Cancer is a malignant tumor,which begins its development, disrupting the functioning of the body as a whole. It is characterized by uncontrolled growth, penetration into other tissues. Bladder cancer today cannot be called a rarity, since its cause can even be long-term contact with ordinary detergents. Treatment can be different. Here it is taken into account at what stage the cancer was diagnosed, what form it is observed. When detected at an early stage, treatment is successful in most cases, but if the disease is advanced, the prognosis is the most negative.

Causes of cancer

This malignant tumor first affectsthe mucous membrane of the bladder, then the walls, goes beyond the muscular layer. Most often, cancer cells appear on the inner surface, this is about 90% of cases. But if you do not monitor your condition, the cells gradually grow, the bladder begins to literally rot from the inside. For the treatment to be effective, it is necessary to undergo diagnostic maintenance on time, follow all the doctor's orders after determining the form and stage of the disease. There are not many reasons for the development of bladder cancer, most often these are:

• In smokers, cancer is observed approximately twice as often as in others. There is a fairly high probability of recurrence.
• long-term contact with dyes, washingsubstances, aniline, benzene and others. Bladder cancer is most often observed in workers of dry cleaners, chemical industry, dentists, hairdressers;
• previous chemotherapy, radiotherapy;
• chronic cystitis;
• in the presence of a urinary catheter for a long time (with diseases such as damage to the spinal cord, for example);
• heredity.

Forms of the course of the disease and symptoms

The symptoms of bladder cancer can be very different. There are several forms of manifestation of this disease:

• carcinoma, or transitional cell carcinoma. This form is the most common, it occurs in about 90 percent of cases;
• squamous cell carcinoma is less common. It is caused by the fact that the bladder was previously strongly affected by cystitis, that is, inflammation;
• rare forms, such as lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma and others.

Symptoms of cancer can vary, including:

• frequent urination, which starts to bother;
• the presence of blood in the urine. Such symptoms are an incentive for urgent examination. Often the appearance of blood is accompanied by pain;
• with micturition there is a strong and sharp pain before and after;
• it is necessary to take into account such symptoms asweakness, increased fatigue, a sharp and unreasonable weight loss, an increase in temperature to about 37.5 degrees. Such symptoms may be signs of other diseases, not such serious ones, but if the above-mentioned phenomena are observed together with them, then it is necessary to undergo an emergency examination without delay;
• if metastases have already appeared, then symptoms such as shortness of breath, jaundice are observed.

If you have all of the abovesymptoms, and you are at risk, then you need to urgently make an appointment with a urologist, undergo a diagnostic examination. Often, it is a timely visit to a doctor that allows you to completely overcome the disease at an early stage.

Diagnostic Methods

The main sign that the bladderaffected by cancer is the presence of blood in the urine. If you notice that you have blood discharge when visiting the toilet, this is an urgent reason to go to the hospital. Bladder cancer can be diagnosed using the following methods:

• the analysis of urine, allowing to define in urine signs of inflammatory process, cancer cells. Such an analysis is called cytology;
• cystoscopy, when through the urethraA thin tube is inserted into the bladder, at the end of which the camera is installed. This allows you to examine the condition of the bladder in detail, see the affected areas;
• Ultrasound examination can correctly determine why there is blood in the urine. It can be causes such as stones, swelling, kidney cancer;
• computed tomography is performed toclarification of tumor size, the presence of metastases, lesions of lymph nodes. In the blood, a special contrast substance is introduced, which allows us to examine the urinary tract;
• analysis for markers. This method is used for relapses of the disease.

Stages of the course of the disease

Bladder cancer depending on complexityThe progression of the disease is usually divided into separate stages: stage 0 means that cancer cells were found in the bladder, but they have not spread throughout the organ. This stage is usually divided into 0a and 0is:

• 0a, or papillary non-invasive carcinoma. This is a germination in the lumen, but the absence of germination in the walls of the bladder. Lymph nodes are not affected;
• 0is, or carcinoma in situ. It is a tumor that does not germinate into the walls, the lumen of the bladder, the lymph nodes are not affected.

The treatment prognosis is 82-100%, that is, it is quite high.

