Approximately 12,000 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed each year in France. This urological cancer, which primarily affects men, requires surgery and prompt treatment to limit tumor progression. Discover the symptoms and lesser-known risk factors of bladder cancer.
Only 28% of French people say they know about bladder cancer, according to a recent survey published by Opinion Way for the Merck-Pfizer Alliance, and revealed exclusively by 20 Minutes.
After prostate cancer, bladder cancer is the second most common cancer of the urinary tract and ranks seventh among the most frequent cancers in France. Knowing the warning signs and risk factors is therefore essential for better prevention and rapid, effective treatment of the disease
Bladder cancer: what is it?
Although it can affect women (in about 20% of cases), bladder cancer mainly affects men, and particularly after the age of 50.
This disease is caused by the presence of cancerous cells inside the bladder, which multiply and form a tumor. The bladder is a hollow organ of the urinary system whose role is to receive and eliminate urine produced by the kidneys.
Symptoms: How to detect bladder cancer?
The recently published survey reveals a lack of awareness of this cancer, and the symptoms associated with it.
The signs that should raise concern and prompt a consultation are:
The presence of blood in the urine (hematuria), more or less visible;
a more frequent urge to urinate
; burning during urination;
pain during urination.
The appearance of these symptoms, whether continuous or not, should prompt a prompt consultation with a doctor.
Diagnosing bladder cancer
To diagnose bladder cancer, several tests are necessary:
A rectal and/or vaginal examination;
a urine analysis.
An ultrasound of the urinary tract;
a cytology (study of cells).
To measure the extent of the tumor, a CT urogram (imaging examination of the urinary system) may then be performed before treatment for bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer: risk factors to know
Several factors that increase the risk of bladder cancer have been identified:
Smoking doubles the risk of bladder cancer
As with lung cancer, where it increases the risk tenfold, smoking is a significant factor in bladder cancer: in men, it is thought to be responsible for half of bladder cancers and for nearly 2 out of 5 bladder cancers in women.
The cause is the toxic substances contained in cigarette smoke, which are eliminated in the urine by the kidneys, and which therefore pass through the urinary system where the bladder is located.
The risks associated with smoking increase depending on the age at which the person started smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked per day and the period of smoking if they quit.
Hence the importance of active prevention among smokers, who can reduce the risk of bladder cancer by crushing their last cigarette.
Toxic substances are being singled out in certain professions.
There are occupational risk factors for bladder cancer related to exposure to toxic substances.
In France, this includes aromatic amines, whose toxicity can vary. Aromatic amines are organic compounds used in the cosmetics industry, in the manufacture of certain pharmaceuticals, in the composition of pesticides and dyes, and in the manufacturing process of certain plastics and rubber.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are also among the toxic substances identified as risk factors for bladder cancer. These aromatic hydrocarbons, which are constituents of coal and petroleum, are used in the textile, tar, and tire industries.
Although exposure to these toxic substances in certain professions is now highly regulated in France and in many other countries, there are still risks to be aware of, for prevention and special monitoring.
Medications and radiotherapy
The continuous use of certain medications (in pain management, or as part of chemotherapy), and pelvic radiotherapy, may also be linked to bladder cancer.
Management and treatment of bladder cancer
Once diagnosed through various examinations, bladder cancer, like all tumors, must be treated promptly. Surgery is the most common option for removing the cancerous tumor from the patient’s urinary system.
In some cases, chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be indicated in addition to this tumor removal.
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