Bladder cancer
Typically seen in people over the age of 50, bladder cancer is two to three times more frequent in men than in women. And as average life expectancy increases, bladder cancer is on the rise. Each year, around 17 in 100,000 people worldwide develop the disease.
Bladder cancer cannot be cured by radiation treatment. It must always be treated surgically and it’s the most common reason for removing the bladder.
The main causes of bladder cancer
Smoking doubles the risk of developing bladder cancer and is the most common cause of bladder cancer in Europe and the USA. The chemical agents in tobacco smoke are concentrated in the urine, affecting the mucous membrane of the bladder. In 47 per cent of men and 37 per cent of women (this figure is rising for women) who die of bladder cancer, smoking is the cause.
Certain industrial chemical agents are also suspected of causing bladder cancer. Studies indicate that people who live in industrial areas or who work closely with dyes, leather, rubber and textiles (such as people in the printing industry) are at higher risk.
In West Asia and North Africa, a specific type of larva that lives in contaminated fresh water penetrates the skin to produce bilharzia (schistosomiasis), an indirect cause of bladder cancer. The larva can be caught when bathing in infected water.
The most common symptoms of bladder cancer Symptoms that can be observed include:
hematuria (blood in the urine) – this is the most common warning sign and may be visible to the naked eye or under a microscope painful urination a change in urine habits (frequency and urgency).
As the disease progresses, it can affect nearby organs, including the prostate, uterus, vagina, ureters and rectum. It can also metastasis to the pelvic lymph nodes, liver, lung and bones.
Find out more
This information is taken from a comprehensive textbook (also available as a CD-ROM) about basic stoma care called Urostomy – Background and Consequences.
You can also read more in an interactive CD-ROM Your Guide to Stoma Care.
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