An Introduction To Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the fourth most typical cancer in men in the United States. You'll find it occurs in women, although it is less common than in males. Though a number of factors are believed to elevate the chance of developing bladder cancer, smoking is hands down the greatest single risk factor. Symptoms of bladder cancer can include blood in the urine, painful urination, and increased regularity of urination.

Diagnosis and Preliminary Treatment

Most bladder cancers are diagnosed with the use of cystoscopy, a procedure wherein the urologist looks at the interior of the bladder using fiberoptic scope. When tumor has been found, it will generally be eliminated with a procedure called Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor or TURBT.

Superficial or Invasive?

Whenever bladder cancer is completely removed, the urologist and pathologist decide whether the cancer is superficial (limited to the lining of the bladder) or invasive (the cancer extends underneath the lining into the wall of the bladder). It's essential distinction, because a superficial cancer can not spread past the bladder, while invasive bladder cancers can rapidly spread to other parts of the body. The good news is, four out of five bladder cancers are superficial when initially diagnosed.

The Chance of Recurrence

Though a superficial bladder tumor presents no direct risk of spread, it may, if left untreated, become invasive. Total disposal of a superficial bladder cancer effectively cures that particular tumor, but the bladder stays at risk for reoccurring tumors in other areas. Once the bladder lining has cultivated one superficial cancer, there is 60 % to 80 percent risk that additional cancers will emerge down the road. Your individual risk of recurrence is dependant on a number of variables, like the tumor grade (speed of growth), number (single vs. multiple tumors) and size of the initial cancer.

Monitoring for Recurrence

When a superficial (non-invasive) cancer has been gotten rid of, the urologist will from time to time perform cystoscopy to check out the bladder for recurrences. Throughout the first couple of years after the removal of a tumor, the cystoscopies are normally done every 3 months. If no recurrences are located during those two years, the interval is increased to six months for the following two years. If 4 years pass with no recurrences, many urologists suggest that the procedure be done yearly after that.

Reducing the Risk of Recurrence

There are steps which can be taken to decrease your likelihood of superficial bladder cancer recurrence. These include medical treatments offered by your urologist, and nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes you'll be able to pursue yourself.

For more information about bladder cancer in Saint Louis, MO, consider going to Metropolitan Urological Specialists.