ENWhat is Bladder Cancer? What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the urological system after prostate cancer, is 4 times more common in men than in women.
This type of cancer, which is more common in people over the age of 40, can also be seen at much lower ages in countries where smoking is common.
What Does Bladder Mean?
The bladder, also known as the urinary bladder or urinary bladder, is located in the lower part of the abdomen and is a spherical organ in which urine accumulates.
The bladder wall consists of intertwined and irregular muscle fibers with an elastic structure.
The urinary bladder, which resembles a small balloon, can expand as urine accumulates, thanks to the muscle fibers it contains.
The kidneys use small channels called ureters to remove toxins from the body after cleaning them from the blood.
Urine comes to the bladder through small channels and is stored there until it is excreted out of the body. Once its capacity is full, the bladder expels urine from the body through the urethra.
What is Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs as a result of uncontrolled growth of bladder cells.
The bladder is an organ where urine is stored and discharged. Bladder cancer often begins in the inner layer of the bladder wall and then spreads to other layers of the bladder and surrounding tissues.
Bladder cancer symptoms include;
- Frequent desire to urinate,
- Burning or stinging when urinating,
- Bloody urine,
- Symptoms such as frequent infections in the urine are found.
However, these symptoms may also be associated with other health problems. Therefore, in case of suspicion of bladder cancer, it is necessary to consult a doctor first.
The kidneys, located at the back of the abdominal region of the body, are located symmetrically on the right and left in the upper part of the waist.
A healthy person has 2 kidneys. The right kidney is adjacent to the liver and duodenum in front, the adrenal glands above, and the large intestine below.
The left kidney is adjacent to the stomach and small intestine in front, and the adrenal glands, spleen and pancreas on top. The kidneys filter the urine through small channels and send it to the bladder.
What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer symptoms can occur in many different situations. Known symptoms of bladder cancer are:
- Feeling of difficulty during urination.
- A sudden increase or decrease in the frequency of urination.
- Intermittent stream of urine while urinating.
- Painful urination and pain in the lower abdomen.
- Pain in the pelvic area.
- Feeling of not being able to relax while urinating.
- Having a persistent sensation while urinating.
- Fire,
- Weakness,
- Symptoms such as weight loss are symptoms that may occur in the advanced stages of cancer.
The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. This bleeding, called hematuria, may be a sign of bladder injury.
The symptom of bleeding in the urine, which is not accompanied by pain, is not continuous and may continue intermittently.
In addition to this symptom, symptoms such as difficulty urinating, blood clots in the urine, and burning sensation while urinating may also be the first signs of bladder cancer.
All these symptoms are among the most common symptoms of bladder cancer. But sometimes these symptoms may be caused by different health problems.
Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor for correct diagnosis and treatment.
What are the Stages of Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer stages are a classification system used to determine the extent of cancer spread and treatment options.
Staging determines how far the cancer has progressed and how far it has spread to surrounding tissues.
The stages of bladder cancer are:
Stage 0: Cancer cells are found only on the bladder surface and are limited to the inner layer of the bladder. At this stage, the cancer has not yet spread into the bladder wall.
Stage 1: Cancer has spread deeper than the inner layer of the bladder wall, but only into the bladder muscle layer. It has not spread to neighboring lymph nodes or other organs.
Stage 2: Cancer has spread to or beyond the bladder muscle layer. But it has not spread to neighboring lymph nodes or other organs.
Stage 3: Cancer has spread beyond the bladder wall to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes. But the cancer is still confined to nearby organs such as the pelvic walls, prostate, uterus or vagina.
Stage 4: In this stage, the cancer has spread outside the bladder and has metastasized to distant organs or lymph nodes.
The cancer cell is at this stage; It spreads to the bones, lungs, liver or other distant organs.
Staging in cancer plays an important role in determining treatment options by assessing the extent of spread of the disease.
Treatment of existing cancer; It varies depending on the stage and type of cancer, the patients general health condition and other factors.
Bladder Cancer Stage 1 Symptoms
In stage 1 of bladder cancer, cancer cells are limited to the inner layer of the bladder wall. Therefore, symptoms may sometimes not be obvious. In addition to all these, these symptoms may be caused by other bladder problems.
Common symptoms of bladder cancer Stage 1 are as follows:
- Burning or stinging when urinating
- Bloody urine
- Frequent urination
- Frequent infections in the urine
- Difficulty urinating
These symptoms are symptoms that can be seen in the first stage of bladder cancer. However, it is not correct to associate these symptoms only with bladder cancer.
