What is bladder cancer?
Aug 1, 2022
The uncontrollable growth and spread of cells in the bladder are known as bladder cancer. The abnormal cells then form a tumour that destroys healthy cells and body tissues, making it hard for organs to function. These cells also tend to break away and spread throughout the other parts of the body, causing severe harm. Unlike some of its other counterparts, bladder cancer is not a hereditary disease and can be caused by a multitude of factors.
What are its symptoms?
The symptoms of bladder cancer are sometimes brushed off as unimportant, resulting in cancer progressing unchecked. Some such symptoms of bladder cancer are –
- Haematuria
- Burning sensation during urination
- Backache and pain on one side of the body
- Frequent and urgent urination
What are the types of Bladder Cancer?
There are three main classifications of bladder cancer, determined by the type of bladder cell that becomes cancerous.
- Urothelial Carcinoma – Also known as transitional cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma starts in the cells that form the inside lining of the bladder. These cells are responsible for the expansion and contraction of the bladder walls.
- Squamous cell carcinoma – The Persistent irritation of the bladder, due to either infections or the prolonged use of a urinary catheter can cause a Squamous cell carcinoma. Parasitic infections are the leading cause of this type of cancer.
- Adenocarcinoma – The rarest form of bladder cancer is the adenocarcinoma that develops in the mucus glands of the bladder
What is the diagnosis for Bladder cancer?
Physicians perform a few specific tests to confirm Bladder cancer. These include:
- Cystoscopy – A long narrow tube with a lens at one end is inserted through the urethra to observe the urethra and the bladder for any abnormalities
- Tissue testing – A small sample of tissue from the bladder wall is extracted using a tool attached to the catheter and examined for the presence of cancerous cells.
- Urine Cytology – A urine sample is observed under a microscope for this process.
- CT Scan – Computer tomography is used for getting digital images of the urinary tract for examination.
What are the treatment options for bladder cancer?
Depending on the type of cancer, the stage of cancer, and other factors, there are different treatment options-
Surgery: This treatment involves the removal of the tumour and some healthy tissue around it. There are specific surgeries for each grade of the disease. For example, Transurethral bladder tumour resection (TURBT), Radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection, and Urinary diversion are some standard surgical methods to treat bladder cancer.
Chemotherapy: Intravesical chemotherapy and systematic chemotherapy are the two treatments depending on their stage of progression.
Immunotherapy: The treatment helps to strengthen the body’s defences to fight cancer and its spread. The types of immunotherapies are local and systemic.
Targeted therapy: It targets cancer’s specific cells and tissues to avoid the further spread of cancerous cells and impede the survival of the currently existing cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy: The use of high-energy x-ray particles to destroy cancerous cells
What are the risk factors for Bladder Cancer?
- Smoking can result in the accumulation of harmful chemicals in the bloodstream. These chemicals are removed from the body through urine which is detrimental to the bladder walls.
- Older people and most males have a higher susceptibility to bladder cancer.
- Exposure to certain chemicals like arsenic and chemical dyes can result in bladder cancer.
- Previous cancer treatments – Certain drugs, such as the anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide, or Radiation Therapy used to get rid of other types of cancer may become the sole cause of bladder cancer.
- Urinary Infections – Repeated or chronic bladder infections or inflammations can increase the risk of cancerous cell formation, resulting in bladder cancer.