Bladder Cancer Awareness Day is observed every year on May 7 to raise awareness about bladder cancer, its signs and symptoms, causes, early diagnosis, and treatment options available. Bladder Cancer Awareness Day is a global initiative. It is essential to know the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer to get it diagnosed early. This is because when diagnosed in its early stages, bladder cancer is very treatable.
To celebrate Bladder Cancer Awareness Day 2023, let’s learn more about bladder cancer, its symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment. So, please keep reading.
What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer occurs when cells present in the bladder start to proliferate abnormally. The bladder is a spherical, empty organ in the lower abdominal area responsible for urine storage. The ureters, which connect the bladder to the kidneys and the kidneys themselves, contain urothelial cells. Urothelial carcinoma can manifest in the kidneys and ureters, but the bladder is where it is most commonly. Bladder cancer is a cancer that rarely occurs.
Signs and symptoms of bladder cancer
The appearance of blood in the urine (hematuria) is one of the first signs and symptoms of bladder cancer that must be acknowledged on time. In hematuria, the urine may look bright red or dark brown in color. In certain instances, the urine may have blood, whereas sometimes, there may not be any blood in the urine.
It is crucial to get medical attention immediately upon noticing blood in the urine as it may be an indication of bladder cancer. Some other symptoms of bladder cancer to watch out for include the following,
- Pain, burning, or stinging while peeing
- A frequent urge to urinate
- Constantly occurring infections
- Difficulty in urinating
Some of the bladder cancer symptoms that may occur when the cancer is advanced include the following,
- Leg swelling
- Pain in the bones
- Pain in the pelvis
- Unexplained sudden weight loss
Causes and Risk Factors of bladder cancer
The causes of bladder cancer are not exactly known. However, some risk factors have been identified that may increase an individual’s risk of developing bladder cancer. The various risk factors of bladder cancer may include the following,
- A family history of bladder cancer
- A personal history of bladder cancer
- Being older than 55 years
- A history of cancer treatment
- Smoking
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Exposure to chemicals
- Non-gonococcal urethritis
- Having an enlarged prostate
How is bladder cancer diagnosed?
Upon experiencing any unusual symptoms that may point towards bladder cancer, it is essential to get a proper diagnosis done. Timely diagnosis of bladder cancer is essential as bladder cancer is a highly treatable type of cancer when diagnosed early. Upon suspecting bladder cancer, your doctor will ask you to get various diagnostic tests done to diagnose and confirm the presence of bladder cancer.
The various diagnostic tests for bladder cancer may include the following,
- Urinalysis
- Cystoscopy
- Cytology
If the results from a urinalysis, cytology, and cystoscopy reveal you have bladder cancer, your healthcare professionals will perform additional tests to find out more about the malignancy, such as,
- Chest X-ray
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Bone scans
- Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT)
How can bladder cancer be treated?
Once diagnosed with bladder cancer, the doctor will begin the treatment for it. The treatment for bladder cancer may depend on various factors such as the patient’s age and overall health, the stage of cancer, the type of cancer, etc. there are various treatment options available for treating bladder cancer. The doctor may provide any one or a combination of the following bladder cancer treatments,
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted drug therapy
- Immunotherapy
How to prevent bladder cancer?
Although there is no confirmed method of preventing bladder cancer, certain everyday lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of bladder cancer. Some of these practices include the following,
- Quitting smoking
- Wearing protective clothes to prevent being exposed to harmful chemicals
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining proper hygiene to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Also Read: 7 Strategies for Cancer Prevention
Conclusion
Bladder Cancer awareness is essential to diagnose it early. Since some of the bladder cancer symptoms resemble the symptoms caused by other conditions, they may get ignored sometimes. However, it is essential not to ignore these symptoms of bladder cancer, as it may be rare, but it is a highly treatable cancer when caught early and may become fatal when left untreated. Hence, this Bladder Cancer Awareness Day 2023 create awareness about the various symptoms of bladder cancer to help people recognize it in its early stages. It is also essential to encourage people to get diagnosed on time. So, this Bladder Cancer Awareness Day 2023, raise awareness about this rare cancer and encourage people to get timely diagnosis and treatment.
At Ayu Health hospitals, we provide top-notch facilities and high-quality medical care to patients from all over the world. Our state-of-the-art hospitals have cutting-edge technology and highly skilled medical professionals to provide accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for all kinds of diseases, including bladder cancer. We offer personalized care to our patients and ensure they receive the best possible treatment and attention. Our hospitals are equipped with the latest medical equipment. We have a team of highly qualified and skilled doctors, nurses, and staff that works tirelessly to provide compassionate care to all our patients. At Ayu Health, Network of hospitals, we are committed to making healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone. We provide cost-effective services without compromising on the quality of care.
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About the Author
Dr. S. Goel
Dr. S. Goel is a renowned Internal Medicine Specialist currently practicing at Ayu Health, Bangalore. He is a Specialist in Internal Medicine, Diabetes HTN, Paediatric Care, and Family Medicine.