Symptoms and causes

Bladder cancer

Symptoms of bladder cancer

The main symptoms of bladder cancer can vary depending on the stage of the disease and the type of cancer, but generally include:

1. Hematuria (blood in the urine)

• It is the most common symptom of bladder cancer. Blood in the urine may be visible to the naked eye (gross hematuria) or detected only by urinalysis (microscopic hematuria).
• Urine may appear pink, reddish or dark brown.

The presence of hematuria (blood in the urine) by itself does not confirm the existence of bladder cancer, since there are many other causes of bleeding such as a urinary tract infection. However, whenever hematuria appears, the presence of bladder cancer must be ruled out (due to its potential severity), by performing certain studies to determine whether the diagnosis of bladder cancer is confirmed or whether it is another pathology.

2. Stinging or burning when urinating

• Patients may experience pain or a burning sensation during urination, which is sometimes mistaken for a urinary tract infection.

3. Frequent need to urinate

• Increased urinary frequency, even if the bladder is not completely full. There may be a constant sensation of having to urinate, but in small amounts.

4. Any other type of problems or changes in voiding dynamics.

When bladder cancer occursin more advanced stages or with spread to other organs, other symptoms may appear such as:

Abdominal pain

Palpable abdominal mass

3. Loss of appetite and weight

4. Fatigue and weakness

5. Back pain.

6. Urine retention

If any of these symptoms appear, it is advisable to consult your doctor or urologist.

Causes of bladder cancer

Age, smoking and exposure to industrial paints and dyes are the main causes of bladder cancer. In addition, patients with chronic catheterization or lithiasis may have an increased incidence of bladder cancer of the squamous subtype due to the presence of a foreign body inside the bladder.

Age

Bladder cancer is more common in people over 50 or 60 years of age, although there are also cases in younger people.

Tobacco

It causes 50% of bladder cancer cases in both men and women. A smoker is at least three times more likely to develop bladder cancer than a non-smoker.

Environmental and occupational aspects

There are certain industrial chemicals that are linked to bladder cancer, such as aromatic amines used in some dye industries. People exposed to the manufacture of rubber, leather, textiles, paints and dyes are at increased risk for this cancer.

Thus, if the two situations are combined, being a smoker and being exposed to this type of substances at work, the risk of bladder cancer is particularly high.

Irritation and chronic infection of the bladder

Urinary tract infections, bladder and kidney stones, long-term bladder catheters, as well as other causes of chronic bladder irritation, have been associated with squamous subtype bladder cancer.

Schistosomiasis

A parasite infection that can penetrate the bladder is also a risk factor for bladder cancer of the squamous subtype, mainly in countries where this parasite is common: Africa and the Middle East in particular.

Prolonged use of cyclophosphamide

Long-term use of the chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®) can irritate the bladder and increase the risk of bladder cancer. People taking this drug are asked to drink plenty of water to help protect the bladder from irritation.

Radiation

People who receive radiation treatments to the pelvis are more likely to develop bladder cancer.

Not drinking enough fluids

People who do not drink enough fluids daily, especially water, may be more likely to develop bladder cancer, possibly because they empty their bladder less frequently causing some chemicals to remain inside it longer.

The race

Although the reasons for this are not fully understood, whites are more prone to bladder cancer than blacks.

Family history and genetics

People with a family member with bladder cancer are at increased risk for the disease. They may share changes in some genes (such as GST and NAT) that make it difficult to break down certain toxins.

On the other hand, a small number of people inherit some genetic syndrome that increases their risk of bladder cancer. This can be:

• Mutation of the retinoblastoma gene (RB1) may increase the risk of bladder cancer.
• Cowden disease, caused by mutations in the PTEN gene, may also increase the likelihood of bladder cancer.
• Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or HNPCC, can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer, as well as other urinary tract cancers.