Bladder cancer is cancer affecting the urinary bladder. The Urinary bladder is the storehouse of urine in the human body
In this piece of information, we will be exploring everything about this form of cancer so that you can gain a clear and complete understanding of bladder cancer.
Table of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- What is bladder cancer?
- Stages of bladder cancer
- Main Causes of Bladder Cancer
- Common Symptoms of bladder cancer
- How is it diagnosed?
- Treatment Options
- Risk associated with Bladder cancer treatment
What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men. The symptoms usually appear during the early stages with slow progression but it can be aggressive also . Therefore, it is highly recommended that you should seek early diagnosis and timely treatment to improve recovery and survival.
- Urothelial or Transitional Cell Carcinoma: This is the most common form of bladder cancer. During this, the bladder shrinks when empty and enlarges when full. Smoking is believed to be the most significant cause of Urothelial or Transitional Cell Carcinoma.
- Others are rare forms like Squamous Cell type
(1)
Main Causes of Bladder Cancer
Changes in the bladder cells can cause blood cancer, and it is routinely associated with exposure to specific chemicals, but the exact cause is not always known.
The risk factors for bladder cancer include:
- Smoking: Smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars may increase the risk of bladder cancer. The human body processes harmful chemicals in the smoke and excretes some part of them in the urine. These chemicals can severely damage the bladder’s lining that in turn, can increase the risk of bladder cancer.
- Increasing age: Though bladder cancer can happen at any age, the majority of people who are diagnosed with this form of cancer are older than 55 years of age.
- Exposure to specific chemicals: Kidneys play a crucial role to filter out harmful chemicals used in the manufacture of textiles, paint, dyes, and rubber products like beta-naphthylamine and benzidine from the bloodstream. After this, it moves them into the bladder. These chemicals can increase the risk of bladder cancer.
- Chronic bladder inflammation: Repeated or chronic urinary rashes or infections can increase the risk of squamous cell bladder cancer.
- Family or personal cancer history: If any of your blood relatives with bladder cancer or you’ve had bladder cancer in the past, there is an increased risk of bladder cancer.
If you are looking for more assistance or information on bladder cancer and bladder cancer outlook, you can reach out to us at Urethra Clinic for the best bladder cancer treatment and Kidney Bladder Stone Removal Treatment in Delhi.
Common Symptoms of bladder cancer
The common symptoms of bladder cancer include the presence of blood in urine, or haematuria especially complete haematuria or blood throughout the urinary stream ,back pain, and passage of blood clots in urine. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, it is highly recommended that you must immediately seek medical intervention especially above 50 years of age
A most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in urine or haematuria. It can be total or throughout the stream of urine or intermittent.
(2)
How is it diagnosed?
Bladder cancer can be diagnosed by any one or more of the following diagnostic methods:
- a urinalysis
- Ultrasound of Kidney Urinary Bladder or KUB region
- A Contrast enhanced CT or an intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
- Cystoscopy and biopsy or TURBT in which a small tool is inserted by the doctor through the urethra and a small tissue sample is taken from the bladder for the purpose of cancer testing
- a cystoscopy in which a narrow tube with a small camera is inserted through the urethra to examine inside the bladder
- an internal examination in which the doctor will insert gloved fingers into the rectum or vagina to look out for any possible lumps indicating a cancerous growth
A newcomer and promising test to identify the silent disease is BTA TEST or URO-VYSION tests which are currently not uniformly available in the market.
Stages of bladder cancer
Once the doctor has diagnosed bladder cancer after TURBT he or she may recommend further tests to check if cancerous cells have spread from your bladder or to other body parts.
Bladder cancer is classified in the following stages:
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- pT stage
- pTa Tumour confined to mucosa only
- pT1 Tumour confined to mucosa and lamina propria
- pT2,pT3,pT4 : Tumour spreads beyond the muscular layer of bladder and may spread outside also
- NX: The regional lymph nodes cannot be accurately evaluated.
- N0 (N plus zero): Cancer hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes regionally.
- N1: Cancer has managed to extend to a single lymph node in the pelvis regionally.
- N2: Cancer has managed to spread to two or more lymph nodes in the pelvis regionally.
- N3: Cancer has managed to spread to the common iliac lymph nodes that are located behind pelvis’s major arteries above the bladder.
Grading : Tumour may be LOW grade or less invasive in which mostly Cystoscopy and biopsy or TURBT may be sufficient for initial therapy along with Medication put inside bladder
HIGH Grade : Aggressive variety that has high potential of infiltrating the muscular layer of bladder
(3)
Treatment Options
The treatment
Surgery: Your doctor may recommend surgical procedures such as Radical cystectomy, Transurethral resection (TUR) with fulguration, Partial cystectomy, or Urinary diversion.
Intravesical Instillation This type of treatment may be recommended for high grade tumours and may include BCG instillation or Mitomycin C instillation also
Radiation therapy: High-energy x-rays or other forms of radiation may be used for killing cancerous cells or keeping them from growth.
Chemotherapy: Your doctor may recommend chemotherapy to kill cancer cells by using more than one anti-cancer medication.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy may be suggested to fight cancer through lab-made substances for directing, boosting, or restoring the natural defences of the body against cancer.
At Urethra Clinic, The Top Urology Clinic in Delhi you will get the best bladder cancer treatment with the latest equipment and technologies. We’re just a call away, and our experienced medical team will be happy to guide you on how to proceed with a bladder cancer diagnosis and bladder cancer treatment.
Reach out now for the best bladder cancer treatment at budget-friendly pricing. With Urethra Clinic, you are always assured of compassionate care, personalised attention, and the best bladder cancer treatment.
Risk associated with Bladder cancer Treatment
In rare cases, patients opting for bladder cancer treatment may experience mild or severe side effects such as pain, discomfort, or frequent urination. However, these side effects usually tend to subside on their own. Otherwise, the doctor may recommend antibiotics or painkillers to alleviate side effects.
Takeaway
Bladder cancer can be treated if it is timely diagnosed and treated. However, you need to stay knowledgeable about the health condition, so you always make informed decisions. For this, you should carefully research the best bladder cancer specialists and clinics after exploring reviews, feedback, and testimonials on the internet. It is also suggested that you look for positive word-of-mouth recommendations from friends, family, colleagues, and past patients.
References
1^ Stages of bladder cancer | Cancer.net | December 11, 2020
2^ Common Symptoms of bladder cancer | Mayoclinic.org | December 11, 2020
3^ How is it diagnosed? | Healthline.com | December 11, 2020
