Bladder cancer signs, symptoms and treatments

Cancer is a frightening, but well-known disease today. Bladder cancer affects the tissues of the bladder, which is the organ in the body responsible for holding liquid waste. If you’re looking for bladder cancer signs, symptoms and treatments, you have come to the right place. Here, we’re going to look at everything you need to know about a condition that affects around 17,000 women a year, and 45,000 men.

There are three forms that bladder cancer can come in. The first is transitional carcinoma, which is also the most common. This is a cancer that starts in the transitional body cells which layer the inside section in the bladder. These cells can transform and change without being damaged when the cells are stretched. The second form is squamous cell cancer, which is a very rare version of the bladder cancer disease. It happens when the flat cells in the bladder are affected by cancer after a long-term infection or irritation.

Finally, adenocarcinoma is one of the rarest forms of bladder cancer, which begins when the bladder’s glandular cells begin to mutate following long-term inflammation and irritation. The glandular cells are the cells that make up the various mucus-secreting glands in any human being.

The Symptoms in Bladder Cancer Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments:

When you’re searching for bladder cancer signs, symptoms and treatments, there’s a good chance that you’ll find yourself looking for ways to potentially predict the progression of your disease. Blood in the urine is an incredibly common sign of bladder cancer, and this is known as hematuria. Importantly, it’s worth knowing that blood in the urine can also be a sign of various other conditions, so it’s not necessarily going to be cancer if you do notice pink, orange, or darker red coloring in your urine.

Sometimes, when blood in the urine is present, you won’t even notice it when you go to the bathroom, but a medical test will be able to find it with a urine test. When it comes to bladder cancer signs, symptoms, and treatments, it’s worth noting that blood can be present one day and absent the next. In some cases, your urine can be clear for months or weeks at a time, but it will eventually reappear if you do have bladder cancer.

Usually, bladder cancer can cause very little pain, but a great deal of bleeding. However, as mentioned above, there is a possibility that blood can be caused by non-cancerous or benign tumors, infections, kidney stones, and other kidney diseases. The key to success is making sure you get the symptoms checked out as early as possible by a doctor.

In some cases, bladder cancers can grow to such a degree that they begin to cause other symptoms such as back pain in one side of the body, weight loss and a lack of appetite, or feelings of weakness or tiredness. You might also notice swelling in your feet, or pain throughout your bones. However, again, these symptoms are likely to be caused by something that is not bladder cancer.

Testing for Bladder Cancer:

If you’re interested in learning about the bladder cancer signs, symptoms and treatments, then you should know how to get tested for bladder cancer with the help of your doctor. Usually, this condition is found because of the symptoms or signs, or it may be found because of tests that are conducted for another reason.

When you approach your doctor with symptoms, he or she will want to know as much as possible about your medical history to understand where your symptoms might come from. Your doctor might also ask about various risk factors, including your family history to get a better understanding of the condition you’re dealing with.

Remember, a physical exam can provide plenty of information about the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer, as well as various other health problems. Your doctor might also do other examinations to help him or her understand exactly what’s going on. For instance, you might be referred for lab tests, or asked to give a urine sample.

The Treatment in Bladder Cancer Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments:

Perhaps the most important thing to know when looking for bladder cancer signs, symptoms and treatments, is how this condition can be managed. Your doctor will typically work with you to determine what kind of treatment is best based on your cancer stage. For instance, the treatment for stage one or zero bladder cancer might include surgery to remove the cancerous tumor, along with immune therapy, and medication.

Treatment for stage two and stage three bladder cancer can sometimes involve removing part of the bladder. However, there are options to remove the whole bladder, but you will also need surgery that is designed to create a new way for you to get rid of urine. Additionally, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy can all be done to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery takes place, and treat the cancer when surgery might not be possible.

Stage four bladder cancer is the most problematic, as some people will simply not be able to recover from this stage of cancer. You can also get chemotherapy to remove your symptoms and improve your quality of life, and there’s also options for radical removal of the surrounding lymph nodes, followed by surgeries that create new ways for your urine to leave the body. Radiation and chemotherapy might also be recommended in an effort to extend your life for as long as possible.

The outlook for bladder cancer is complicated. When it comes to understanding bladder cancer signs, symptoms and treatments, you need to know that your chances of recovery will depend on various things, including the stage of your cancer. Usually, the survival rate for people with type 0 or type 1 cancer can be between 98 and 88%. However, the five-year survival rate for people with stage 2 cancer drops to 63%. Additionally, the five-year survival rate for someone who has stage 3 bladder cancer is around 63%, while for stage four, the amount drops to 15%, making full recovery very unlikely.

There are treatment options out there for all stages of bladder cancer, and it’s important to remember that survival rates don’t necessarily predict your future, so it’s important to be cautious. Speak to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding treatment.

Source: Mayoclinic.com