The bladder is a triangle-shaped, hollow organ that is located in the lower abdomen. It is responsible for holding the urine.
Bladder cancer occurs in the tissues of the bladder. There are three types of bladder cancer:
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma – It is the most common type of bladder cancer. It begins in the inner layer of the bladder. Transitional cells are capable of changing shape without getting damaged when stretching the tissue.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma – This type of cancer is quite rare and begins within the thin and flat squamous cells that form in the bladder after a long-term infection.
- Adenocarcinoma – This cancer begins when glandular cells form in the bladder after inflammation and irritation. These cells make up the mucus-secreting glands in the body.
Causes of Bladder Cancer
- Smoking – Smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars can increase the risk as it causes harmful chemicals to accumulate in the urine. These chemicals can damage the lining of your bladder, which can increase the risk of cancer.
- Exposure to certain chemicals – Exposure to chemicals like arsenic and chemicals used in the manufacturing of dyes, rubber, paint, textiles, and leather can raise the risk. The kidneys filter these harmful chemicals from the bloodstream and move them into the bladder, which increases the risk.
- Supplements – Dietary supplements that contain aristolochic acid can put you at a higher risk.
- Dehydration – Researchers believe that people who drink water or other liquids empty their bladders often, which keeps harmful chemicals from sticking around in the bladder, which holds the risk minimal
- Chronic bladder inflammation – Chronic infections like repeated urinary infections or inflammation, which might happen with long-term use of a urinary catheter, may increase the risk.
- Age and gender factors – The risk of developing bladder cancer increases as you age, and men are more likely to develop bladder cancer than women
Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
- Painful urination
- Frequent urination
- Pain in the abdominal area
- Blood in the urine
- Pain in the lower back region
- Urinary incontinence
Prevention of Bladder Cancer
- Avoid smoking
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid carcinogenic chemicals
- Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer
Tests and procedures that are used to diagnose can include the following:
- Cystoscopy – It is the use of a scope to examine the insides of the bladder. The doctor inserts a small, narrow tube through the urethra. The cystoscope has a lens that allows the doctor to see the inside of the bladder and urethra. The doctor examines them further to see signs of disease.
- Biopsy – During the cystoscopy, the doctor may pass a special tool into your bladder to collect cell samples for testing, which is called Biopsy.
- Imaging Tests – Imaging tests like CT or computerized Tomography help the doctor examine the structures of the urinary tract.
- Urine Cytology – In this process, the medical team takes a sample of your urine. It analyzes it under a microscope to search for cancer cells.
The treatment considers the overall health before administration. These tests may include:
- Chest X-Ray
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Positron Emission tomography (PET)
- CT Scan
- Bone Scan
Treatment of Bladder Cancer
Treatment can depend on various factors, like the type of cancer, its grade, and stage of cancer. The treatment considers the overall health before administration.
Following are some treatment options available for bladder cancer:
- Surgery – It follows the removal of cancer cells. This is one of the most common ways of treating bladder cancer.
- Chemotherapy – Doctors do this to treat cancers that are only in the lining of the bladder.
- Radiation therapy – It is done to destroy the cancer cells using powerful beams of energy like X-rays and protons. It directs the energy beams to precise points in the body. Doctors typically do this when surgery isn’t an option.
- Immunotherapy – It is a drug treatment done to trigger the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells.
- Targeted Therapy – It is used to treat advanced stages of cancer when other treatments fail. These drugs focus on specific weaknesses and cause the cancer cells to die. After the cancer treatment, doctors may recommend a test to examine the inside of the urethra and bladder every 3-6 months for the first few years. After that, they would guide you to get it done once a year to see if the cancer is recurring.
