bladder cancer
What is Bladder Cancer?
Cancer of the Bladder forms when cells in the bladder develop mutations that cause them to grow out of control. These mutations form a tumor.
There are 3 different types of Bladder Cancer:
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma forms in the cells that line the inside of your bladder. These transitional cells expand when you bladder is full and contract when you bladder is empty. These same cells line he inside of your ureters and also your urethra. Tumors can form in these locations as well.
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma form from chronic infection and irritation of the bladder. They turn cancerous over time. It is more common in parts of the world where the parasitic infection Schistosomiasis is the prevalent cause of bladder infections.
- Adenocarcinoma begins in cells that are in the mucus-secreting glands of the bladder.
SYMPTOMS OF BLADDER CANCER
The signs and symptoms may include:
- Blood in the urine (this may make your urine extremely dark in color, or even bright red. Urine might appear normal, but blood can be detected in lab work.
- Painful urination
- Frequent urination
- Back pain
- Pain in the pelvic area
DIAGNOSING BLADDER CANCER
There are several options your health professional may choose to get a correct diagnoses:
- Urine cytology is the less invasive and is simply a sample of your urine which is then analyzed under a microscope.
- A computerized tomography (CT) scan may be used and allows your health professional to see the urinary tract as well as the surrounding tissue.
- Other X-ray scans may be used including those using dye, which is injected in a vein before the procedure to highlight the urinary tract.
- Biopsy is collected during cystoscopy in which your doctor inserts a narrow tube through your urethra. You will receive a local anesthetic or general anesthesia during cystoscopy. The cystoscope allows the doctor to see inside the urethra and bladder.
