Bladder Cancer

Does Bladder Cancer affect men more than women ?

Before discussing anything further, we should know what exactly the bladder is. The Bladder is also called the urinary bladder and is an organ located in the pelvis. The bladder is an organ which is hollow, and is surrounded by walls which are quite flexible and muscular. The main function of the bladder is the storage of the urine before the body can pass it out.
Bladder cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers which affect the bladder; and it can be identified or diagnosed at an early stage also. It is one of the most common types of cancers, ranking fifth in the list of cancers in terms of number of people affected. It is dangerous, but can be treated in most of the cases. Bladder cancer has many types, which includes urothelial carcinoma (which is also called transitional cell carcinoma), small cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and adrenocarcinoma. Basically bladder cancer deals with the abnormal or improper growth of the cells present in the bladder. Bladder cancer is considered to be malignant in nature and hence it is capable of spreading to other parts of the body as well.
There are many symptoms with the help of which a person can guess the presence of bladder cancer. These symptoms may include the following:
• The most common symptom of the bladder cancer is blood coming along with the urine. This is also called hematuria.
• Frequent urination is another symptom indicating bladder cancer.
• A person unable to hold the urine for a long time may also suffer from bladder cancer
• While passing, urine if a person gets a burning sensation then also the person may suffer from bladder cancer.
Apart from the above mentioned symptoms there are many causes or risk factors which may lead to bladder cancer. These include higher risks to people who smoke, have a hereditary problem, or are elder in age. A bladder defect from childhood or birth may also be a risk factor leading to the bladder cancer in people. People suffering from a bladder inflammation for a long time may have greater chances of getting bladder cancer. The long term inflammation of the bladder is also called the chronic inflammation of bladder. People working in chemical factories or people who commonly expose their bodies to various chemicals like arsenic are more prone to bladder cancer as compared to others.
Another main risk factor of bladder cancer is the gender. Bladder cancer is more commonly found in males as compared to females. It is three times more found in men than in women. The main cause of this may be smoking. As compared to females there are more number of males, who commonly smoke and therefore increase their chances of suffering from bladder cancer or any other cancer in that case. Another reason for men being more prone to bladder cancer is the presence of the androgen receptor in men as compared to women. This receptor is said to work more actively in men than in women hence increasing the chances of the disease in men.
There have been tests done on animals to confirm the above stated reason. It was shown that the animal with the receptor was more prone to the disease than the animal which did not have. Studies have shown that one man from a total of 26 men will be suffering from bladder cancer and this ratio in women was found to be 1 in 86 women. A research done in the year 2007 in USA showed that the total number of men suffering from bladder cancer was around 50,000 in number whereas there were only 17,000 women suffering from the same cancer. This clearly shows that the risk of bladder cancer is three time greater in men than in women.

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Bladder Cancer – Symptoms – 2 types of Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is of two types. Invasive bladder cancer and superficial bladder cancer. Superficial bladder tumors usually appear on the urinary epithelium in the form of bladder warts, papillomas or papillary tumors. Invasive tumors as the name suggests appear deeper in the urinary epithelium. In some cases they may extend into the surrounding tissues or muscle layers. They may also spread into near by organs like the sigmoid colon, prostate gland, rectum, uterus, bones of the pelvis and the lymph glands.
Bladder cancer is more common in men as compared to women and is usually diagnosed around the age of 65. Cigarette smoking is one of the main causes of bladder cancer. Exposure to cancer causing substances used in synthetic dyes, rubber, leather, cable and printing may also by high risk causes.

Symptoms: Bladder cancer can be very painful and if one experiences the following symptoms, you should get it checked immediately:

- Hematuria – blood in the urine
- Burning sensation or pain while urinating when you are not suffering from any kind of urinary tract infection.
- A radical change in bladder habits. Often you may want to use the toilet because of a strong urge to urinate but you may not produce too much urine.

These symptoms do not necessarily suggest that you may be suffering from bladder cancer. They are non specific and could be an indication of something else altogether. However if you are suffering from any of the above mentioned symptoms, you should consult a doctor right away.

Old men who experience blood in the urine and are heavy smokers should consult a medical professional immediately as smokers are at high risk of getting bladder cancer. Blood in the urine is the first warning sign and it should not be ignored.
However it is also important to note that the blood in the urine is often not visible to the naked eye. A simple urine test can prove the presence of microscopic hematuria. You can also know for a fact that there is blood in your urine, if it changes color. If your urine takes on a pinkish or orange color, it’s a sign of hematuria.
Like many other cancers, even bladder cancer is difficult to detect and causes little or no symptoms till it has reached an advanced stage. At an advanced stage it is difficult to cure and can be very painful. People who are smokers are usually at a higher risk and as they age they should speak to their doctors and consider going in for regular cancer screening to check whether they are alright.
These are just a few symptoms of bladder cancer. The condition can be very painful if left undetected. However it is difficult for an individual to understand that he or she is suffering from bladder cancer as the symptoms take too long to surface.
However it is essential that every individual as they age should keep a track on their lifestyle, avoid smoking and drinking and also follow a good diet and exercise regimen if they want to stay healthy. A sedentary lifestyle will only make the condition worse. People who are smokers should keep an eye out for the signs and should not waste any time if any of the symptoms surface. Tests and trips to the doctor may cost you some money but it is worth it if the cancer is detected at an early stage. Treating the cancer at a later stage is difficult and can cause a lot of pain to the entire family, therefore staying precautious is the only way of staying safe and healthy.