Bladder cancer is most often associated with older white men. However, women who receive a diagnosis of bladder cancer often find that the illness is farther advanced than it is in men. Bladder cancer is serious and should not be ignored. In many cases, treatment for this type of cancer includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Often, the bladder is removed, and an ostomy bag is required to gather urine and waste products.
What Is Bladder Cancer?
Bladder cancer is a serious cancer that affects the bladder. The bladder is the organ in the body that holds and stores urine until it is ready to be eliminated from the body. As urine is collected, the bladder stretches and grows. Once enough pressure is felt, the body naturally wants to eliminate the urine, and urination occurs. According to the Johns Hopkins pathology department, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men and the 10th most common cancer among women. Approximately 50,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year and approximately 12,000 of those people die from it.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Bladder Cancer?
According to the Johns , the most common symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in the urine, painful urination, a burning sensation when urinating and more frequent need to urinate than normal. Although having only one of these symptoms may or may not be an indicator of the presence of bladder cancer, problems with urination in general should be checked out by a doctor. Blood in the urine and burning sensations when urinating are also common with urinary tract infections, and painful urination can be a symptom of a bladder infection. Frequent urination without much in the way of results can also be a symptom of other bladder problems.
How Is Bladder Cancer in Women Different than in Men?
Bladder cancer in women is often diagnosed much later than for men. This means that, according to the Johns department, the disease has often progressed much further in women than it has in men at the time of diagnosis. As a result, women are more likely to need radical and intensive treatment, often including surgical removal of the bladder, since the disease may have engulfed the organ and may have also spread to other places in the body.
What Are the Stages of Bladder Cancer?
According to the Johns Hopkins pathology department, there are four stages of bladder cancer. Stage One is the starting point of the cancer and includes the tumor spreading into the lining of the bladder, but not into the muscle wall. Stage Two indicates that the cancer has spread into the muscle wall of the bladder, but not into the surrounding tissues or into the lymph nodes. Stage Three indicates that the tumor has spread not only to the muscle wall of the bladder, but also into the surrounding tissue of the prostate or uterus. Stage Four indicates that the cancer has invaded the bladder muscle wall, the surrounding tissues and the lymph nodes of the body.
How is Bladder Cancer Treated?
The first line of treatment is usually surgical. The degree of surgical intervention is determined by the stage of the cancer--the later the stage, the more radical the surgery, including potential removal of the entire bladder and the surrounding tissues such as the prostate, uterus and ovaries. Other aspects of treatment include focused radiation treatment and chemotherapy. Once treatment is completed, most individuals with bladder cancer continue to see their urological oncologist every three months for follow-up examinations during the first two years and every six months for the next few years to prevent recurrence of the illness.
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