Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Facts About Bladder Cancer

The bladder is responsible for storing urine which is the liquid waste excreted by the kidneys. The organ is a component of the urinary tract and is found in the lower abdomen. Once cancer cells mutate in the bladder, they can also affect the lymph vessels, the liver and the lungs. After spreading to other organs, the bladder cancer cells will continue to grow larger and propagate, quickly disrupting the body's functions.

Bladder cancer comes in three different types; namely, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Transitional Cell Carcinoma, and Adenocarcinoma. Squamous Cell Carcinoma is triggered by trematode infection. Trematodes or flukes are worm-like parasites usually living in fishes but can also thrive within a human's system.

Transitional Cell Carcinoma is the most common among the three types and like most cancers; it starts with growth of tumor within the organ. The last type, Adenocarcinoma, is the rarest and only about two percent of bladder cancer patients yearly have been recorded to have Adenocarcinoma. This cancer starts in the glandular linings of organs and spreads quickly. People who have Adenocarcinoma are likely to acquire the disease again even after successful treatment.

One of the initial symptoms of bladder cancer is painful bladder emptying which at times is accompanied by bloody urine. Another sign for this cancer is increased need to empty the bladder. These symptoms also occur for some gastrointestinal diseases such as UTI, and there are also instances where UTI itself is already a symptom of the cancer. Therefore, when suffering these problems, consult a doctor immediately for proper diagnosis and abrupt treatment.

Diagnosis of bladder cancer will begin with physical exams and then proceed to a urine test, biopsy or cystoscopy. Cystoscopy refers to the process where the doctor uses a lighted tube called cystoscope to examine the bladder directly. Biopsy, on the other hand, refers to taking tissue samples from the patient. There are also some cases where diagnosis and treatment of the cancer occurs at the same time. The doctor may choose to remove the entire area affected by cancer cells through biopsy.

Causes of bladder cancer differ from one person to another. Though the medical industry is still uncertain as to what really causes this type of cancer, researches have discovered some factors that can contribute to one's susceptibility to the ailment.

People working closely to chemical substances - such as rubber and textile factory workers - are at a high risk for bladder cancer. Intake of poisonous chemicals such as arsenic, which can be found in contaminated water, can also cause bladder cancer. People with weak health are also highly susceptible. Past histories of cancer medications may also induce bladder cancer. If the initially weak body cannot contain the substances present in the medicine, the body may react negatively. Such reactions at times can only be observed months or years after the treatment. Cancer can also be inherited through the genes; nonetheless, a person living a healthy life is most likely to evade the cancer risk even if it runs in the blood

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