The tissues of the bladder, the part of the body that stores pee, are where bladder cancer develops. The studies say that each year, the condition affects about 45,000 men and 17,000 women.
What Is Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer typically starts in the cells (urothelial cells) that line the lining of your bladder. Urothelial cells are found in your kidneys as well as the ureters that join them to your bladder. While it can also develop in the kidneys and ureters, bladder urothelial carcinoma is much more common.
Types of Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer can be of three types:
Urothelial carcinoma
Urothelial carcinoma, formerly known as transitional cell carcinoma, develops in the bladder's interior lining cells. When your bladder is full, the urothelial cells in your bladder expand, and when it is empty, they contract. The urethra and ureters are lined with the same cells, and cancer can also develop there.
Cancer of the squamous cell
In many countries quamous cell carcinoma is a rare kind of cancer. It begins when thin, flat squamous cells form in the bladder after a long-term infection or irritation in the bladder.
Adenocarcinoma
Another uncommon cancer is adenocarcinoma. It starts when glandular cells develop in the bladder during protracted bladder inflammation and irritation. The mucus-secreting glands in the body are made of glandular cells.
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer?
Even though many bladder cancer patients have blood in their urine, they may not feel any pain while urinating. A few symptoms of bladder cancer that can also indicate more advanced stages of the disease include fatigue, weight loss, and bone pain. Pay close attention to these symptoms in particular:
- Urgent urination
- Painful urination
- Frequent urination
- Blood in the urine
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen
- Pain in the lower back
What Are the Causes of Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer spreads when DNA alterations (mutations) occur in bladder cells. A cell's DNA contains instructions that govern the behaviours of the cell. The modifications tell the cell to divide swiftly and to live on when healthy cells would. The abnormal cells can infiltrate healthy body tissue and destroy it when they form a cancer. Over time, the abnormal cells may detach and disperse (metastasize) throughout the body.
How is Urethral Cancer Diagnosed?
One or more of the following techniques may be used by your doctor to identify bladder cancer:
- A urine test
- An internal examination in which your doctor feels for lumps in your vagina or rectum with gloved fingers to see if they could be malignant growths
- A biopsy, in which your doctor enters a small tool through your urethra and removes a small sample of tissue from your bladder to screen for cancer
- A cystoscopy, which involves your doctor putting a narrow tube with a small camera on it through your urethra to see inside your bladder.
- A bladder-viewing CT scan
- A pyelogram done intravenously (IVP)
- X-rays
To determine how far the cancer has gone, your doctor can stage your bladder cancer using a scale that ranges from stage 0 to stage 4.
How Is Urethral Cancer treated?
Your doctor will consult with you to identify the best course of therapy based on the kind and stage of your bladder cancer, your symptoms, and your overall health.
Surgery can be done to remove the bladder tumour for bladder cancer in stages 0 and 1, along with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which involves taking a drug that triggers your immune system to fight the cancer cells. Chemotherapy in addition to bladder portion removal.
Prevention
Bladder cancer may not always be avoidable because doctors don't yet know what causes it. Your chance of developing bladder cancer can be decreased by the following elements and habits:
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid passive smoking
- Consume a lot of water
For every stage, there are treatments available. Additionally, survival statistics do not always provide a complete picture and cannot forecast your future. Any queries or worries you may have regarding your diagnosis and course of treatment should be brought up with your doctor.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
