The bladder is a hollow organ that stores urine until it can be eliminated. It is located in the lower abdomen, which is typically where one feels pressure when he or she must urinate. Bladder cancer research has concluded that this disease is the 6th most common type of cancer in the Western Hemisphere. Fortunately, treatments are available if the condition is caught early, which can potentially save the patient's life.
Symptoms include low back pain, pain upon urination, frequency, and blood in one's urine. However, cysts and infections can also cause the symptoms, and therefore they are not always indicative of a malignancy. Therefore, whenever such symptoms are present, individuals are wise to seek evaluation by a medical professional.
Risk factors for developing this condition include smoking tobacco products and exposure to specific chemicals. Bladder cancer is often the result of exposure to the sulfur found in cigarettes. This substance causes irritation in the lining of this organ, which in turn makes it more susceptible to the multiplication of free radicals.
For reasons that are not yet know, males are at a higher risk for this disease than females. Additionally, Caucasians are more susceptible to bladder malignancies than Africans or Asians. Again, it has not yet been determined why this is the case. Furthermore, the risk of developing any kind of malignancy increases as individuals grow older. This may be due to the weakening of the immune system that naturally occurs with age, or hereditary factors that do not surface until late in life.
Therapy for this kind of cancer includes radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical procedures. Biological therapies are also used in certain cases. The latter are techniques developed to enhance a person's own immune system, which can then effectively fight any cancerous growths present in his or her body. Additional studies are required to determine if this technique is effective, but preliminary studies have caused many researchers to be optimistic about this type of treatment.
The kind of therapy recommended will depend on the cancer's stage. If it is caught in what is commonly called stage I, meaning it has not invaded other organs yet, it is usually cured with surgery. Stage II tumors are those that have metastasized to nearby tissue. In such cases, the patient usually receives radiation, or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, depending on the area to which the disease has spread. Tumors classified as stage III or stage IV are typically treated with chemotherapy, or combination of all the aforementioned therapies.
For low-risk superficial tumors, such as those seen with stage I malignancies, the chances of recurrence are approximately 15 percent. Interestingly, however, when they do recur, the tumors are typically no more aggressive than those the person experienced originally. This means that if the disease was caught early and subsequently cured the first time, it is likely that this will be the outcome if it returns.
Extensive bladder cancer research projects are currently underway to determine if there are more effective ways to both prevent and treat this condition. Although the disease is not common, it can be fatal. This is why anyone who notices the aforementioned symptoms should schedule an appointment with a medical professional as soon as possible.
Symptoms include low back pain, pain upon urination, frequency, and blood in one's urine. However, cysts and infections can also cause the symptoms, and therefore they are not always indicative of a malignancy. Therefore, whenever such symptoms are present, individuals are wise to seek evaluation by a medical professional.
Risk factors for developing this condition include smoking tobacco products and exposure to specific chemicals. Bladder cancer is often the result of exposure to the sulfur found in cigarettes. This substance causes irritation in the lining of this organ, which in turn makes it more susceptible to the multiplication of free radicals.
For reasons that are not yet know, males are at a higher risk for this disease than females. Additionally, Caucasians are more susceptible to bladder malignancies than Africans or Asians. Again, it has not yet been determined why this is the case. Furthermore, the risk of developing any kind of malignancy increases as individuals grow older. This may be due to the weakening of the immune system that naturally occurs with age, or hereditary factors that do not surface until late in life.
Therapy for this kind of cancer includes radiation, chemotherapy, and surgical procedures. Biological therapies are also used in certain cases. The latter are techniques developed to enhance a person's own immune system, which can then effectively fight any cancerous growths present in his or her body. Additional studies are required to determine if this technique is effective, but preliminary studies have caused many researchers to be optimistic about this type of treatment.
The kind of therapy recommended will depend on the cancer's stage. If it is caught in what is commonly called stage I, meaning it has not invaded other organs yet, it is usually cured with surgery. Stage II tumors are those that have metastasized to nearby tissue. In such cases, the patient usually receives radiation, or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, depending on the area to which the disease has spread. Tumors classified as stage III or stage IV are typically treated with chemotherapy, or combination of all the aforementioned therapies.
For low-risk superficial tumors, such as those seen with stage I malignancies, the chances of recurrence are approximately 15 percent. Interestingly, however, when they do recur, the tumors are typically no more aggressive than those the person experienced originally. This means that if the disease was caught early and subsequently cured the first time, it is likely that this will be the outcome if it returns.
Extensive bladder cancer research projects are currently underway to determine if there are more effective ways to both prevent and treat this condition. Although the disease is not common, it can be fatal. This is why anyone who notices the aforementioned symptoms should schedule an appointment with a medical professional as soon as possible.
About the Author:
If you are searching for information about bladder cancer research you can trust this source at www.seizetheribbon.com. Get all the specifics by clicking on this link http://www.seizetheribbon.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment