What is Bladder Cancer?
Each year more than 50,000 American people are affected by bladder cancer. Tumors of the bladder can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors can be treated or removed through surgery. Unlike malignant tumors, they don't spread to the tissues around them. Malignant growths can damage other parts of the body, such as the uterus, the vagina, or the prostate in men. The average age at diagnosis is 68. Cigarette smoking and exposure to chemicals are the main risk factors for bladder cancer.
Bladder Cancer Causes
The most well-known risk factors for bladder cancer include occupational exposure to aromatic amines, tobacco smoking, leather dust, and use of dyes and paints. Recent studies have revealed that individuals who have taken the diabetes drug Actos are at a higher risk of developing bladder cancer.
Workers in the chemical, metal, textile, dye, and rubber industries can develop bladder cancer as well. Cancer patients who have taken certain drugs, as well as those who have undergone radiation therapy may develop this disease too. Individuals with a family history of bladder cancer are likely to develop this form of cancer at some point in their lives.
Actos Warning
In 2011, the FDA issued a warning about the potential health risks associated with Actos (pioglitazone), a drug used for treating diabetes. Although there is no overall increased risk of cancer, individuals who have taken the drug for long periods of time may develop this deadly disease. The use of this medicine has been suspended in Germany and France.
How Does Bladder Cancer Manifest Itself?
Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer present decreased bladder capacity and pain, gross painless blood in the urine, and the need to pass urine suddenly and often. The appearance of blood in the urine (hematuria) is the main symptom of bladder cancer. Some patients don't present any symptoms at all. If you suffer from bladder cancer, you may also experience back pain, abdominal pain, urine leakage (incontinence), fatigue, weakness, bone pain, and urinary tract infections. Other medical conditions such as kidney cancer and cystitis may cause similar symptoms.
Treating Bladder Cancer
The treatment of bladder cancer depends on the stage of the tumor. Superficial tumors can be removed using am electrocautery device. If the cancer hasn't invaded the wall of your bladder, the doctor will try to remove the tumor and a small portion of the bladder. Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer in late stages usually undergo a radical cystectomy. In women, this surgical procedure involves the removal of the ovaries, uterus, and part of the vagina.
Learning about bladder cancer can help you detect this disease in early stages and find an appropriate treatment. Contact us for a free copy of the book '100 Questions and Answers about Bladder Cancer' or call one of our experienced Patient and Family Advocates if you need more information.
