The bladder is a significant organ of human life. Recently, more and more patients are treated with various ailments of this organ, the most dangerous of which is bladder cancer in men and women. Of course, the tumor does not appear out of the blue. It is preceded by untreated inflammation, chronic infections, wrong way of life and stress.
The bladder and its functions
The bladder is a muscle organ located in the small pelvis. Its main purpose is to accumulate and remove urine from the body. The size and shape of the bubble changes depending on its overcrowding. The work of the organ is controlled by the brain, spinal cord, as well as the peripheral nervous system.
Emptying the bladder varies from person to person. On average - up to 8 urination per day. When the bladder fills, the nerve endings send signals to the brain, which, in turn, sends signals to the pelvic muscles.bottom, which relax and help to remove urine from the body. After that, the muscles contract again and take their original position until the next signal arrives.
When urination occurs very often, we should talk about diseases of the bladder. Since this organ in men is located next to the prostate and seminal vesicles, and in women - with the vagina, doctors diagnose other diseases that affect the functioning of the urea. The most terrible disease is bladder cancer, the causes, symptoms and treatment of which depend on many different factors. Therefore, if you find any ailment, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Diseases of the genitourinary system in men
Bladder disease is more common in women than in men. But the tumors of this organ are more “in the male part”. Bladder ailments can have similar and completely different symptoms:
- Cystitis. Inflammation that is provoked by intestinal infections or infections of the genital tract. Symptoms are frequent urination, during which a small amount of urine is excreted, pain in the perineum, sometimes blood in the urine.
- Stones in the bladder. The disease occurs at absolutely any age, even in children. Symptoms - pain when going to the toilet, blood in the urine, fever (if the disease is accompanied by an infection).
- Atonia - involuntary urination. Provoked by disruption of the nerve endings.
- Polyps of the bladder are growths that affect the mucous membrane. No specific symptoms are observed. You can determine the development of the disease using ultrasound diagnostics, as well as detecting blood in the urine.
- Tuberculosis of the bladder. It's hard to suspect. The disease develops asymptomatically. In the later stages, there are back pains, blood in the urine.
- Ulcer. Symptoms are pain in the groin, frequent urination.
- Tumours. An insidious disease is bladder cancer, as it may not manifest itself for a long time, moving from one stage to another and bringing a person to a critical state. The main symptom is blood in the urine.
It should be noted that hematuria is one of the main symptoms, which indicates inflammation in the genitourinary system. Therefore, it is not worth joking. Immediate visit to the doctor is the best solution.
Bladder cancer in men
A tumor is an abnormal growth of cells in an organ. The risk of developing a malignant tumor increases after fifty years. Papillomas precede cancer, which began their malignant transformation as a result of ignoring therapy.
Most of all tumor formations are those people whose work is associated with hazardous production and chemicals, as well as people leading the wrong lifestyle.
If a person has diseases of the genitourinary system, an urgent need to see a doctor, otherwise bladder cancer may occur. Every person should know the symptoms, main forms and stages of cancer.
Causes of tumorsbladder
Main causes of pelvic cancer:
- Working with harmful substances.
- Smoking, alcohol abuse.
- Infectious and inflammatory processes.
- Unbalanced diet, eating too fatty food.
- Stress, depression.
- Adenoma, prostatitis, cystitis and other diseases.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Tumours of other organs treated with Cyclophosphamide.
"Bladder cancer, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment" is a topic that every man should be familiar with. Since it is the representatives of the stronger sex that are most susceptible to malignant tumors in this organ.
Cancer Symptoms
The most common signs that indicate the formation of cancer cells in the bladder are:
- Hematuria. The main and very important symptom is blood in the urine, which is an indicator for many diseases.
- Painful urination. The pain can be both in the abdomen, back, and during the process itself.
- Frequent urination in which small amounts of urine are passed.
- Pain in the kidney area or side.
- Swelling of the legs, swelling of the bladder, kidneys.
- Weight loss, lack of appetite.
- Weakness, exhaustion.
- Swelling of the scrotum.
- Fistula formation.
- Anemia.
- Pain in the groin, perineum, anus.
Urinary cancerbladder in men for a long time may not appear. In addition, all of these symptoms are not always a sign of malignancy. It may be other diseases that are important to treat on time.
Methods for detecting bladder cancer
Early diagnosis of tumors is always a success in their therapy. After all, cancer is not a death sentence! People who are serious about their he alth have a great chance of a full life after the removal of the tumor. And those who know everything about bladder cancer and its treatment firsthand, should generally run to the doctor with any symptoms.
You can diagnose the disease using:
- Urine tests (general and cytological).
- Cystoscopy - examination of the bladder with a special device that is installed through the urethra.
- Computed tomography - pictures of internal organs taken from different angles.
- Magnetic resonance imaging - a procedure similar to the previous one, only studies are carried out using magnets and radio waves.
- Biopsies.
- X-ray.
Symptoms and treatment of a bladder tumor in men depends more on the stage of the disease. Therefore, in addition to diagnosis, it is important to determine at what stage of development the tumor is.
