Understanding Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a dangerous disease caused inside the bladder, an important organ of the urinary system, where urine is stored before release in the body. While bladder cancer is the leading type of cancer across the globe, early detection is the major key to winning the battle against this disease, as many will often go undiagnosed until it has advanced stages. One can make educational choices regarding health by knowing the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Bladder cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control on the inside surface of the bladder. These cells develop into tumors, which can spread throughout the body if left untreated. Bladder cancers primarily start in the transitional epithelium, the lining of the bladder. This type of bladder cancer is known as urothelial carcinoma.
Bladder cancer affects everyone, but older adults show a higher incidence of this disease among men rather than women, and the condition has some risk factors that place some individuals at higher risk of developing bladder cancer.

Risk Factors of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a delicate disease that comes with a multifactorial load of possible risk factors. So some of the most common risk factors are:

• Smoking: The most important and common risk factor associated with bladder cancer is smoking. Carcinogens present in tobacco smoke may injure the bladder lining of a person, causing it to develop cancer. At the same time, someone who smokes is at least three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than a non-smoker.
• Age: Generally, the older the person, the more probable bladder cancer becomes, with most patients over the age of 55. Aging increases risk, with the average age of diagnosis being around 70 years.
• Gender: Bladder cancer is more prevalent in males than in females. Some believe that gender differences are due to smoking patterns and varying exposure to carcinogenic agents.
• Occupational Exposure: Industry workers such as chemical, dye, rubber, and leather workers may be exposed to toxic substances like aromatic amines that increase the risk of bladder cancer.
• Chronic Bladder Infections or Inflammation: Anyone with a history of chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) with stones in the bladder or inflammatory conditions in the bladder may be at increased risk for developing bladder cancer.
• Family History: Some forms of bladder cancer may show familial predisposition and, therefore, a possible genetic background. Hence, individuals with a family history of bladder cancer will have a higher risk of developing the disease.
• Previous Cancer Treatments: The risk of developing bladder cancer is increased in individuals who have been treated for other forms of cancer with certain chemotherapeutic agents or with radiation therapy.
• Arsenic Exposure: Long-standing exposure to arsenic, i.e., a toxic agent that may contaminate drinking water, has some evidence linking it with increased risks of bladder cancer.

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

Symptoms of bladder cancer may be very similar to those of the other conditions, making diagnosis a very complicated event. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of bladder cancer are:

• Hematuria (Blood in Urine): Blood in urine seems to be the strongest symptom of bladder cancer. The blood found inside could make one's urine appear pink, red, or cola-colored. There may not always be a visible presence of blood. Thus, it is essential to undergo tests to check for microscopic hematuria when there is a certain suspicion of bladder cancer.
• Painful Urination: Bladder cancer can come with pain or a burning sensation when an individual is urinating. This can also be confused with a urinary tract infection and thus needs thorough examination.
• Frequent Urination: Increased voiding needing urination, particularly in the night (nocturia). This can occur when the bladder isn't even full.
• Severe Urge to Urinate: Having an urge to urinate but feeling as though the bladder is incomplete can also be a symptom of bladder cancer.
• Painful Lower Abdomen: Pain felt in the lower abdomen or pelvis, particularly when urinating, could also mean bladder cancer.
  Such symptoms, however, might not necessarily be due to cancer since they might also be seen in other conditions, such as bladder infections or kidney stones. However, everyone presenting these symptoms must consult the best uro oncologist in Noida for proper diagnosis and care.

Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer

If bladder cancer is suspected, early diagnosis of urological cancer through several diagnostic procedures is applied to establish the presence of cancer and to determine its clinical staging and extent, as follows:

• Urinalysis: For the presence of blood, abnormalities in cells, or cancerous proteins, one tests a sample of urine.
• Cystoscopy: A thin tube with a camera is passed through the urethra to examine the inside of the bladder. If a suspicious area is found during this procedure, a biopsy may be carried out. This is the most crucial and necessary investigation.
• Imaging Tests: Imaging tests such as CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound could be used to visualize the bladder and adjacent organs for signs or absence of malignant spread.
• Biopsy: Suspicion of abnormal growth or abnormality evinces the collection of tissue through biopsy and further examination under a microscope. This test is considered the most genuine for the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Treatment Options for Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer treatment varies depending on the cancer's type, stage, and location. Common treatments include:

• Surgery: Surgery is frequently used in the treatment of bladder cancer, and there are several surgical approaches depending on the disease stage. In a few instances, only the tumor is removed through a procedure called transurethral resection (TURBT). For advanced cases, partial or total removal of the bladder (cystectomy) may be performed.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses strong medications to kill cancer cells or to keep them from growing. It may be given before surgery to shrink tumors afterwards and to treat cancer that has spread. In selected cases, chemotherapy is put directly into the bladder (intravesical therapy).
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy aids the body to combat cancer. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy remains the most widely-used form of immunotherapy in bladder cancer. A weakened version of this bacterium is instilled into the bladder to stimulate an immune response.
• Radiation Therapy: This is a treatment method that uses high-energy waves to destroy tumors. It can be provided when surgery is not an option or together with other therapies to shrink tumors.
• Targeted Therapy: These therapies act on specific molecular targets of cancer cells, inhibiting their growth. This area is still in research, but it holds promise for treating advanced bladder cancer.
• Clinical Trials: In trials, patients may have access to certain drugs still in development that may not yet be available for widespread use.
• Robotic Radical Cystectomy: Dr. Vipin Tyagi is among the few individuals who have mastered robotic surgery.

Conclusion

Bladder cancer is a very serious and potentially fatal disease that is difficult to diagnose early. Knowing the risk factors and symptoms and seeking timely medical attention may help reduce the risk an individual faces and improve his or her chances of successful treatment. Don't wait to consult and book an appointment today with Dr. Vipin Tyagi for timely evaluation if you or someone you know has symptoms such as blood in the urine or painful urination. Early detection and treatment are the key factors in managing bladder cancer and timely results.