Bladder Cancer Symptoms

Bladder is a balloon shaped hollow organ located in the pelvic region of the body, which stores urine generated by the kidneys, until it is expelled from the body. The bladder wall consists of two types of cells, transitional cells and squamous cells. Cancer or malignant tumors usually develops in the cells that line the wall of the bladder, i.e. in the transitional cells. This type of bladder cancer is known as transitional cell carcinoma. If cancer develops in the squamous cells, it is called squamous cell carcinoma. Another type is adenocarcinoma that begins in the cells that form the mucus secreting glands in the bladder. Out of these, transitional cell carcinoma is the most prevalent form. Bladder cancer is also classified as superficial and invasive cancer. When the cancer affects only the cells in the lining of the bladder, it is known as superficial cancer, while the cancer that spread to the muscle layer of the bladder wall is termed as invasive cancer. Bladder cancer can produce several symptoms.

Causes and Risk Factors of Bladder Cancer

The exact causes are not known with certainty, though a number of factors have been found to be associated with this condition. The risk for developing cancer of the bladder increases with age and this cancer has been found to be more prevalent among men than women. Again, this cancer is more common among white men than African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics. Apart from these, use of tobacco or smoking is one of the most important risk factors for this cancer. Some other risk factors for this condition are, exposure to certain chemicals like, arsenic, as well as chemicals used in the manufacturing of rubber, dyes, leather, paints and textiles, a family history , personal history, parasitic infection and previous cancer treatment with drugs like, cyclophosphamide.

Bladder Cancer Signs

In case of women, the cancer can spread to nearby organs like, uterus and vagina, which can present some additional symptoms. On the other hand, in case of men the cancer can spread to the prostate gland. The cancer can also invade the wall of the abdomen in both men and women. The most commonly observed symptoms are:

• Blood in urine or hematuria
• Frequent urges to urinate (due to the inflammation and irritation caused by the growth of the cancerous cells)
• Painful urination or a burning sensation while passing urine
• Pain in the abdomen and in the lower back area (could be a sign of cancer spreading to the kidneys)

The above mentioned symptoms can however, be associated with conditions other than bladder cancer. Conditions like, urinary tract infections, bladder infection, bladder and kidney stones can produce symptoms, which can be very similar to the symptoms of this cancer. If the cancer is in the advanced stage, then one can observe a few more symptoms in addition to those mentioned above. These symptoms include, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, fever, anemia and pain in the rectal, anal and pelvic area or bone pain.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Bladder Cancer

The diagnosis involves a thorough study of the patient's medical history and symptoms, followed by physical examination, urine test, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, cystoscopy and if required, biopsy. Like other types of cancer, it can be treated with the help of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and biological therapy. There are mainly three types of surgery, which are performed for the treatment and these procedures are known as cystectomy, transurethral resection and urinary diversion. Chemotherapy involves administration of drugs to kill the cancerous cells, while radiation therapy uses high energy beams for this purpose. Biological therapy, also known as immunotherapy on the other hand, works by stimulating and directing the immune system to fight against the cancerous cell, and arrest their growth.

Bladder cancer is usually identified in the early stage, which makes it possible to treat the condition effectively. However, the main problem is that it can recur, for which it is important to undergo follow-up testing or screening even after successful treatment of the condition. To ensure prompt treatment, it is important to consult a physician at the earliest on observing the symptoms of the condition. Lastly, risk for bladder cancer can be reduced by controlling the risk factors for this condition, which means that one needs to avoid smoking, reduce the exposure to chemicals, drink plenty of water throughout the day and follow a healthy and balanced diet.