Smoking increases the risk of bladder cancer! Watch out for these signs
Urology Specialist Assoc. Dr Şevket Tolga Tombul stated that bladder cancer is a form of cancer that manifests with abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the urinary bladder, the organ where urine is stored and excreted from the body. He added that bladder cancer usually arises in the cells that line the inner surface of the bladder, but rarely from other cell types. Noting that bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, Assoc. Dr Mollig; “Because of many factors, such as environmental influences, lifestyle and genetic predisposition, bladder cancer is seen more often in Western countries, while it is less common in regions such as Asia and Africa. It is known that bladder cancer is 2-3 times more common in men than in women. However, the incidence of bladder cancer is increasing in women, and one of the main reasons for this increase is believed to be the increase in the number of smokers in women. Bladder cancer is also associated with age; It is more common in middle-aged and older people. Advanced age is a factor that increases the risk of bladder cancer.
‘The main risk factor is smoking’
Underlining that ‘smoking’ is the leading risk factor for the development of bladder cancer, the 7th most common cancer type in the world, Assoc. Dr Mollig; “Smokers have a higher risk of bladder cancer. Other risk factors include exposure to chemicals (for example, aromatic amines), bladder infections, radiation therapy, and some bladder disorders. Occupations that are exposed to chemicals (e.g. paint industry, agriculture, metalworking) can increase the risk of bladder cancer.
“Beware of these signs”
Listing the main symptoms of bladder cancer as ‘frequent urination, pain or burning sensation during urination, blood in the urine, increased urination’, Assoc. Dr Tombul said the most common reason for admission is painless, clotted visible bleeding in the urine and burning sensation in the urine. Assoc states that bladder cancer can be mostly symptomless in the early stages. Dr. For this reason, Tombul emphasized the importance of regular medical checkups. He stated that diagnosis is usually made by urinalysis, imaging tests (ultrasound, CT scan, MRI), and cystoscopy (a test that uses a tube to look inside the bladder), and biopsy may be needed for a definitive diagnosis.
“Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer and the patient”
Dr. Tombul explained that options include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, bladder removal at an advanced stage, intravenous chemotherapy, and radiotherapy after the tumor is scraped away with closed surgery. associate Dr. Stressing the importance of catching the disease at an early stage and starting the necessary treatment, Tombul said: “It is important to see a urology specialist for early diagnosis of bladder cancer in cases of burning and bleeding in urine, smoking history.”