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One of the several types of malignant growths or tumor in the urinary bladder is referred to bladder cancer. The urinary bladder is a muscular organ located in the pelvis. It stores urine before expulsion. The normal cells in the bladder divide and multiply at a rapid pace, these cells forms a mass called a tumor. The cells lining the inside of the bladder called as the transitional cell are the most susceptible ones. They multiply and divide to form transitional cell carcinoma or urothelial cell carcinoma. There are several causes of bladder cancer known, lets see what are the causes that mainly are responsible for bladder cancer.
One of the main causes of bladder cancer is tobacco smoking. Half of the cases of men and one third of the women who were diagnosed with bladder cancer belonged to smoking population. As the risk of bladder cancer increases with smoking, so avoiding it can really reduce the risk. Though active smoking is the main bladder cancer causes, passive smoking also contributes it. Apart from these causes, exposure to carcinogens like benzidine in the workplace can increase the risk of bladder cancer. Thirty percent of bladder cancers are reported due to carcinogens. As said earlier passive smoking can also be a risk of bladder cancer because people may inhale 2-naphthylamine, a carcinogen found in the cigarette smoke.
Apart from these causes of bladder cancer, people in different occupations where the exposure to other carcinogens is prevalent are at higher risks. Some of the well exposed occupations at risk are motor mechanics, hairdressers, mechanics, and bus drivers’ etcetera. Some studies suggest that men who consume 1.5 L of water per day had reduced risk or incidence of bladder cancer causes when compared to men who consumed less than 240 ml a day. Though this is not yet confirmed or proved. Though these cancers very often occur due
to carcinogens, genetic mutations may also be associated in some cases. The mutations may occur in KRAS2, HRAS, FGFR3 and RB1.
World Health Organization concluded in 2008 that certain fruits and vegetables may reduce the occurrence of bladder cancer. Yellow-orange vegetables like carrots and selenium and fruits are the suggested ones for reducing the risk of bladder cancer. These fruits and vegetables aids in eliminating the carcinogens. Of course they cannot aid in completely eliminating the carcinogens, but in minute amounts.
Bladder cancer is generally diagnosed by a biopsy. It may be an incidental finding during cytoscopy. Patients with the history and symptoms are generally referred to a urologist. Actually there are 4 different stages of bladder cancer observed. The progression of cancer in the bladder determines the stage. Even the treated bladder cancer can re-occur. Treatment for this cancer depends on the stage of it. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the commonly used treatment methods.
