3 min read
The bladder is an organ located in the lower abdomen and has the purpose of storing urine. Bladder cancer is when malignant cells form in the tissues of the bladder. It most often begins in the bladder mucosa, which can lead to blood-stained urine at a relatively early stage.
In general bladder cancers can be classified into non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive stages. The accurate classification requires the removal of the bladder tumor by an endoscopic procedure, in order to closely examine the depth of invasion under the microscope.
Bladder cancer can occur in more than one type of cell, and they have different tumor behavior.
Bladder cancer is caused by a mutation in the DNA of the bladder cells. The abnormal cells then proliferate to form an invasive tumor that destroys our normal human body tissues and invades into surrounding structures. These abnormal cells can also metastasize, which is when they break away and spread throughout the body.
Risk factors for bladder cancer include:
Bladder cancer is treated depending on the type and stage of cancer, as well as the overall health of the patient. A combination of treatments can also be adopted. The options include:
Ways to reduce the risk of bladder cancer include:
Bladder cancer can spread to other organs throughout the body. There are also non-cancerous complications of having bladder cancer:
Bladder cancer may be life-threatening, as it will spread quickly if left untreated.
Bladder cancer may result in blood-stained urine, which is often alarming. However, occasionally painful urination and frequent urination are the only symptoms.
If discovered early, bladder cancer is highly treatable. Technological advancement has also enabled minimally invasive treatment for bladder cancers of different stages.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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