What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer is a kind of cancer that begins in the cells of the bladder, the hollow organ in your pelvis that stores urine. It is one of the most common kinds of cancer, affecting both men and women, and typically develops in older adults.

The most common bladder cancer is transitional cell carcinoma, which starts in the cells lining the inside of the bladder. As per a bladder cancer doctor in Kolkata, the less common types are squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?

According to the best oncologist in Kolkata, some common symptoms of bladder cancer include:

1. Blood in urine
2. Painful urination
3. Frequent urination
4. Urgency
5. Pelvic pain
6. Back pain

Causes of bladder cancer

As per a cancer doctor in Kolkata, some known risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing bladder cancer include:

1. Smoking: Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products is the most important cause of bladder cancer. It is estimated that smokers are three to four times likely to develop bladder cancer in comparison to non-smokers.

2. Age: The risk of bladder cancer increases with age, and in most cases are diagnosed in people over the age of 55.

3. Gender: Men are more likely to develop bladder cancer than women.

4. Occupational exposure: People who work with chemicals such as benzene, rubber, leather, textiles, paint, and diesel exhaust are at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.

5. Personal or family history: People who have had bladder cancer or a family history of bladder cancer are at a high risk of developing the disease.

6. Chronic bladder inflammation: Chronic inflammation of the bladder, such as that caused by recurrent urinary tract infections or bladder stones, may increase the risk of bladder cancer.
7. Certain medications: Certain medications, such as pioglitazone, a diabetes medication, and cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy drug, have been linked to a high risk of bladder cancer.

Treatments of bladder cancer

Below are some common treatment options for bladder cancer:

1. Chemotherapy: It involves using drugs to kill cancer cells. It is used in combination with surgery or radiation therapy. Chemo can be given before or after your surgery to shrink the tumour or prevent it from returning.

2. Radiation therapy: It uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It may be used before your surgery to shrink the tumour or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.

3. Immunotherapy: It is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight against cancer. It works by stimulating your immune system to attack cancer cells.

4. Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy involves using drugs that target specific molecules or proteins that are involved in the growth and spread of cancerous cells. These drugs can be used in combination with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

5. Bladder preservation therapy: For patients with early-stage bladder cancer, bladder preservation therapy may be an option. This involves removing the cancerous tissue and then using radiation therapy and chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.

6. Surgery: It is a common treatment for bladder cancer. The type of surgery done is based on the stage and location of the cancer. The surgeon may remove only the cancerous tissue or the entire bladder.