Bladder cancer is a tumor that forms in the inner tissue of the urinary bladder and arises when the cells that make up this organ begin to grow rapidly. This type of cancer is considered one of the most frequent and malignant. Its main cause is exposure to certain chemicals found in tobacco or cigarette smoke.
The bladder is located in the lower part of the abdomen; This organ is responsible for storing urine from the kidneys, which will then be expelled by the body. It is common for this type of neoplasm to appear in the innermost layer of the bladder called the " urothelium " and as it grows it will go on to the other layers of the bladder wall.
Among the factors that increase the chances of getting bladder cancer are: smoking. It is perhaps one of the factors that has contributed the most to the appearance of carcinomas in the urinary system, since according to studies, smokers are more likely to suffer from bladder cancer, compared to non-smokers.
Another risk factor is exposures to certain chemical substances at work sites, such as in industries where chemical products are handled, such as aromatic amines (beta-naphthylamine, benzidine, etc.), however people who most at risk are those who work in industries that manufacture products for paints, leather, textiles, rubber, etc.; painters and hairdressers are also prone to this disease, as they are constantly exposed to chemical odors.
La edad, también se estima que sea un factor de riesgo, ya que este tipo de cáncer tiende a aparecer, a medida que aumenta la edad. Se estima que 9 de cada 10 personas que padecen de cáncer de vejiga superan los 55 años. Los antecedentes familiares, de igual manera, son considerados factores causantes de la enfermedad, ya que las personas que han tenido familiares con cáncer de vejiga son más propensas a padecerla.
People need to be on the lookout for the following symptoms: lower back pain, blood in the urine, frequent urination, and pain or burning when doing so. It is important to note that many times these symptoms are often confused with urinary infections, therefore it is recommended to see a specialist.
In cases where the cancer is already very advanced, the symptoms that appear are the following: difficulty urinating, swelling in the feet, pain on one side of the lower back, weight loss, fatigue and pain in the bones.
At the time of going to a doctor, he will perform a series of examinations in order to give a definitive diagnosis, some of them are: MRI of the abdomen, tomography of the abdomen, urinalysis, cystoscopy (observe the internal part of the bladder through a camera). Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will perform other evaluations to see if the tumor has spread and thus be able to specify what type of treatment to apply.
The treatments in this class of tumors depend on the stage in which they are; These range from chemotherapy, immunotherapy (treatment based on drugs called BCG or interferon, which are responsible for destroying the tumor), to surgery.
