Basic info about Bladder Cancer

Being the part of the body that removes waste, the bladder is an integral part of our body. As the organ that stores urine, and thus helps remove excess nutrients and waste products from the body, the bladder plays an integral role in many bodily functions.

Bladder cancer can be of three main types, depending on which area of the bladder it forms in, and what type of cells are affected. There can be many reasons for a person to develop bladder cancer, and people with a history of tobacco use or infections in the bladder have a risk of developing this disease. Tobacco users are said to be at twice to thrice the risk of developing bladder cancer than others. Although a person may have one or more of the above mentioned risk factors, they are not exact causes for developing the disease. Symptoms of bladder cancer include needing to urinate often, pain during urinating, and blood mixed with urine. These symptoms alone are not predictions of the disease, and so a more thorough check is necessary. Many types of tests can be taken to confirm the presence, or lack of, bladder cancer. Biopsies are considered a sure way of finding if bladder cancer is present or not.

Bladder cancer occurs in four stages, separated as such due to the extent of penetration of cancer cells in the bladder. Stage 0 is when the cancer cells appear only in the inner lining of the bladder, whereas Stage IV is when the cancer cells have spread through the body and reached other organs, like the lungs or pelvis. Stages I to III refer to different levels of invasion in the body by the cancer cells.

Treatments vary according to each stage, with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and sometimes surgery, used. A blend of a number of therapies can also be used. Going according to doctor’s advice is best for the patient, when it comes to such treaments. As an after-effect of bladder cancer treatment, patients may lose their appetites or suffer from nausea but it is important for patients to be able to take in proper nutrition into their body so that they have enough calories and protein. Discussing with a doctor or dietician will give the patient more information on the diet that the patient needs to follow, so that healing can be made faster and easier.