BLADDER CANCER

Cancer of the bladder, the organ that stores and releases urine while voiding, is more common in men than women, by at least 3- 4 times. Like most other tumours of the urinary tract, the incidence of bladder cancer is also rare, under the age of 40 years. That said, like all other cancers, of late bladder cancers affects younger people too without any of the known risk factors.

Bladder cancer causes:

The cause of bladder cancer is still uncertain and mostly attributed to genetic mutation, where abnormal growth of cells disrupts the normal cell growth and hence the normal physiology.

Bladder cancer risk factors

• Smoking
• Exposure to chemicals like aromatic amines, aniline dyes, and aldehydes.
• Chronic inflammatory conditions like schistosomiasis
• Long-time bladder stones
• Exposure to external beam radiation during previous therapies for other cancers in the pelvic area
• Drugs like phenacetin (painkiller) and chlornaphazine (treatment of polycythaemia and Hodgkin’s disease- drugs discontinued)
• Chronic bladder infections
• Low fluid and water consumption
• With increasing age, the incidence of bladder cancer also increases (over the age of 55)
• Consumption of high-fat diet and obesity
• Family history of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer Symptoms:

• Painless, visible haematuria (blood in the urine)
• Symptoms of urinary obstruction like painful urination, slow stream etc.
• Frequent and urgent urination
• Urinary incontinence
• Pain in the abdominal and lower back area

Bladder cancer Treatment:

In the initial stages and low grade cancers, endoscopic removal of bladder cancer followed by intravesical chemotherapy is done, but if unsuccessful or in cases of recurrences, cystectomy or removal of the bladder is done at Dr. Pari’s Urology speciality clinic, the best bladder cancer center in Chennai. A procedure called radical cystectomy with a urinary diversion into an incontinent ileal conduit or a continent catheterisable bowel pouch is done as a permanent measure. 

Bladder cancer Prevention

Dr. Pari, bladder cancer specialist Chennai advises that the easiest way to combat the disease is to follow the preventive measures. They include:

• Not smoking
• Avoiding exposure to the carcinogenic chemicals mentioned above
• Drinking plenty of water
• Following a fat-free diet and regular physical exercises