The abnormal growth of cells in an organism is known as cancer and has plagued humanity since the dawn of time. The word is derived from the Latin word for crab because it grabs on to something and won’t let go. If this abnormal growth manages to invade surrounding tissues it will metastasize or spread. The earliest RECORDED case of cancer was during Egyptian times roughly 3000 years BC and was described in Egyptian Papyri as a breast tumor. There are numerous types of cancers and their causes are only partially understood. Despite what most of us have heard, cancer is not an industrialized disease and was not one of the many diseases brought over from the Europeans over to the America’s, it has always existed and despite efforts and advancements in medicine, there is no cure.
The following are causes and risk factors associated with one of the top ten most common cases of cancers, bladder cancer.
Definition
Bladder cancer as the name implies is a type of cancer that begins in your bladder which is the organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. The cancer originates in the cells directly outside the bladder and is more common among older adults but it can be found at any stage of our lives. The positive thing about bladder cancer is that it they are usually diagnosed at an early age and is highly treatable compared to cancers in other organs that take longer to identify which makes it harder to treat. It is estimated that there are roughly 380,000 cases of bladder cancer worldwide. It is often one of the most expensive cancers to treat on a per-patient basis. If you want to learn more information about the treatment options or questions regarding bladder cancer, contact a Urologist New York today.
Symptoms
The majority of cases of bladder cancers diagnosed at any early age have a full chance of recovery but it does have a history of recurring. Some risk factors such as being a Caucasian male and or a family history of cancer make us more likely to contract bladder cancer. There are also some symptoms that present themselves that should be taken into consideration. Frequent/painful urination, back pain, pelvic pain and blood in urine (hematuria) or urine that may appear dark yellow or cola colored. If any of these symptoms present themselves it is advised to see a Urology doctor New York.
Risk Factors
Bladder cancer just like any other type of cancer has a variety of symptoms that may cause you to contract the dreaded disease.
- Smoking– To add to the long list of why you shouldn’t smoke cigarettes, bladder cancer can also be caused by smoking. The harmful chemicals in time accumulate in your urine and may damage the lining of the bladder which increases our risk of cancer.
- Being a white man- Very little is known about the why but white men are twice as likely as men or women of any other race to be diagnosed with bladder cancer.
- Older Age- As we get older our risk of bladder cancer increases, it can occur at any age but it is rarely found in people younger than 40.
- Cancer Treatment- This is a catch-22, when we received cancer treatment we usually become exposed to an anti cancer drug known as cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and this drug just so happens to increase our risk of bladder cancer.
- History of Cancer in Family – If you have immediate relatives with a history of bladder cancer you may have an increased risk of the disease. It isn’t like other types of cancers that run in families but you are always more susceptible.
Types of Bladder Cancer
The causes of bladder cancer aren’t always clear but it has been linked to smoking, a parasitic infection, radiation and chemical exposure. The cancer begins when cells grow abnormally and instead of dividing the way normal cells do, they start to develop mutations that cause them to grow out of control and not die. The type of cell where the cancer begins determines the type of cancer. The first is transitional cell carcinoma and it occurs in the cells that line up on the inside of your bladder. These cells expand when your bladder is full and contract when it is empty. The cells line up inside your ureters and sometimes form malignant tumors. This is the most common type of cancer in the US. The next is squamous cell carcinoma and these appear in your bladder in response to infection and irritation. If these cells are not diagnosed on time they can become cancerous. This type of bladder cancer is not as common in the US and treated mostly in parts of the world where there are parasitic infections. These are the two most common types of bladder cancer in the world and although some of the symptoms are easy to identify, it is important to talk to a Urologist New York City to learn about common occurrences and FAQs.