladder cancer. This disease causes the abnormal cells in the bladder to multiply uncontrollably. Patients suffering from this condition usually notice certain signs and symptoms, causing them to undergo a checkup. There are three different categories of bladder cancer, which include:
Due to many reasons, bladder cancer is usually detected at an early stage, when it is highly treatable. Unfortunately, even after being treated in the initial phase, this type of cancer is likely to recur. This is why those who survive bladder cancer are required to go through follow-up tests and treatment for years after getting rid of the cancer. The frequency of the treatment depends on several different factors, mainly the type of cancer. In case you suffered from less aggressive cancer, your screening tests will be conducted less often. People with the aggressive form of cancer are usually asked to go in for regular screening.
Though this type of cancer can affect people of all ages, it is a lot more common in adults, than it is in children and teens. The exact causes of this condition are not quite clear, though health experts believe that certain factors can increase your risks of developing bladder cancer.
There are different types and kinds of bladder cancer tests that your surgeon may ask you to undergo, for a proper diagnosis.
Given below are some of the recommended bladder cancer tests:
Most doctors ask patients to undergo imaging tests or a bone scan, to establish the stage of cancer and its severity, even after a diagnosis of bladder cancer is confirmed. There are 4 different stages a person would go through when it comes to bladder cancer, which include:
The exact causes of bladder cancer are still not clear, though there are several theories. Cancer in the bladder occurs when the healthy cells that are present in the organ go awry. Instead of growing in the normal, orderly way, these cells develop mutations, causing them to grow out of control. Moreover, these cells do not die after a while, like the normal cells do. Therefore, mutated, abnormal cells collect together to form a tumor.
Researchers and health care experts are still trying to determine the reasons why some people develop bladder cancer, while the others don't. It is believed that certain factors can increase your risks of getting this form of cancer. Given below are some of the potential bladder cancer causes:
Several cases of bladder cancer occur due to factors that cannot be controlled by a patient. These factors that lead to cancer are usually referred to as uncontrollable causes.
Bladder cancer symptoms are usually noticed by people when they pass urine or even when they feel the urge to urinate. Given below are some of the most commonly experienced bladder cancer symptoms:
In several instances, patients suffering from this condition experience loss in appetite, followed by severe weight loss and anemia.
Unfortunately, most of the symptoms of bladder cancer are not exclusive to the condition and can be caused by non-cancerous conditions such as cystitis and prostate infections (in men). Nevertheless, these symptoms should never be ignored or treated lightly. It is absolutely essential for you to consult your doctor at the earliest in case you happen to notice any of the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer. Your doctor will advise you to go through a series of tests to identify the possible causes of the symptoms. This could help diagnose the condition in its early stages, when it is still highly treatable.
It is a well-known fact that getting cancer treated is a long process and this applies to bladder cancer treatment too. There are several different factors that determine the treatment options suitable for you, such as the type of cancer, the stage in which the cancer is, your age and your overall health. Do set up an appointment with your doctor so that you can discuss the pros and cons of all the different bladder cancer treatment options, before choosing the one that you think suits you the best.
There are several different types of surgical procedures that can help treat bladder cancer. In case the cancer is in a small area and has not invaded the bladder walls, your doctor could recommend transurethral resection of bladder tumor or segmental (partial) cystectomy. In case the cancer is invasive and invades the deeper layers of the bladder wall, the surgical procedure recommended for you may include radical cystectomy.
Also known as biological therapy, this form of treatment is usually administered directly to the bladder through the urethra. Intravesical therapy signals your immune system to fight off cancer cells.
This form of treatment involves the use of drugs that kill cancer cells. Several patients are asked to go through chemotherapy for bladder cancer before going through a surgery, to shrink the tumor. After surgery, chemotherapy is required to kill the cancer cells that remain.
In this form of therapy, high-energy beams are aimed at the area affected by cancer cells. Your doctor may administer the radiation from a machine outside the body or through a device inside the bladder.
Unfortunately, complementary and alternative therapies do not help cure bladder cancer, though they can help to improve the quality of your life to some extent.