Bladder cancer

From ArticleWorld

Bladder cancer is the common name for several types of cancer that grow quite rapidly in the bladder. The bladder is an organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. Transitional cell carcinoma is on of the most common types of this cancer. Certain chemicals such as smoking, exposure to aniline-based dyes, and petroleum- based products, and genetic predisposition are related to bladder cancer. The exact cause of this cancer is not known.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Symptoms of bladder cancer are blood in the urine, pain upon urination, frequency of urination, and having the urge to urinate with nothing happening. Because these symptoms occur in other diseases, a physician should be consulted, to rule out bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer treatment is determined by the deepness of the tumor. Tumors on the surface of the bladder wall can be cauterized (burned off) by an electrocauteral device. Tumors that are inside the bladder require removal of all or part of the bladder. Radiation is also used in this case sometimes. Immunotherapy is used in some cases of bladder cancer, depending on the type of cancer cells. It is especially used when the tumors are on the surface of the bladder, and have not spread.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most frequent type of cancer in men and the ninth most common cancer in women. Genetic predisposition is the biggest factor of risk for contracting bladder cancer. Some people's bodies develop an inability to deal with certain chemicals, which appears to enhance chances of contracting bladder cancer. Research continues to discover the causes of bladder cancer, as well as new cures to prolong the health and lives of bladder cancer patients.