Bladder Cancer - Causes, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What Is Bladder Cancer?

Bladder cancer is cancer that develops in the urinary bladder. It is the most common type of cancer that occurs in the cells that line the inner wall of the bladder. The urinary bladder is a hollow muscular organ that stores urine in it. The cells which line the inside of the bladder are called urothelial cells. Urothelial cells can also be found in the ureters (which connects the bladder to the kidney) and kidneys. Urothelial cancer can also occur in the ureter and kidneys.

What Can Cause Bladder Cancer?

Bladder cancer can be caused by changes that occur in the DNA of the cells of the bladder. DNA of the cells will instruct what to do, but these DNA changes or mutations allow the cells to multiply rapidly and form a tumor. This tumor can invade and destroy the normal cells and spread throughout the body through metastasis. Smoking is a significant risk factor that causes bladder cancer.

What Are the Risk Factors For Bladder Cancer?

The known risk factors for bladder cancer include:

• Smoking - Smoking tobacco, cigarettes, and pipes may increase the risk of bladder cancer due to the bladder's exposure to the harmful chemicals that deposits in the urine. During smoking, the body will absorb some chemicals and excretes some in the urine. These toxic chemicals damage the lining of the bladder.

• Increasing Age - The risk of getting bladder cancer increases with age. Though it can occur at any age, it is most commonly diagnosed in aged people.

• Being Male - Males are more likely to develop bladder cancer than females.

• Previous History of Cancer - People who had radiation therapy previously for cancer treatment at the pelvis level are at high risk of developing bladder cancer. And people who had anti-cancer drugs like Cyclophosphamide also have an increased risk of bladder cancer.

• Chronic Bladder Inflammation - Repeated inflammation like cystitis and infection of the bladder or long-term use of the urinary catheter can increase the risk of bladder cancer due to the irritation factors.

• Family History of Bladder Cancer - If you already had bladder cancer or any of your family members have a history of bladder cancer, you are more likely to get it.

• Exposure to certain chemicals - The kidneys play a significant role in filtering all the harmful chemicals from the blood and sending it to the bladder. Due to this, the risk of bladder cancer is increased. The chemicals associated with bladder cancer are arsenic and chemicals used in the manufacture of rubber, dyes, textiles, leather, and paint products.

• Cowden's disease.

• Lynch Disease - People with this syndrome are at high risk to get bladder cancer.

• Workplace exposure to chemicals.

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• Low Fluid Consumption - People who do not consume enough fluids have more risk of getting bladder cancer.

• Bladder defect from birth.

• Eating a high-fat diet.

What Are the Types of Bladder Cancer?

The type of cell affected in the bladder denotes which cell is involved or what cancer it is. Doctors may use this technique to determine which treatment is best to be done. The types of bladder cancer are:

1. Urothelial Cancer - Urothelial cancer is the most common type of bladder cancer and is also called transitional carcinoma. The carcinoma occurs in the cells which line the urinary bladder. These urothelial cells will help the bladder expand when the bladder is full and contract when the bladder is empty.

2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma - They can be caused due to chronic irritation of the bladder, such as an infection or long-term use of a urinary catheter. Squamous cell carcinoma is a rare form of bladder cancer.

3. Adenocarcinoma - It is a rare type of bladder cancer, which occurs in the cells which form the mucus-secreting glands in the bladder.

What Are the Symptoms of Bladder Cancer?

Many bladder cancer patients can have blood in the urine, but no pain while urinating. Other symptoms, like weight loss, fatigue, and bone tenderness, may indicate the disease's advanced stage.

• Blood clots or blood in the urine.

• Burning sensation or pain during urination.

• Frequent urination.

• Urinary urgency.

• Urinary incontinence.

• Lower back pain on one side of the body.

• Pain in the abdominal area.

How to Diagnose Bladder Cancer?

Bladder cancer can be diagnosed with one or more of the following methods.

1. Urine analysis.

2. An internal examination is done using a gloved hand into the vagina or the rectum to feel for any lumps that may indicate cancerous growth.

3. A cystoscopy is done by inserting a narrow tube with a camera at its end inside your urethra to view the bladder.

4. CT scan (computed tomography) to view the bladder.

5. A biopsy is taken by inserting a small tube into the urethra and collecting the bladder's tissue sample to check for cancer.

6. Intravenous pyelogram.

7. X-rays.

8. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

9. Positron emission tomography (PET).

10. Bone scan.

What Is the Treatment for Bladder Cancer?

The treatment for bladder cancer includes:

1.Treatment for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

• Chemotherapy.

• Cystectomy.

• Immunotherapy.

• Targeted therapy.

• Radiation therapy.

2. Treatment for Nonmuscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

• Intravesical drug therapy.

• Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor.

• Cystoscopy.

3. Surgery to Remove the Tumor In Bladder Cancer:

• Neobladder reconstruction.

• Ileal conduit.

• Continent urinary reservoir.

• Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor.

• Cystoscopy.

When to See a Doctor for Bladder Cancer?

When you have discolored urine or blood in the urine or any signs and symptoms that worry you much, make an appointment with the doctor to get yourself checked.

How to Prevent Bladder Cancer?

There is no real way to prevent bladder cancer, but the risk of getting bladder cancer can be reduced:

• Quit smoking: If you do not smoke it is good and do not start it hereafter, but if you smoke, consult with your doctor to quit smoking.

• Take Precaution: If you are working with chemicals, ensure that you follow all the safety instructions to avoid exposure.

• Intake of Variety of Fruits and Vegetables: Theantioxidants present in the colorful fruits and vegetables will help reduce the risk of bladder cancer.

• Drink Plenty of Water.