2024-03-25 16:44:14
It is more common in men and the elderly
There are 5 early signs that a man has bladder cancer, and according to the American Cancer Society, bladder cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer in the United States. Men are four times more likely to develop this cancer, compared to women. Although some risk factors can increase the likelihood of infection in individuals of both sexes, symptoms of bladder cancer can vary from person to person. One must pay close attention when noticing certain changes, especially such as the presence of blood in the urine.
What is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is any type of cancer that occurs in the bladder, says Dr. Raj Satkunasivam, a urologic oncologist at Houston Methodist. Although there are a few specific and different types of bladder cancer, more than 90 percent of them are a type called urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC), which is a cancer of the cells that line the bladder, urethra, ureters, renal pelvis, and a number of other organs. .
Who is at risk of bladder cancer?
In this regard, Dr. Satkunasivam says: “There are many risk factors for bladder cancer, but cigarette smoking is the most common one. Other risk factors include chronic cystitis, occupational hazards including exposure to certain types of dyes or solvents, and some chemotherapy. Aging is also another risk factor, as 9 out of 10 people with bladder cancer are diagnosed by the age of 55. According to the American Cancer Society.
Dr. Satkunasivam continues that bladder cancer is more common in men and the elderly, generally those over 60 years of age. “Like any type of cancer, it can affect women and young people as well,” Satkunasivam explains. Unfortunately, diagnosis is sometimes delayed in these groups because it is less common. “What can complicate diagnosis is that some early symptoms can be linked to other conditions or to changes in our urinary habits as we age.”
Changes in bathroom habits and their relationship to bladder cancer
Dr. Satkunasivam explains that bladder cancer can have many different symptoms depending on its stage. In its early stages, bladder cancer can share symptoms of infections and other conditions, whether urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, or diabetes.
Dr. Satkunasivam advises people not to underestimate persistent symptoms or try to ignore them. He says that it is better for the patient to be evaluated for bladder cancer early, rather than for the condition to progress to where it may become more difficult to treat.
The five symptoms listed below are early signs of bladder cancer. Some symptoms may be related to aging and other conditions, but when there are multiple and persistent symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. Dr. Satkunasivam recommends evaluating unusual or worrisome symptoms as soon as possible. “We hope it’s not serious, but if it’s bladder cancer, the earlier we find it, the better,” he says.
Blood in urine
“The most common symptom among all bladder cancer patients is the presence of blood in the urine – either seen with the naked eye (gross hematuria), or under a microscope (microscopic hematuria),” says Dr. Satkunasivam. The appearance of either type of blood in the urine must be evaluated by a urologist, especially since blood in the urine can be the result of other causes as well, such as infection, kidney stones, or prostate enlargement.
Urinary tract infection is one of the most common causes of hematuria. Women are more than three times more likely to get urinary tract infections than men, according to the Office of Women’s Health of the US Department of Health and Human Services. This is because the urethra is shorter in women, which makes it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder. In addition, women may assume that blood in the urine is usually due to menstruation, a urinary tract infection, or postmenopausal uterine bleeding.
According to Dr. Satkunasivam, seeing blood in your urine should always prompt you to talk to your doctor, even if it’s not painful. Tests can help rule out infections and other conditions, and help you go to a urologist for care sooner if symptoms persist.
frequent urination
Drinking water is necessary to keep the body hydrated, but if you drink a lot of water, the need to urinate increases. But if you find that the number of visits to the bathroom has increased without any increases in the amount of water you drink, it is best to visit a doctor and evaluate the issue. Frequent urination is another sign of a urinary tract infection, but it is also associated with other conditions such as overactive bladder, enlarged prostate, diabetes, and certain types. Of cancer, including ovarian and bladder cancer.
Painful or burning urination (dysuria)
Feeling a burning or pain when urinating can make anyone hesitant about going to the bathroom. A burning or stinging sensation when urinating can be another symptom of a urinary tract infection, but it is also associated with diabetes, bladder infections, prostate conditions, and some sexually transmitted diseases. In men specifically, pain remains in the penis before or after urination.
Changes in urgency to urinate and urine flow
Changes in urine flow or feeling the need to urinate constantly are symptoms that should prompt you to see a doctor. If your once-strong urine stream becomes weaker or intermittent (starts, stops, starts), or if you visit the bathroom less often and can no longer urinate, it may be time to see a doctor and seek health care.
Going to the bathroom several times a night (nocturia)
Waking up to urinate during the night can be a common and annoying side effect of aging for both men and women – for men, this may be due to an enlarged prostate, while for women, menopause can contribute to urination at night, in addition to other changes such as hot flashes. Obstructive sleep apnea, in both men and women, is one of the most common and undiagnosed causes of nocturia.
Regardless of age, if you go from deep sleep to suddenly waking up several times a night to go to the bathroom, you may want to talk to your doctor — especially if you’re experiencing any other symptoms.
treatment
Bladder cancer, like many types of cancer, is treated very differently depending on when it is discovered, says Dr. Satkunasivam. Early bladder cancer can be managed through simple same-day surgeries for patients through routine clinic visits. While advanced stages of bladder cancer can require much larger surgeries, or even chemotherapy.
For non-invasive bladder cancer, the most common treatment is outpatient surgery, in which tumors are removed from inside the bladder using a specialized camera (endoscope) through the urethra. This is sometimes followed by several treatments where the bladder is filled with medications to help treat the cancer cells.
For more invasive bladder cancers, Dr. Satkunasivam says patients may need chemotherapy followed by either surgery to remove the bladder or radiation therapy to the bladder. In the past five years, there have been several new drug therapies approved to treat more invasive bladder cancer such as immunotherapy. Dr. concludes. Satkunasivam: “We participate in several clinical trials that work to find the best and safest new treatments for all of our bladder cancer patients.”
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