INFORMATION ON BLADDER CANCER

Bladder is balloon shaped organ which lies in the pelvis. It is the organ for collecting urine from kidneys with the help of tubes known as Ureters. Once the bladder is full it releases urine thru Urethra. Men are believed to be affected more with bladder cancer than women. With the help of research it has been denoted that more than nine thousand people develop bladder cancer each year.

SYMPTOMS OF BLADDER CANCER

If you find blood in your urine which is known as HAEMATURIA with no evident cause you need to be get it checked. This can be painless. Some days you may notice the color of urine to be rusty brown to deep red this also depends on the quantity of urine though this change in color may not be visible always. If you feel pain and obstruction in the flow of urine there can be blood clots formed which causes you pain.

Infection in your bladder or kidney stones may also be few other reasons for HAEMATURIA which does not at all points to bladder cancer. So it is always essential get yourself checked by your physician as soon as feasible to facilitate appropriate and timely treatment.

TYPES OF BLADDER CANCER:-

1) Superficial Bladder Tumors
2) Invasive Bladder Cancer

Cancers which appear like tiny sea anemones growing on the inside lining of the bladder are usually Superficial bladder cancers also known as known as PAPILLARY tumors.

DIAGNOSIS OF BLADDER CANCER

To examine blood and infection in urine, urine test has to be given. For men internal examination of back passage known as Rectum and for women birth canal known as Vagina is been examined.

Your doctor may refer you to Urologist who is a bladder specialist depending upon the test results. Urologist may examine you further with the help of test to detect possibility of bladder cancer.

Few other tests for bladder cancer:-

Blood Tests are done to know your general health and how well your kidneys are working.

To check whether the heart and lungs are fit Chest-X-ray is done. To look at your kidneys, ureters and bladder Intravenous Urogram or Pyelogram (IVU or IVP) X-ray examination is done. With the help of this X-ray film any abnormalities in the outline of the urinary system is been diagnosed easily.

The IVU takes about an hour, and you can in general go home instantly afterwards. You may feel hot and flushed initially because of injection of dye but this shortly passes.

Urologist inspects the inside of your bladder with the help of telescopic examination called Cystoscopy. Flexible cystoscope examination does not require a general anaesthefic and is not painful also and you can go back to your home soon after. General anaesthetic is given only under rare circumstances when Biopsies need to be taken.

Biopsies are taken to examined whether there are any cancerous cells, and if so, what kind they are.

CT or Cat Scan: is a refined type of x-ray in which three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body is made. This type of scan is painless but takes longer than an x-ray (10-30 minutes). CT scan is used to identify the exact site of the tumour or to check for any spread of the cancer. Before CT scan is been done most people are given a drink or injection so that particular areas are visibly clear. Before having the injection or drink, it is important to tell the person doing this test if you are allergic to iodine or have asthma.

Radioactive Bone Scans:- In Radioactive Bone Scans a tiny amount of radioactive liquid is injected into a vein, and then scan would be taken two to three hours later. This scan is usually done to check whether cancer has spread from the bladder to the bones. This scan does not cause any pain to the patient.

Ultrasound scan:- This is a simple, painless scan in which sound waves are used to form a picture of the inside of the abdomen.

TREATMENT OF BLADDER CANCER

Superficial bladder cancer can be removed with the help of cystoscope. Cauterising of the bladder wall is done to prevent bleeding. Small tumours are destroyed totally by this treatment but unluckily the bladder may develop other tumours with time. Yopu should get yourself checked regularly with your urologists.. This treatment is usually given on a weekly basis for 6-8 weeks.

Invasive Bladder Cancer How Invasive Bladder cnacer is treated Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be used alone or in combination to treat invasive bladder cancer.