Important Facts About Bladder Cancer

By Michael Russell

The bladder is a hollow organ lying within pelvis, which collects urine from the kidneys via tubes called ureters and stores it until it is full enough to empty through the urethra.

Bladder cancer is any type of malignant growth in the bladder. There are two main types - superficial and invasive. The superficial tumours, sometimes known as bladder warts, do not spread and are fairly easily treated. Invasive tumours, which have spread beyond the bladder walls, have a poorer prognosis.

Bladder cancer is more common in men, especially those over the age of sixty years. Cigarette smoking is known to be a major risk factor and accounts for about 60% of all new cases. Other risk factors include exposure to chemicals as used in certain industries. Women who have regularly used permanent hair dyes are at greater risk of developing the condition, as are hairdressers. The exact causes however remain unknown and research continues.

The symptoms of bladder malignancy may include blood in the urine, also known as haematuria, and pain or frequency passing urine. These symptoms, however, are not specific and could well be related to other conditions such as urinary tract infections or kidney stones. If you notice blood in your water it is important that you see your doctor as soon as possible for some diagnostic tests. But please do not panic as the blood may be from an entirely benign source. Haematuria does not always indicate bladder cancer but must be checked out.

To diagnose the problem the doctor will take a full medical history, do a physical examination and send a specimen of urine away for testing. Depending on the results the next step may be a cystoscopy, which is a simple procedure, using a fibre-optic tube with a light source attached to inspect the inside of the bladder. The scope is passed into the bladder via the urethra. If any abnormal areas or growths are noted cells can be taken for further examination to see whether they are cancerous or not.

If cancer is diagnosed the next step is to determine whether it is localised or has spread from it's original location.

Treatment is by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The type of cancer, age and general health of the patient will determine which treatment or combination of treatments is used.

Early diagnosis always improves the outcome. If you experience any of the above symptoms please seek immediate medical help. If you notice blood in your urine report it to your doctor so that it can be investigated and any appropriate treatment started.

If you have been diagnosed as having a bladder cancer you will need to attend for regular check ups so the condition can be monitored.

People who smoke 20 cigarettes a day for 10 years have double the risk of developing bladder cancer compared with non-smokers. If you stop smoking the risk is reduced. If you have been diagnosed with superficial bladder cancer and are a smoker, stopping smoking will greatly reduce the risk of any recurrence.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Bladder Cancer [http://bladder-cancer-guided.com]

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Common Bladder Problems

Common Bladder Problems
By George McKenzie

Your bladder is a sac-like structure near the bottom of the abdomen. Its major function is act as a storage area for urine until it can be expelled. It has a waterproof skin which medical professionals call the transitional cell epithelium.

Urine comes to the bladder from the kidneys through tubes called ureters. It is eliminated through a tube leading outside the body called the urethra.

A normal adult bladder contains about 400 milliliters of urine.

As people grow older, bladder problems become more common. It can become more of a challenge to control the bladder. This sometimes results in a condition known as incontinence. Incontinence can also happen when there is a disease or some other problem. There are many different bladder control products available commercially that help people who suffer from incontinence.

Other Common Bladder Problems

Bladder Cancer - There are several kinds of bladder cancer. The kind that happens most often originates in the lining of the cells inside of the bladder. This type is called urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) or transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

Bladder infection - This is a bacterial infection that can happen in any part of the urinary tract. Although a bladder infection can be very uncomfortable, it's fairly easy to treat and can be cured quickly if treated properly.

Overactive bladder - This is a condition that results from a sudden, involuntary contraction of the muscle in the wall of the urinary bladder. Overactive bladder triggers an urgent and unstoppable need to urinate. OA is also known as urge incontinence and is a type of urinary incontinence or unintentional loss of urine.

Bladder Stones - Bladder stones are crystalline masses that originate from minerals and proteins which naturally occur in urine. They are much less common than kidney stones.

Bladder Spasms - A bladder spasm may also be called bladder instability. Under normal circumstances bladder muscles are relaxed and only go into action when you urinate. But when the bladder is unstable, it sometimes contracts suddenly and unexpectedly. This contraction is commonly known as a bladder spasm.

Bladder Prolapse - Also called cystoceles. It is more often called a fallen bladder or prolapsed bladder. It happens in women when the front wall of the vagina, which supports the bladder, weakens or loosens. The bladder may then start to slip into the vagina. There are four different stages, but the basic result can be urinary difficulties, discomfort, and stress incontinence (which is urine leakage caused by sneezing, coughing, exertion, or some other physical condition).

Enuresis (more commonly called bed wetting) - Enuresis is, simply put, involuntary urination, usually during sleep. This is more common in children and usually doesn't occur as the child gets older. However, repeated enuresis can be a sign or symptom other physical or emotional problems.

