Bladder cancer is affecting more and more young women. Smoking is an important factor that could promote the disease.
Bladder cancer is a little less known than the others but it affects between 12,000 and 14,000 people each year. Among those diagnosed with this type of cancer are a large number of women, i.e. a third of those affected! Bladder cancer is one of the urological cancers like prostate cancer. However, it turns out to be more fatal than that of the prostate. This disease mainly affects older people. But today the situation has changed.
WHY IS BLADDER CANCER DIAGNOSED IN YOUNG PEOPLE?
Now, a new factor comes into play in the diagnosis of bladder cancer: tobacco. These carcinogenic substances pass into the urine and become a major risk factor. Two thirds of patients with this type of cancer are smokers or former smokers. The first signs of bladder cancer are the appearance of blood in the urine. When there is no manifestation of this symptom, the cancer manifests itself by pressing urges and burning. It is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible because cancer develops quickly if not caught in time.
WHAT TREATMENTS AND MONITORING?
To check for the presence of cancer cells or markers, a urological surgeon inserts a cystoscope into the bladder. Once the lesions are identified, they are taken and analyzed to properly treat the disease. However, like all chronic diseases, there is a possibility of recurrence in some patients. At diagnosis, 80% of tumors attack the superficial layers of the bladder without infiltrating the muscle of the bladder wall. This is where the prognosis is very important because the risk of recurrence is different. For tumors whose
probability of recurrence is relatively low, a simple monitoring by cystoscopy should be done three months later then every year for five years. When the risk is higher, it is necessary to carry out a check-up every three months then every 6 months for 2 years as well as every year for 15 years. This type of tumor with a high risk of recurrence is treated with the tuberculosis vaccine. The immune reaction will allow the body to kill residual cancer cells.
WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RECIDIENCE?
As long as the tumors do not affect the bladder muscle, it is possible to remove the tumor cells several times each time they recur. This can help patients achieve stable condition or even cure! It is more complicated when the tumor infiltrates the muscle. There is always the possibility of recovery but the treatment is more intensive. By removing the bladder, the chances
survival are better. To drain urinary excretion it is necessary to attach a bag to the abdomen to replace the functions of the bladder. But when there is a presence of metastases even ablation of the bladder is not viable. The patient can, however, try treatment with immunotherapies implemented since 2013.
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