The urinary tract system comprises kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. Your kidneys produce urine that travels through the ureters to the urinary bladder, where it is stored for some time, then you pass it out through the urethra. The abnormal growth of cells in the urinary bladder is known as bladder cancer.
Most commonly, bladder cancer starts in the urothelial cells that line the urinary bladder. They are also present in the kidneys and ureters. But most commonly begin with the bladder.
Bladder cancer is often diagnosed in the earlier stages. Therefore, it is treatable. People can recover from it, but they need to visit the health care provider repeatedly for a lifetime.
If you have any symptoms of bladder cancer, visit the health care provider soon. To get an expert opinion, you can consult with an oncologist.
What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer?
The signs and symptoms of bladder cancer are:
- Hematuria- Blood in the urine. Your urine may appear bright red or red cola-colored. However, sometimes it may be normal, but red blood cells may be detected in urinalysis that is visible under the microscope only, and you cannot see them with your naked eyes.
- You may also notice pain during urination and increased frequency.
- Back pain
When Should You Visit a Health Care Provider?
You should visit a Health Care provider if you have any symptoms of the urinary tract infection, such as burning in urine pain while urinating or blood in the urine. Not all the time these symptoms may occur because of cancer. Sometimes they can also occur due to some underlying health condition. Therefore it is always a good idea to consult with the health care provider as soon as possible.
What Causes Bladder Cancer?
Cancer occurs when an abnormality occurs in the DNA. Your DNA instructs the cells how to grow and multiply, but when an abnormality occurs in the DNA, the cells proliferate in an abnormal manner, which can lead to cancer. The genetic mutation of the bladder cells leads to bladder cancer.
The abnormal cells can form cancer or tumor, which can invade other body tissues- a condition known as metastasis.
What Are The Risk Factors For Bladder Cancer?
 Factors that can increase the risk of bladder cancer are:
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes can increase the risk of bladder cancer for you. When you smoke, the toxins from it accumulate in your urine that remains for a long time in your urinary bladder. They eventually end up damaging the cells of the urinary bladder, which can, in turn, lead to bladder cancer.
If you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, try to get rid of them as soon as possible. Moreover, if you find it difficult to quit smoking, you can seek professional help.
Age
As you age, the risk of bladder cancer increases for you. However, it can occur at any age. In most cases, bladder cancer is diagnosed at 55.
Being Men
Men are at increased risk of developing bladder cancer as compared to women.
Previous Cancer Treatment
Taking chemotherapy for some other cancer can increase the risk of bladder cancer. Cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapeutic drug, can cause damage to the bladder cells, leading to bladder cancer.
Chronic Bladder Inflammation
Chronic urinary tract infections or parasitic infections, known as schistosomiasis can cause inflammation of the urinary bladder. Therefore, they can increase the risk of bladder cancer.
Exposure to Certain Chemicals
Whatever you intake or your body absorbs, your kidney filters it and excretes it out, which gets out of your body as urine. The urine remains for a long time in your bladder. Therefore, if there are any toxins in urine, they can damage the urinary bladder.
The Bottom Line
Bladder cancer is often detected in earlier stages. Therefore, the person can recover well from it. However, you need to visit the doctor frequently. To get an expert opinion, you can consult with an Oncologist in Islamabad.