Stages of cancer development
There are several stages of cancer. The most favorable prognosis is when the tumor has not yet spread to other organs, that is, it has not metastasized.
- Stage Zero - Bladder cancer in men, which is a small number of abnormal cells. These cells have not yet spread to the connective tissues.
- First stage - cancer affects the connective tissues.
- Second stage - cancer affects the muscle layers of the organ.
- The third stage is the spread of cancer to the fat layers, and from there to other organs.
- Fourth stage - metastases to any organs.
The most dangerous are stages III and IV, when the spread of cancer is difficult to stop. Treatment for these stages of the disease is supportive and analgesic therapy. Such treatment is enough for someone for a month, someone for two. And there, as they say, "what to be - that cannot be avoided." That is why bladder cancer, whose symptoms, treatment and prognosis are described in this article, is not always possible to win.
Radiation therapy
For each stage of cancer, the most convenient and effective treatment regimen is selected. This always takes into account the condition of the patient and the risks to his he alth.
Radiotherapy (radiotherapy) is the effect on the tumor with high energy beams, which destroys cancer cells completely or slows down their growth.
Bladder cancer is treated with both internal and external radiation therapy. Internal - these are radioactive substances in needles, catheters that are placed inside the body, close to the cancer. External Beam Therapy – Radiation outside the body.
The method of radiation therapy is used both independently,and in combination with other methods (chemotherapy or surgery).
Therapy is prescribed in courses, leaving time for the body to recover. The procedure itself is painless, but has side effects - headache, nausea, vomiting, hair loss. All symptoms resolve after treatment is completed.
Cancer chemotherapy
Tumor chemotherapy is a broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum drug that aims to shrink or eliminate a tumor. Apply the method more often before and after surgery. Rarely used as a standalone.
The main goal of this treatment is to stop the growth of the tumor, destroy cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is carried out in courses of 1-2 weeks. Between them, there must be a break to restore the body's strength.
Chemotherapy, although effective, has quite a few side effects:
- Headache, nausea.
- Dizziness, weakness.
- Bald loss.
- Diarrhea, vomiting.
- Anemia.
- Bleeding.
Bladder cancer in men is treated more often by other methods. Chemotherapy is used as an additional treatment measure.
Surgical treatment of cancer
Surgical treatment of cancer is the main and most effective method that has been successfully used in medicine for quite a long time. Contraindication - tumor growth, metastases, as well as diseases that do not allow anesthesia.
The operation is carried out in several ways:
- Transurethral. A cystoscope is used, which is inserted through the urethral canal. The tumor is removed partially, in segments or completely.
- Radical cystectomy. Along with cancerous growths, other organs, such as the prostate gland and seminiferous tubules, can also be removed. When the tumor has grown sufficiently, the bladder can be removed. In men, as a method of cancer treatment, such an operation is performed quite often. To further accumulate and divert urine, surgeons create an artificial bladder.
Chemotherapy is often prescribed after surgery to eliminate the remnants of cancer cells.
Surgical treatment of cancer is quite effective if performed in the early stages of the disease. When the disease is started, the operation is no longer prescribed. Therefore, it is important to monitor any changes in your body.
Folk treatments for cancer
Traditional medicine is effective in the treatment of many diseases and infections, but not cancer. With the help of herbs and tinctures, you can alleviate the symptoms of the disease, but you cannot completely get rid of it. Therefore, you should not rely on herbs, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.
Traditional medicine methods should be used in the postoperative period or to relieve the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
- Three times a day, drink one glass of infusion from ivy-shaped burdock. One tablespoon of grass pour a glass of boiling water andleave for two hours.
- Also useful are infusions of aspen bark, burdock roots, sweet clover, winter-loving. Take decoctions in small sips several times a day.
- From all diseases, including cancer, traditional medicine "offers" garlic. Its medicinal properties help cancer cells not to spread.
- You can strengthen the body after cancer therapy with juniper infusion with wine (100 grams of fruit should be poured with two liters of white wine). The medicine is insisted for about two weeks. Take 50 grams two to three times a day.
Prevention of bladder cancer
Every disease is better to prevent than to cure. This is especially true of malignant tumors, which have a variety of negative consequences for the human body.
So, following simple rules, you can protect yourself from many ailments, including cancer:
- He althy lifestyle, physical education, sports.
- Proper and balanced nutrition. Limited intake of fatty foods and sodas.
- Personal protective equipment should be used by those who work with hazardous substances.
- Every year you need to undergo a general examination by specialists.
- Keep stress and depression out of your life.
- Restrict alcohol and nicotine.
Don't forget about the heredity of cancer. By following the rules of prevention, the disease can be “bypassed.”
Conclusion
"Bladder cancer, description, causes, treatment" is a topic that is very common today. More and morepatients are admitted to the hospital with tumors of the genitourinary system. If people knew how to take care of themselves, lead a he althy lifestyle and not start diseases, the number of patients would be halved.
