Normal Evidences And Understandings Involved With Bladder Cancer
It seems that every time you turn on the TV, we face bad news (sometimes good) on some type of physical ailment, a problem with the mind, or another restricting condition that limits our life options. Various cancers are certainly among them, including the lesser publicized malignancies like bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer symptoms are often not apparent until the disease has progressed to an advanced and sometimes fatal stage. This means that if you’re genetically susceptible to bladder cancer, you must be diligent about testing and early detection. To learn more about the risks of bladder cancer, its causes and its symptoms, keep reading.
The Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
The most common bladder cancer symptoms include bloody urine (should be a deep or brownish red) and painful or frequent urination. Incontinence can also be sometimes associated with the disease.
Unfortunately, many of these symptoms are also associated with bladder infections, common prostrate problems, prostate infections, prostate cancer, and cystitis. That means diagnosing the disease can often be difficult.
How Bladder Cancer is Diagnosed
If a patient is at risk for developing bladder cancer (typically indicated by a genetic family history of the disease), then the person is often referred to a urologist who can test for the disease using cytology. While cytology can be an effective way to assess potential danger, it’s not a sensitive test and can sometimes produce negative results even when cancer is present.
There is also the cytoscopy, which is essentially a flexible tube with a small camera that is inserted into the urethra and bladder. Urologists then look for suspicious lesions which, if found, are then removed and biopsied.
How Bladder Cancer is Treated
The method used to treat bladder cancer will often depend on the stage of the disease and what form it has taken. For example, a superficial tumor may be easily removed in surgery simply by shaving it off. In other cases, immunotherapy is used to treat tumors, while chemotherapy may be used with others.
However, tumors or lesions that are not considered superficial must be removed by removing all or part of the bladder. Some skilled surgeons can even construct a new bladder out of the remaining skin. This is done either in conjunction with or as an alternative to radiation and chemotherapy - often used to finish off any remnants of the cancer.
Are You At Risk for Developing Bladder Cancer?
Though genetic disposition is the most common factor in determining a patient’s risk for developing the disease, most urologists agree that environmental factors can play a huge part. For example, holding excessive amounts of toxins and carcinogens in the bladder can become a major cause of bladder cancer.
This is why flushing out the system by drinking lots of water (at least eight glasses) every day can dramatically reduce your chances of developing the disease.
It’s important to remember that bladder cancer symptoms may not always be evident or appear until the advanced stages of the disease. So, if you have a family history of members experiencing this affliction, it’s important to tell your family doctor and to see a urologist regularly.
Filed under Cancer