All You Need to Know About Cancer of the Bladder
There are a lot of statistics and facts about cancer of the bladder, but none of the statistics will help when you have heard your diagnosis. Any type of cancer is scary, but early detection can really help your odds of surviving. This means that it is very important to make regular appointments with your physician for your yearly physical and report any unusual health problems that you might have experienced over the year. Although facts and statistics don’t seem all that important once you have had a diagnosis of cancer of the bladder, you may still want to know about the ailment that you are trying to beat.
What is Cancer of the Bladder?
Cancer of the bladder accounts for 90 percent of all cancers affecting the urinary collecting system. Bladder cancer normally begins on the lining of the bladder, but if gone untreated can move into the smooth muscles of the organ.
Who is more Prone to Getting Cancer of the Bladder?
Bladder cancer is more common in industrial countries such as America and Canada and it is seen more in men than women. In fact cancer of the bladder is the 4th common type of cancer in men, where it is the 8th most common cancer in women. It has also been noticed that people have an increased risk of getting cancer of the bladder as they get older. People over the age of 70 are 20 times more likely to get a diagnosis of bladder cancer than the 30-54 year olds.
What are Some Signs and symptoms of Bladder Cancer?
The most common sign of cancer of the bladder is blood in the urine. This is called hematuria and this can be noticed by the naked eye or under a microscope. When you come to our office we will take a urine sample and check for any blood present, which is why it is so very important to get your yearly physical. This symptom of bladder cancer is painless and can go unnoticed if there is not a lot of blood present in the urine.
There are a few other symptoms that include the need to frequently urinate and pain when urinating. This is why you need to pay attention to your body and its functions.