A brief overview of bladder cancer symptoms
Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer may include:
- Hematuria, or blood in the urine, can make urine look bright red or cola-colored. Sometimes, the urine appears normal, and blood is only found through lab tests.
- Frequent urination.
- UTI-like symptoms (painful urination with a burning sensation and difficulty urinating)
- Back pain
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, consult your doctor.
What exactly is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is a widespread form of cancer that originates in the cells of the bladder. The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ located in the lower abdomen that stores urine.
Bladder cancer typically begins in the urothelial cells lining the inside of the bladder. These cells are also present in the kidneys and the ureters, which connect the kidneys to the bladder. Although urothelial cancer can develop in the kidneys and ureters, it is much more common in the bladder.
Most bladder cancers are detected early, making them highly treatable. Still, early-stage cases can recur after successful treatment. Therefore, individuals with bladder cancer typically require follow-up tests over many years to monitor for recurrence.
What causes bladder symptoms?
Doctors and researchers are still unsure of the exact reasons why specific bladder cells mutate into cancer cells. They have identified numerous causes that could increase your likelihood of developing bladder cancer, such as:
- Cigarette smoke: Smoking cigarettes more than doubles your risk of developing bladder cancer. Smoking pipes and cigars, along with exposure to secondhand smoke, may also increase this risk.
- Radiation therapy: for cancer treatment could increase your risk of developing bladder cancer.
- Chemotherapy: A chemotherapeutic drug, cyclophosphamide, increases your risk.
- Exposure to specific chemicals: Research shows that people working with certain chemicals found in dyes, rubber, leather, paint, some textiles, and hairdressing products may face a higher risk.
- Frequent long-standing and chronic bladder infections: bladder stones, or other urinary tract infections can increase the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma.
- Long-term bladder catheter users: may face an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma due to chronic irritation and infection.
What are the risk factors associated with bladder cancer?
Factors that may increase the risk of bladder cancer include:
- Older age: As age increases, so does the risk of bladder cancer. While it can occur at any age, the majority of diagnoses are among those over 55.
- Gender: Men are more prone to developing bladder cancer compared to women.
- Family history: Bladder cancer is not typically hereditary in nature. However, a family history of Lynch syndrome, or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), can heighten the risk of cancers in the urinary system, colon, uterus, ovaries, and other organs.
What are the methods to diagnose bladder cancer?
Tests and procedures for diagnosing bladder cancer may include:
- A cystoscopy: involves using a scope to look inside your bladder.
- Biopsy: Collecting a tissue sample for testing.
- Urine cytology: involves analyzing a urine sample under a microscope to identify cancer cells.
- Imaging tests: such as computed tomography (CT), urogram, or retrograde pyelogram, allow your doctor to examine the structures of your urinary tract.
What are the treatment options for bladder cancer?
Treatment options for bladder cancer vary based on several factors, such as the cancer type, tumor grade, and stage. These are considered along with your overall health and personal treatment preferences.
Treatment options for bladder cancer may include:
- Surgery: was performed to remove the cancer cells.
- Intravesical chemotherapy: which involves delivering chemotherapy directly into the bladder, is used to treat cancers confined to the bladder lining that are at high risk of recurrence or progressing to a more advanced stage.
- Systemic chemotherapy: is administered to treat the whole body, improving the chances of cure for patients undergoing bladder removal surgery or as the primary treatment when surgery is not feasible.
- Radiation therapy: is often the primary treatment used to destroy cancer cells when surgery is not an option or preferred.
- Immunotherapy: seeks to stimulate the body’s immune response to combat cancer cells, whether located in the bladder or other parts of the body.
- Targeted therapy: for advanced cancer after other treatments have failed.
Your doctor and care team might recommend a combination of treatment options.
What steps can I take to prevent bladder cancer?
While you may not be able to prevent bladder cancer entirely, understanding the factors that increase your risk can be helpful. Potential risk factors for bladder cancer include:
- Smoking cigarettes: more than doubles the risk of developing bladder cancer. Additionally, smoking pipes and cigars or being exposed to secondhand smoke also increases this risk.
- Cancer treatments: specifically with cyclophosphamide, have been linked to an increased incidence of developing bladder cancer. Additionally, chemotherapy may be done along with radiotherapy, which also increases the risk of bladder cancer.
- Exposure to specific chemicals: Individuals handling aromatic amines (found in dyes) are at increased risk. Prolonged contact with rubber, leather, certain textiles, paint, and hairdressing products, mainly through occupational exposure, also seems to increase the risk.
- Individuals who experience frequent bladder infections: bladder stones, or other urinary tract issues might face an increased risk of bladder cancer.
- Previous bladder cancer: Individuals with a history of bladder cancer are at increased risk of developing new or recurring tumors.
Living with bladder cancer
About half of bladder cancer cases are diagnosed early when tumors are confined to the inner bladder wall, making treatment easier. However, recurrence is common, so regular follow-up checkups are vital after treatment. Staying alert with follow-up care is a crucial part of self-care. Doctors also recommend a heart-healthy diet featuring skinless poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, nuts, legumes, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Consuming high-fiber foods can also be beneficial, especially since treatment may cause digestive issues. Gentle exercise can help reduce stress, and connecting with others who understand your experience can provide valuable support, considering the disease’s tendency to recur. If diagnosed early, surgery to remove the tumors may lead to being cancer-free. For concerns about recurrence, consult your doctor. They can evaluate your risk factors, monitor for symptoms, and guide you through additional treatments if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms indicating bladder cancer?
The most common warning sign is blood in your urine. You should consult a doctor whenever you notice blood in your urine.
Is bladder cancer a potentially fatal disease?
If bladder cancer is left untreated, it can metastasize to other areas, impacting survival rates. Prompt detection and treatment are essential for better outcomes, as they boost the likelihood of more prolonged survival. The National Cancer Institute states that 96% of patients with early-stage cancer survive five years after diagnosis. Overall, 77% of bladder cancer patients live at least five years following their diagnosis.
What is the frequency of bladder cancer occurrence?
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men, with men being four times more likely to develop it than women. Women often present with more advanced stages at diagnosis because they tend to overlook symptoms. The research indicates that women are less likely to notice hematuria, the main symptom, since they often associate blood in the urine with common gynecological issues. It primarily affects people aged 55 and older, with the average age at diagnosis being 73. Additionally, White men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer as Black men, but Black men have worse outcomes.
What impact does bladder cancer have on my body?
Your bladder is a triangular organ located between your hip bones, above your urethra, and below your kidneys. Urine from your kidneys flows into the bladder, which is lined with urothelium, a tissue made of cells that stretch to hold urine when the bladder fills and collapse when it empties. Typically, the bladder can contain about two cups of urine. Bladder cancer occurs when specific cells in the lining of the bladder mutate, become abnormal, and multiply to form tumors. If not treated, the cancer can penetrate the bladder walls and spread to nearby lymph nodes, and possibly to other areas like your bones, lungs, or liver.
How will the treatment impact my quality of life?
Quality of life is a crucial consideration when choosing the optimal treatment. For non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, intravesical therapy is commonly used, but it can cause side effects like burning during urination, increased frequency, urgency, and hematuria. These treatments may also require catheterizations and can be uncomfortable. Patients with muscle-invasive cancer need to consider additional quality of life impacts when deciding between a cystectomy, which involves removing the entire bladder, and radiation therapy.