Paruresis - Paruresis is a condition that is also called shy bladder, shy kidney, or bashful bladder. Both genders can suffer from paruresis, which is a type of social anxiety disorder in which the sufferer is unable to urinate when others are within earshot, typically somewhere like a public restroom.

For more information on topics related to this article, click on Losing Bladder Control [http://www.bladder-problems.info/losing-bladder-control.html].

George McKenzie is a retired TV anchor, medical reporter and radio talk show host. He is a frequent contributor to Bladder Problems [http://www.bladder-problems.info/], a resource site about health and wellness.

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Smoking Can Cause Bladder Cancer

By Beverly Krause

Last spring, a very close friend of mine was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The symptoms came on suddenly. One day, he couldn't urinate. His bladder stopped working. The tumor was so large that it blocked the passage of urine. He was in severe pain and needless to say, completely unprepared for what was yet to come.

Fortunately, he was able to make an appointment with a urologist that very day. His bladder was drained of approximately 700 cc of bloody urine (the bladder normally holds approximately 500 cc). A Foley catheter was placed into the bladder, and he was set up for a CT scan to see what the problem was.

Bladder cancer is the 4th most common type of cancer diagnosed in men in the United States and is the 9th most common cancer in women. Each year, 50,000 men and 16,000 women are diagnosed with bladder cancer. These are pretty grim statistics. It is believed that men develop bladder cancer more often than women because of androgen receptors (related to male hormones). Add these receptors to a long-term smoking habit and you have a ticking time bomb.

Tobacco use is believed to be the #1 contributor to bladder cancer causing more than half of the bladder cancers in men and about a third of the cases in women. There is a direct link between smoking and the risk of developing bladder cancer. Quitting smoking significantly reduces the chance of developing bladder cancer.

The symptoms of this deadly cancer develop gradually over time. My friend's cancer was growing for years without symptoms. Blood in the urine is one of the first signs of bladder cancer. However, one can have what is known as "microscopic hematuria" which simply means, blood that can only be seen with a microscope. In my friend's case, the blood was apparent the day his bladder became blocked. Prior to that day, there was no visible blood. Most people develop pain with urination, frequent urination, or the feeling of needing to urinate, but unable to. Some people have no symptoms until the cancer, or tumor, is very large.

It has been suggested that approximately 30% of bladder tumors are caused by occupational exposures in the workplace. However, this article is about smoking as the cause of bladder cancer. A chemical called "2-Naphthylamine" found in cigarette smoke has been linked to an increase in a person's risk of bladder cancer development.

Aside from not smoking, what else can help prevent bladder tumors? Drinking plenty of fluids each day can significantly reduce the chances of developing bladder cancer by constantly flushing the bladder of carcinogens. Drink half your body weight in fluids daily, i.e., if you weigh 150 pounds, drink 75 ounces of water or other fluids each day. Water is best because it flushes the bladder. Coffee is a diuretic, so it's best not to drink too much of this beverage, so don't count coffee in your daily fluid intake total. Eating lots of citrus fruits and cruciferous vegetables may have a protective effect as well.

The chances of developing bladder cancer also depends on many other factors. How long a person has smoked is at the top of the list. However, quitting smoking can have a major impact on whether a person will develop the disease. Current smokers are three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than non-smokers, and former smokers have two times the risk of developing it than non-smokers. However, duration is key in the development of bladder carcinoma, and the age a person begins smoking has an influence as well. But, it's never too late to quit and is always the best option.

After quitting, long-term smokers should see a urologist for a baseline exam. He/she can look inside your bladder with a cystocope to make sure there are no small growths developing. These can be easily snipped away in a painless procedure. The procedure is a bit uncomfortable but worth the discomfort to make sure your bladder is healthy. Periodic follow up is good insurance in cancer prevention.

Smoking is quickly becoming a thing of the past as people are beginning to realize it's not worth the gamble. Smoking has no health benefits. In fact, it is one of the most unhealthy things a person can do. Along with bladder cancer, smoking has been linked to emphysema, pancreatic cancer, throat cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, oral cancer, tooth decay, and damage to the eyes long term. It is believed to be a major contributor to age-related macular degeneration, a form of blindness found mostly in the elderly. People who smoke get sick more often, and they miss more time from work. Smoking is a burden for insurance companies and taxpayers. It's time to help smokers kick the habit. Help save a life. Encourage a smoker to quit. If you're a smoker, there is help available. You don't have to do it alone. Contact the American Cancer Society or the American Lung Association to find smoking withdrawal programs in your city. If not for yourself, do it for those who love you.

Beverly J. Krause is a free-lance writer. Currently, she is promoting chiropractic care as an alternative choice for healthcare. She is also the social media coordinator for a chiropractor in Florida. She also writes about true-life experiences with the goal of helping others.

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