Around 1,200 people in Switzerland develop bladder cancer every year. That is around 3 percent of all cancer cases. Three quarters of those affected are men, one quarter women. Almost 60 percent of patients are 70 years or older at the time of diagnosis.
The urinary bladder is located in the abdomen. Its function is to store urine and excrete it when urinating. The bladder consists of two layers: the muscle layer and the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the bladder. Bladder cancer starts in the mucous membrane.
Risk factors
There is no clear cause of bladder cancer. However, some factors can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer. A very important risk factor is smoking. Other possible risk factors include:
- frequent and prolonged contact with certain chemicals
- chronic bladder inflammation (cystitis)
- high consumption of painkillers
- Schistosomiasis (infection caused by certain parasites that also affect the urinary bladder)
- Previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the pelvic area
Symptoms
Bladder cancer often causes few symptoms. Blood in the urine can be an early sign. Even if this only occurs once, you should see a doctor if your urine is reddish. Other, much rarer symptoms include a frequent urge to urinate and difficulty or pain when urinating.
Diagnose
Bladder cancer is often diagnosed through cystoscopy: the doctor inserts an endoscope through the urethra into the bladder and examines the inside of the bladder. An ultrasound examination of the bladder and kidneys and an image of the urinary tract using contrast medium provide additional information.
therapy
Bladder cancer is almost always treated with a procedure or surgery. If the disease is limited to the mucous membrane, the affected tissue can be removed and the bladder preserved. If the cancer has spread further, the bladder must be removed. In this case, a new urinary diversion is created during the operation, for example through a replacement bladder or a urostomy. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used primarily in advanced stages.
Source and in collaboration with the Swiss Cancer League (www.krebsliga.ch).
