Bladder Cancer Symptoms in Women

To introduce it, as the name suggests, the condition is a cancer that occurs in the bladder - a sac-like organ that is used to store urine. Usually, as what has been realized by most doctors, the cancer begins in the cells that are assigned the job to line the inside of the bladder. Most cases of this condition is found in older adults, although it may strike at any age. The good thing with this disease is that it gets detected at an early stage, when there are good chances of treating it. But then, there have been cases wherein cancers treated at an early stage, recur after a few years.

Bladder Cancer - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of bladder cancer that occur in women are no different than those which affect men. An early symptom which may indicate the development of the disease includes the presence of blood in the urine. This condition is known as hematuria, which may cause the blood to look cola colored or somewhat reddish. Accompanying this, there might be frequent spells of urination, and pain during the same. One complication that may surface, besides the occurrence of all such symptoms, is urinary tract infection. The cancer may also cause abdominal pain and backache.

Causes
It has not been clear as to what causes the cancer. Doctors, however, link the causal factor to smoking tobacco products, parasitic infection, exposure to radiation, and certain chemicals. Normally, cells in the body are supposed to grow, become mature, divide and die in an orderly fashion. However, in this case, there is a spurt in their growth, which goes out of control. Moreover, they do not die. In this way, the cells become cancer cells and form a tumor.

Treatment
The treatment is driven by a number of factors like, the stage, the overall health of the person, and the type of the bladder cancer. Also, the preferences of the individual influences the nature of the treatment. Now, if the doctor finds that the cancer is mild and has not spread to a large area of the bladder, then the surgeon may choose to get rid of the tumor. In some cases, there might be the need to remove the tumor and a small section of the bladder.

In some cases, the cancer may spread to the deeper layers of the bladder. Here, the entire bladder may be required to be removed, as the cancer runs the risk of spreading to other parts of the body and give rise to greater complications. Now once the bladder has been removed, surgeons take up procedures to create an alternative route to expel the urine. This also depends upon the type of cancer, and the health of the person. Other methods to deal with the condition include immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

As it is with most types of cancers, there is no full-proof way to prevent bladder cancer. However, risks can be reduced by shunning smoking, and following safety while working with chemicals. And more important is to choose fruits and vegetables in the diet, and to drink plenty of water throughout the day.