These symptoms may occur due to different health problems. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor to find out the cause of the symptoms.
What is Good for Bladder Cancer?
There is no specific treatment for bladder cancer. But at this stage, a healthy lifestyle and some nutritional habits help prevent and treat cancer.
The following answers can be given to the question of what is good for bladder cancer:
Regular Exercise
Regular exercise protects general health and reduces the risk of cancer.
Balanced diet
A diet rich in nutrients such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats is one method that can protect the body against cancer.
Avoiding Smoking and Alcohol Consumption
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption increase the risk of bladder cancer. Therefore, it is important not to smoke and limit alcohol consumption.
Water Consumption
Drinking adequate amounts of water reduces the risk of bladder cancer. It cleans the urinary tract and helps remove harmful substances from the body.
Doctor Checks
Regular doctor check-ups and cancer screenings increase the chances of early diagnosis and treatment.
Stress Management
Learning and practicing appropriate techniques for coping with stress improves ones overall health and reduces the risk of cancer.
Treatment when bladder cancer is diagnosed; It includes methods such as surgical intervention, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
However, in addition to these treatments, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle and pay attention to eating habits.
What is a Bladder Tumor?
Bladder tumor, which develops especially due to the controlled proliferation of cells on the inner surface of the bladder, causes a mass to form in the urinary bladder. There are three types of bladder cancer;
- Uropithelial carcinoma: It is a type of cancer seen in the cells lining the bladder wall.
- Squamous epithelial cell carcinoma: It is a type of cancer that occurs in the squamous epithelial cells of the bladder that are exposed to long-term infection or irritation.
- Adenocarcinoma: It is a type of cancer seen in the secretory cells of the bladder. It occurs as a result of abnormal proliferation of the cells responsible for mucus in the bladder wall.
What are the Causes of Bladder Cancer?
The two most important causes of bladder cancer are smoking and exposure to chemicals.
The chemicals in cigarettes enter the bloodstream, are filtered through the kidneys, and take their place in the urine accumulated in the bladder.
These substances disrupt the structure of the cells here and increase the risk of cancer. In addition, bladder infections and chemotherapy drugs may also increase the risk of bladder cancer.
How is Bladder Cancer Diagnosed?
When urinary bleeding occurs, bladder cancer is suspected and the cause of the bleeding is primarily determined by imaging methods.
The most successful method in determining the diagnosis of bladder cancer is cystoscopy.
It is also possible to take samples from suspicious tissue in the cystoscopy method, in which the inside of the bladder is visualized with a thin lighted instrument used in the urinary tract.
At the same time, any tumor structures in the bladder can be cleaned during this procedure.
How Is Bladder Cancer Treated?
Bladder cancer treatment is performed according to the stage of the disease, size and type of tumor.
Low-grade cancer cells formed on the surface of the bladder wall can be removed by TUR (tumor removal with a closed method) treatment combined with cystoscopy.
It is important to follow this process at regular intervals thereafter. Medication can also be given to high-grade tumor tissues during the TUR procedure.
In the treatment of cancer that progresses to the muscle tissue but does not spread to other tissues, bladder removal is required.
With this procedure, called radical cystectomy, the bladder, surrounding lymph nodes and prostate are removed.
A new bladder is made using the small intestines to store urine. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are performed for some types of bladder cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bladder Cancer
What are the Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer risk factors include; Smoking, aging, male gender, chemical exposure, family history of bladder cancer, chronic urinary tract infections, certain medications, and radiation therapy are highly prominent.
How is Bladder Cancer Surgery Done?
Bladder cancer surgery is performed by methods such as transurethral resection (TUR), partial cystectomy, and radical cystectomy. The type of surgery is determined by the stage of the cancer and the persons health condition. Postoperative rehabilitation and follow-up treatment are also very important.
Is Bladder Cancer Fatal?
Bladder cancer is a disease that is sometimes treatable with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. However, this type of cancer can be fatal if diagnosed in advanced stages or left untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly increases the chances of survival.
What are the symptoms of bladder cancer in women?
Bladder cancer symptoms in women are similar to those in men. Among these symptoms; These include frequent urination, burning or pain when urinating, bloody urine, frequent infections in the urine, difficulty urinating, and pain in the pelvic area.