Bladder cancer is formed when there is growth of malignant cells on the wall of this organ, which is in direct contact with urine, mainly due to smoking and constant exposure to chemicals such as dyes, pesticides or arsenic, for example.
The main signs and symptoms caused are:
- Blood in the urine; Pain or burning sensation when urinating; Pain in the lower part of the belly; Increased need to urinate; Sudden urge to urinate; Urinary incontinence; Fatigue; Lack of appetite; Weight loss.
Bleeding in the urine is the most important symptom, but it is not always visible, as it can be microscopic and detected only in the urine test.
However, these signs and symptoms are not specific to cancer, being more common in other diseases of the urinary tract, such as urinary tract infection, kidney stones or urinary incontinence, so they must be differentiated by the evaluation of the general practitioner or urologist.
In men, another important suspicion must also be prostate cancer, which can cause a clinical picture very similar to that of the bladder. Understand better what are the main causes of blood in the urine and pain in the bladder, and what to do if they appear.
Main causes
Many toxic substances pass through the bladder and are eliminated from the bloodstream through urine, which we come into contact with on a daily basis through the consumption of food, breathing and skin contact.
These substances, present in cigarettes, pesticides, dyes and medications, such as cyclophosphamide and arsenic, for example, come into contact with the bladder wall, and can trigger the formation of cancer cells.
How the diagnosis is made
In the presence of signs and symptoms that indicate bladder cancer, it is important to consult with the urologist, so that clinical evaluations, physical examination and laboratory tests are performed, such as urine examination, urinary tract ultrasound, MRI or CT scan, and cystoscopy, which involves the introduction of a thin tube through the urethra to observe the inside of the bladder and collect biopsies.
The biopsy of the tumor is very important, as it will determine whether it is a benign tumor or a cancer with malignant characteristics, which can spread through the body through metastases.
Next, the next steps to define the severity and treatment of bladder cancer depend on the stage of cancer development:
- Stage 0 - tumors located only in the lining of the bladder; Stage 1 - tumor passes through the lining of the bladder, but does not reach the muscle layer; Stage 2 - tumor that affects the muscular layer of the bladder; Stage 3 - tumor that goes beyond the muscular layer of the bladder reaching the surrounding tissues; Stage 4 - the tumor spreads to lymph nodes and neighboring organs, or to distant sites.
The stage the cancer is in depends on the time the person developed it, so it is very important that the diagnosis and the start of treatment are made as soon as possible.
How to treat
The treatment of bladder cancer depends on the staging and the degree of organ involvement, and can be done through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, as indicated by the doctor.
Generally, in stages 0 and 1 of bladder cancer, treatment consists of removing the tumor and administering chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy to the bladder. Stages 2 or 3, on the other hand, can be treated with the removal of the bladder, partially or completely, in addition to the administration of chemotherapy in conjunction with radiation therapy.
However, in stage 4 bladder cancer, due to the presence of metastases and a small chance of cure, surgery is not usually performed, chemotherapy and other treatments are indicated to relieve the symptoms of the disease and allow a longer life span. Find out more details about the main treatment options for bladder cancer.
