The bladder is a hollow organ and its job is to store urine until it can be eliminated. The organ itself is situated in the lower portion of the abdominal cavity, which is usually where individuals feel discomfort when they must urinate. According to most bladder cancer research experts, this condition is the sixth most common variation of cancer in the Western world. Thankfully, if it is caught early, treatments are available that may save the lives of those afflicted with this disease.
Symptoms include pain upon urination, blood in the urine, low back pain, and frequency. However, such symptoms do not always indicate that a tumor or other malignancies are present. This is because other disorders such as cysts or infections can also cause these symptoms. This is why prompt evaluation by a medical professional is required when a person notices symptoms of this kind.
Risk factors for developing this condition include smoking tobacco products and exposure to specific chemicals. Bladder cancer is often the result of exposure to the sulfur found in cigarettes. This substance causes irritation in the lining of this organ, which in turn makes it more susceptible to the multiplication of free radicals.
For reasons that researchers have not yet determined, men are at a greater risk for this condition than women. In a similar way, Caucasians are at a higher risk for malignancies of the bladder that are Asians or Africans. This is also a phenomenon for which there is no known reason. Additionally, the risk of developing a malignancy of any type increases as one ages. This is likely because as people grow older, their immune systems naturally weaken. It may also be due to hereditary factors that do not manifest until one has reached a significant age.
Therapy for this kind of cancer typically includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In certain cases, biologic treatment is used also. The latter is a technique developed to encourage a person's own immune system to combat any improper cell division taking place in his or her body. Even though additional studies are needed with regard to the effectiveness of this technique, healthcare researchers are optimistic after reviewing several preliminary studies on this topic.
The type of treatment recommended will depend on the stage of the cancer. If it is caught before it has invaded other organs, which is referred to as stage I, it is typically cured through surgery. Stage II malignancies refer to those that have invaded nearby organs. In this case, radiation is commonly given to the patient, or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, depending on the area to which the cells have metastasized. Stage III and stage IV tumors are usually treated with chemotherapy, or combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
For tumors that are superficial, and subsequently low risk, such as stage I malignancies, the risk of relapse is about fifteen percent. However, one may find it interesting to know that when they do recur, such tumors are usually no more aggressive than they were the first time. This means if the malignancy was discovered early and cured at that time, the same outcome can be expected with subsequent tumors.
In order to find new and improved ways of preventing and treating this disease, more bladder cancer research is currently underway. The condition is deadly, although it is not common. For this reason, those experiencing any of the symptoms outlined above should seek medical evaluation at once.
Symptoms include pain upon urination, blood in the urine, low back pain, and frequency. However, such symptoms do not always indicate that a tumor or other malignancies are present. This is because other disorders such as cysts or infections can also cause these symptoms. This is why prompt evaluation by a medical professional is required when a person notices symptoms of this kind.
Risk factors for developing this condition include smoking tobacco products and exposure to specific chemicals. Bladder cancer is often the result of exposure to the sulfur found in cigarettes. This substance causes irritation in the lining of this organ, which in turn makes it more susceptible to the multiplication of free radicals.
For reasons that researchers have not yet determined, men are at a greater risk for this condition than women. In a similar way, Caucasians are at a higher risk for malignancies of the bladder that are Asians or Africans. This is also a phenomenon for which there is no known reason. Additionally, the risk of developing a malignancy of any type increases as one ages. This is likely because as people grow older, their immune systems naturally weaken. It may also be due to hereditary factors that do not manifest until one has reached a significant age.
Therapy for this kind of cancer typically includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In certain cases, biologic treatment is used also. The latter is a technique developed to encourage a person's own immune system to combat any improper cell division taking place in his or her body. Even though additional studies are needed with regard to the effectiveness of this technique, healthcare researchers are optimistic after reviewing several preliminary studies on this topic.
The type of treatment recommended will depend on the stage of the cancer. If it is caught before it has invaded other organs, which is referred to as stage I, it is typically cured through surgery. Stage II malignancies refer to those that have invaded nearby organs. In this case, radiation is commonly given to the patient, or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, depending on the area to which the cells have metastasized. Stage III and stage IV tumors are usually treated with chemotherapy, or combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
For tumors that are superficial, and subsequently low risk, such as stage I malignancies, the risk of relapse is about fifteen percent. However, one may find it interesting to know that when they do recur, such tumors are usually no more aggressive than they were the first time. This means if the malignancy was discovered early and cured at that time, the same outcome can be expected with subsequent tumors.
In order to find new and improved ways of preventing and treating this disease, more bladder cancer research is currently underway. The condition is deadly, although it is not common. For this reason, those experiencing any of the symptoms outlined above should seek medical evaluation at once.
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