Bladder Cancer: An overview

Bladder cancer begins when the cells present in the urinary bladder start to grow uncontrollably. Bladder cancer is very common among men. The bladder is a hollow muscular organ present in the lower abdomen that is required to store urine. Bladder cancer beings in the urothelial cells that is present in the lining of the bladder. Urothelial cells are present in the kidneys and ureters. Urothelial cancer can occur in kidneys and ureters but it is more commonly present in the bladder. People suffering from bladder cancer experience pain while urinating and a lot of symptoms start to show. Due to this reason, bladder cancer is diagnosed in the early stages of cancer. Since, the cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, treating it becomes very easy. People with bladder cancer must visit their doctors and go for a follow-up since in many cases cancer occurs again.

Symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Pain while urinating
• Pain the back
• Hematuria (which is blood in the urine)
• Frequent urination
• Burning sensation while urinating

There are risk factors associated with every disease. Bladder cancer can happen to anyone but there are certain factors that increase the tendency of having bladder cancer. Some of the risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Using tobacco
• Old age
• Exposure to chemicals and radiations
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Chronic urinary tract infection
• Family history of bladder cancer

Risk factors:

There are risk factors associated with every disease. Bladder cancer can happen to anyone but there are certain factors that increase the tendency of having bladder cancer. Some of the risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Using tobacco
• Old age
• Exposure to chemicals and radiations
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Chronic urinary tract infection
• Family history of bladder cancer

Diagnosis:

The doctor initially examines the patient by asking him about the symptoms and duration of his pain. After the physical examination, the doctor recommends various diagnostic tests based on his observation while examining the patient. Some of the diagnostic tests that a doctor recommends include :

• Blood Test: The doctors usually ask for a blood test as a preliminary test to know the level of toxicity and imbalance in the body.
• Urine Test: Urine test is another basic test that a doctor asks for. It is done to see any signs of infection or Hematuria which is blood in the urine. Often the color of the urine is the indication that something is not right.  The sample is sent to the laboratory to see any sign of cancer.
• CT Scan: CT scan is another diagnostic test that helps in the identification of small tumors in the bladder with the help of a three-dimensional image of the bladder and organs surrounding it.
• Cystoscopy: It is a common procedure used to diagnose bladder cancer that requires a cystoscope. A cystoscope is a thin tube that has a camera attached to its one end, it is used to see the inside of the bladder in order to see any signs of bladder cancer.

Treatment:

Generally, there are four major treatment options that are used in cases of Bladder Cancer that include:

• Surgery: Surgery is one of the most common methods of treatment used in cases of bladder cancer. In this, the section of the bladder that has tumors in it is removed along with the surrounding tissues. In cases, where the spread of the cancer is in its advanced stages, in those cases, the surgeon removes the entire bladder in the worst-case scenario.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the basic treatment that is used to treat cancer. In this, a group of drugs is used in combination in order to kill the cancerous cells. This method is very effective due to which it is widely used by the best cancer hospitals in Udaipur.
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams of radiation that helps in killing cancerous cells by damaging the DNA of the cancer cells.

Bhagwan Mahaveer cancer hospital and research center have one of the best hospitals in Jaipur which is famous for its bladder and stomach cancer treatment in Jaipur. We have a team of specialized bladder cancer doctors in Jaipur who are always available to provide the best healthcare possible.  For any cancer-related query contact us for expert assistance.