Overview Of Bladder Cancer

Although bladder cancer is rare, it is a medical condition that can be severely detrimental to a patient's health. This cancer usually begins on the inner wall of the bladder, affecting the transitional cells that line the wall of this organ.

In the early stages of the disease, bladder cancer can be managed effectively enough. The biggest issue with bladder cancer though is that it recurs easily, therefore these patients need to be followed-up by their healthcare providers regularly.

Risk factors

The cause of bladder cancer is due to DNA damage of the transitional cells which then grow abnormally and form malignant growths on the lining of the organ, but there are certain risk factors that are associated with the development of this disease. They are as follows:

• Advancing age - bladder cancer usually occurs inpatients over 40 years old.
• Caucasian - whites are more likely to develop this cancer.
• Being male.
• Chronic urinary system infections - conditions such as repeated urinary tract infections and cystitis (inflammation of the bladder lining), such as that caused by the parasite schistosomiasis, can increase the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder.
• Having a family history or previous history of bladder cancer.
• Cancers such as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome) can increase the risk of developing cancer in the urinary system, as well as in the ovaries, uterus and colon.
• Smoking - the inner wall of the bladder is exposed to the harmful chemicals found in tobacco products which accumulate in the urine. These chemicals cause damage to the cells of the bladder lining and therefore increases the risk for developing bladder cancer.
• Exposure to harmful substances - exposure to substances such as arsenic and chemicals used in the production of rubbers, dyes, leather, plant products and textiles can also accumulate in the urine and cause damage to the inner wall of the bladder.
• Cancer treatments - exposure to cancer treatments such as cyclophosphamide and radiation therapy used to treat pelvic cancers can also increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.
• Diabetic medication - patients using the drug pioglitazone, or pioglitazone containing medications, for a period longer than a year have an increased chance of being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

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Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer can be non-specific and they can occur in other conditions as well. It's important then that if these issues are experienced, that patients consult their physicians for further assessment and investigations to be performed.

• Haematuria (blood in the urine) - this can be macroscopic where one can see a change in colour of the urine with the naked eye, or it may not be visible and will need microscopic visualization to confirm the presence of blood.
• Painful urination.
• Frequent urination.
• Pelvic pain.
• Back pain.

Complications

Bladder cancer can recur after it has gone into total remission. A specialist physician will then have to follow-up with these patients and perform an internal investigation of the bladder via a procedure called a cystoscopy every 3 to 6 months. 

This follow-up process is continued for the first few years after the initial bladder cancer was treated, and will then be continued every year thereafter.