Bladder cancer is pretty much undermined and overshadowed by cancers like skin, lung, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer. This is partially understandable, given that bladder cancer makes as little as 5 percent of all cancers in the U.S, compared to breast cancer which makes up 12 percent of cancer diagnosis. In addition, 40-50 percent of those over the age of 65 have skin cancer and 1 in 4 Americans have lung cancer.
But, 5 percent is still a large number. The American Cancer society estimates that up to 80,000 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in 2017. Unfortunately, most of the symptoms of bladder cancer can be misconstrued for other diseases, which is the reason why many of the patients eventually die from it.
What is Bladder Cancer?
The cells in the bladder can change and stop growing or behaving as they are supposed to. The same changes can result in cancer, and some of those are as follows:
- Non-cancerous conditions like kidney stones and urinary tract infections
- Benign tumors like fibroma or papilloma
However, these changes can eventually cause malignant tumors and cancer.
Types of Bladder Cancer
- Non-invasive Bladder Cancer occurs in the cells of the urothelium.
- Invasive Bladder Cancer occurs when the cancer spreads to the bladder wall muscles and the connective tissues.
Treatment for Bladder Cancer
Needless to say, the treatment depends on the grade, category, and stage of the cancer. The primary methods of treatment for this type of cancer include:
- Radiation
- Surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Chemotherapy
13 Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
The symptoms can be divided into two groups: early and late.
Early symptoms of Bladder Cancer:
- Difficulty urinating
- Frequent need to urinate
- Blood in the urine
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Intense, suffer need to urinate
Late Symptoms of Bladder Cancer:
- Lump in the pelvis
- Change in bowel habits
- Swelling in the legs
- Fever
- Anemia
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Pain in the rectum, anus, pelvis, flank, or in the bones
How to Prevent Bladder Cancer
Needless to say, prevention is always better than the cure. While many risk factors, like being male, age, being Caucasian, or having a bladder-related birth defect, are unchangeable, many of other things that increase the chance of bladder cancer are linked to toxins and toxic build up.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking brings in countless cancer-causing chemicals in the body. Not only should you stay away from smoking, but avoid being in the presence of smokers, too.
Use caution and reduce exposure to chemicals
Many jobs require use of dangerous chemicals. However, if you want to stay on the safe side, it is important to take safety precautions, including wearing face masks and protective clothes. Another thing you can do to minimize your exposure to toxic chemicals is to replace processed foods with healthier foods items and swap cleaning supplies and make up with natural alternatives.
Drink lots of water
Staying well hydrated during the day dilutes the urine stimulates urination, meaning that you will be filtering and eliminating waste from the kidneys regularly, giving them less time to remain in the bladder.
Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables
Last but not least, eating a variety of fruits and veggies ensures a high fiber intake as well as high intake of cancer-fighting antioxidants. The fiber promotes regular bowel movements while the antioxidants kill off free radicals before they get the chance to cause cancer.