Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is a cancer which is diagnosed in over 70,000 people each year in the United States, and which has almost a 20% mortality rate.[1] Most bladder cancers involve the inner lining of the bladder, called the transitional epithelium. Other types of bladder cancer include those that affect the production of mucous from cells, called adenocarcinoma, and those that affect the thin flat cells of the bladder, called squamous cell carcinoma.
Causes | Environmental Toxins, Infections, Smoking |
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See Also | Urinary Conditions, Oncology |
Books | Books on Oncology |
Articles | Articles on Oncology (Cancer) |
Article | Effect of Various Natural Products on Growth of Bladder Cancer Cells: Two Promising Mushroom Extracts , Alt Med; 2007;Vol12(1 |
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Causal Factors
Bladder cancer is caused from irritants contained in the urine. As the bladder is the organ which holds and stores urine until it is released, irritants and toxins can become concentrated, remain in the bladder for long times and cause abnormal cellular changes in response. Some known causes of bladder cancer include:
External Factors
- There is a strong association between cigarrette smoking and an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Environmental Factors
- Schistosomal parasitic infection can result in bladder cancer.
- Heavy metals and environmental chemical exposure can increase the susceptibility of bladder cancer.
Symptoms
Article | Hypericum Lights the Path Toward New Bladder Cancer Therapies, NDNR; 2012 November |
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Bladder cancer is often asymptomatic until it has progressed. Common symptoms associated with bladder cancer include:
- Urine changes - the urine becomes darker or blood appears in the urine
- Urinary symptoms including discomfort and pain with urination, urgency to urinate, or difficulty urinating.
Other conditions that have similar symptoms include:
Diagnostics
The confirmation of bladder cancer involves the following:
- Urine tests including a routine urinalysis
- Imaging Studies including a cystoscopy, CT Scan
- ↑ http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/bladder accessed May 17 2012.