Bladder is another important part of our body that helps in disposal of wastes from our body. Bladder is responsible for collecting and storing urine till it is finally disposed off from our body. The occurrence of cancer in bladder is known as bladder cancer.

Types of bladder cancer

Depending on what cells are affected by bladder cancer, the bladder cancer is known as urothelial cell cancer or squamous cell cancer. There are other types of bladder cancer too and sometimes the same kind of bladder cancer might be known by two or more different names too.

Cause of bladder cancer

Exposure to chemicals (as used in certain types of factories) and smoke (tobacco smoke) can lead to a greater risk of bladder cancer. So, the risk of bladder cancer is higher in smokers (and this is besides the fact that smoking can really increase the risk of lung cancer). However, not many smokers pay heed to the advice about quitting smoking. Like a number of other types of cancer, the bladder cancer too occurs mostly in older people i.e. people who are above the age of 50. The exact causes of bladder cancer are, however, a matter of research and the researchers are continuously working towards getting an answer to this.

Symptoms of bladder cancer

As you would have thought, the symptoms of blood cancer are associated with the process of urination. Pain in the bladder or frequent urge for urinating are other symptoms which might indicate bladder cancer. However, none of these symptoms can be conclusively related to bladder cancer. These symptoms could very well be caused by other conditions or infections. Getting worried about bladder cancer without having gone through proper diagnosis can do nothing but harm your peace of mind. So, if you feel that you have such symptoms you must immediately consult a qualified doctor.

Diagnosis of bladder cancer

The diagnosis of bladder cancer starts with urine tests. The doctor may perform/ prescribe other tests in order to diagnose bladder cancer. X-rays, blood test, intravenous urogram and biopsies could also be used for testing bladder cancer. Again, catching bladder cancer in early stages can really help in combating this dreaded condition.

Treatment of bladder cancer

Based on how bad the bladder cancer is (and also the type of bladder cancer), the doctor will draw out your treatment plan. The treatment can range from surgery to radiotherapy or chemotherapy. There are a few other treatments for bladder cancer but really it all depends on the type of cancer, the stage of cancer etc.