• Stage 1 is bladder cancer, whichbegins to spread more deeply into the muscle layers, but the fatty tissue is not affected, there is no complete germination yet. If treatment is started on time, the percentage of elimination of the disease is 82-100%.
• Stage 2 is bladder cancer, whichhas already spread to the muscular layer of the organ. The probability that the disease will be cured with timely initiation of medications and procedures is only 63% to 83%.
• Stage 3 occurs when the tumor sproutsthrough the wall, adipose tissue, often it already extends to the seminal vesicles, the prostate, the vagina or the uterus, but the lymph nodes are not yet affected. The prognosis for recovery is low, from 17% to 53%.
• Stage 4 is bladder cancer,in which the tumor spreads strongly to other organs, metastasizes to the lungs, liver. The prognosis for recovery is extremely low, the probability that life expectancy with such a disease will be more than five years is only 20%.

Treatment of cancer

Cancer treatments can vary.It all depends on the stage of the disease, the general condition of the patient, age and many other reasons. Treatment may include surgery, when tissues are simply removed, radiotherapy (irradiation of the affected area), chemotherapy (taking special medications). Treatment of stage 0 depends on the size of the tumor, its behavior, growth rate, direction of growth (into the wall of the bladder or into the lumen). Cancer of this stage can be treated with the following methods:

• transurethral resection, that is, removal of the tumor through the urethra. In this case there are no external incisions completely, there are no scars on the skin;
• use of the BCG vaccine administereddirectly inside the bladder. This allows the patient's immune system to fight the tumor independently, the cancer cells are gradually being destroyed. This method of treatment not only allows you to get rid of cancer without the need for surgery, but also reduces the risk of relapse by about half, which is an excellent result;
• Chemotherapy is a treatment with special anti-cancer drugs that are injected into the bladder cavity;
• Cystectomy is a radical treatment,which involves removing the entire bladder if several tumor foci are found in it. At stage zero, this method is rarely required; medications are usually used.

The prognosis for treatment at this stage is subject tothe rate of complete recovery is 98%. However, even at this stage, bladder cancer can recur, so it is necessary to visit your doctor regularly. Treatment for stage 1 cancer is practically no different from the treatment for stage 0. Medications administered into the bladder can be used. The incidence of relapses in this case is approximately twice as high, and cystectomy is usually prescribed. Treatment for stage 2 cancer almost always involves surgery, i.e., removal of the bladder. At this stage, the tumor penetrates into adjacent pelvic organs, so removal can affect them as well. In women, the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the anterior part of the vagina are removed, and in men, the prostate gland is removed. Many specialists recommend immediate removal of the pelvic lymph nodes, as a new cancerous lesion may develop. After surgery, chemotherapy is prescribed, which helps minimize the risk of metastases. Treatment for stage 3 cancer also involves removal of the bladder, lymph nodes, and adjacent organs. Before and after the operation, a course of chemotherapy is mandatory. Treatment of stage 4 cancer is the most difficult. In this case, the area of ​​spread is very extensive, surgical intervention is carried out only to slow down the disease, to stop its development. Among the main methods used for such treatment are the following:

• radiotherapy, or irradiation. This method is used if the tumor has not yet metastasized to nearby organs - liver, bones, lungs, etc.;
• chemotherapy, that is the use of special medicines. This method can be administered simultaneously with radiotherapy, it is used when metastases have already penetrated into other organs.

What are relapses?

Even if the cancer has been completely cured, it is possiblerelapse of the disease, which is called a relapse. This happens quite often. Therefore, it is necessary for all patients to regularly visit the supervising urologist and undergo appropriate examination. After recovery, preventive examinations are necessary in the first two years, which are carried out every 3-6 months, depending on the complexity of the disease and risk factors. A relapse can occur already a couple of months after recovery, but it can also occur after several years. Therefore, constant monitoring is recommended and cannot be neglected. It must be remembered that the earlier a relapse occurs, the more difficult the disease will be, the treatment of such cancer is difficult, in some cases an incurable stage is diagnosed. A relapse can occur not only in the bladder, but also in other organs, it is almost impossible to give a prognosis. The treatment process will depend on the severity of the disease, the extent of cancer spread. If recurrent bladder cancer is observed, and the severity of the disease is high, then a cystectomy is necessary - complete removal of the organ. If the cancer has manifested itself elsewhere, chemotherapy is prescribed, surgery is performed only in complex cases. Malignant tumor of the bladder is a dangerous disease from which no one is immune. It manifests itself in the occurrence of a malignant, growing tumor that affects not only this organ, but also other tissues of the body. The disease requires mandatory treatment, constant supervision of a urologist. In addition to drug treatment, at some stages, surgical intervention is prescribed, which involves the removal of the affected tissue, nearby areas, if there is a threat of spread.

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