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Cancer Bladder Cancer

Cancer bladder cancer is caused by cells which grow out of control within the bladder lining. It could be invasive or not.

Most frequent among men and people over 55. The most common sign (hematuria) is blood in the urine. Other signs include pain when you pee, or an infrequent stream of urine.

Symptoms

Urine blood is a sign that indicates bladder carcinoma. It might not be apparent to the naked eyes, but it might be observed on a lab test. It could also be that you're having to go to the bathroom more frequently or feel the need to pee even if your bladder isn't full. Your urine may change color, turning orange, pink or Cancer bladder cancer even dark red. Urine blood can come and go, or it could be present all the time.

Bladder cancer usually occurs when abnormal cells multiply and then grow uncontrollably on the bladder's lining. The most prevalent kind is called transitional cell carcinoma that develops within the tissue that forms the bladder's wall. Other kinds of bladder cancers include squamous cell carcinoma which develops in the cells that line your urethra and may spread to other areas of your body. There is also the adenocarcinoma which begins in the mucus-producing cells of your bladder.

There are many things that could trigger these symptoms, so you should see your doctor as soon as you notice you're suffering from these symptoms. Your doctor will ask you about your health history and Cancer bladder cancer family history and perform physical examination. They may order urine tests, a cystoscopy, and the CT scan or an MRI of your bladder. If they suspect that you may have bladder cancer, they could take a tissue sample to take a biopsy.

Diagnosis

In order to detect bladder cancer doctors will use a variety tests and procedures. This includes a physical exam, urine lab tests to look for blood and other substances (urinalysis) and also as a test using cameras (cystoscopy) to look at the inside of your urethra as well as the bladder.

The majority of bladder cancers originate in the cells of the inner membrane, which is known as the epithelium transitional. When these cancers are small and not visible, they can be apparent to the doctor during an examination called a cystoscopy. These cancers are sometimes referred to non-muscle invasive, or carcinoma in situ.

The cancerous cells that start bladder cancer in the muscle cells are more severe. These cancers can grow into the deeper layers within the bladder wall. Cells can also grow in the tubes that transport urine from the bladder (the Ureteters). This is called invasive or muscular carcinoma.

The stage of cancer will help your doctor plan treatment by describing the extent to which it has progressed. The results of diagnostic tests and symptoms are used to determine the stage.

After the surgery the doctor will conduct regular follow-up tests to look for cancer recurrence and check your overall health. These tests may include a test to determine the amount of urine that your kidneys produce (renal ultrasound). PET scans are also available. A special camera is used to capture three-dimensional images of various organs, including the bladder. This test can help detect small tumours that might be missed by an CT or MRI scan.

Treatment

Your doctor will test for cancerous cells in your urine (urine cytology). They will also draw blood to assess the health of your liver and kidneys. They will then perform an CT scan of your abdomen and pelvis. This will generate three-dimensional photos of your body and can reveal any tumors that may be in the bladder. They can also conduct an ultrasound scan of your urinary bladder.

The type of bladder cancer you have and the extent of its spread will determine the treatment options you have. If the cancer has expanded to the muscle layer that is directly below the bladder liner (T1) or is present only in the lining (Ta), your doctor will prescribe chemotherapy drugs to be taken orally or through the tube that is inserted into your bladder. Your doctor will recommend a drug that is right for you. The most popular drugs are mitomycin C (available as a generic drug), gemcitabine, docetaxel (Taxotere) and valrubicin (Valstar).

Stage T2 or greater is the result if the cancer has spread to the muscle wall or lymph nodes surrounding your bladder. Also known as invasive bladder carcinoma. Your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy drugs with or without radiation therapy. They might also prescribe the medicine known as a radiosensitiser to help your tumor react better to radiation.

Prevention

The bladder, also known as the urinary bladder is a huge organ in the lower abdomen. It stores urine from the kidneys until the body passes it out. The urine you drink contains toxins your kidneys filter out of the blood, and if there are too many of these chemicals accumulate in the bladder -- especially over a long period of timethey can trigger cancer. Bladder cancer is a result of bladder cells undergo changes (mutations) in their DNA, causing them to grow rapidly and not die as they should, and forming cancer that could spread into other tissues of the body.

Men are more likely than women to develop bladder cancer, as the risk increases with the age. A family history of the disease can increase your risk. The risk of a person developing the disease can increase if he/she has been treated with cyclophosphamide which is an anti-cancer drug.

You could also increase your risk of developing bladder cancer by exposing yourself to certain industrial chemicals. Arsenic is one of them, and can be found naturally in drinking water, and chemicals used in industries like the production of rubber, leather, textiles and paint products. Those who work in industries that frequently expose them to toxic fumes and chemical such as firefighters, machinists or truck drivers, are at higher risk.