Bladder cancer, hematuria is a forerunner, beware of the "health killer" bladder cancer!

Bladder cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs on the bladder mucosa. It is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system and one of the top ten common tumors in the body.

As the number one tumor in the urinary system, how to prevent and treat bladder cancer?

• What are the risk factors that easily lead to bladder cancer?

The etiology of bladder cancer is complex, with both internal genetic factors and external environmental factors. The two clear risk factors for the disease are smoking and occupational exposure to aromatic amine chemicals.

1. Smoking: It is the main risk factor, and about 50% of bladder cancer is related to smoking.
2. Chemical exposure: long-term exposure to industrial chemicals such as dyes, rubber, leather, paint, etc. (such as aromatic amines).
3. Chronic infection or irritation: such as long-term indwelling catheters, bladder stones or recurrent urinary tract infections.
4. Others: family history, history of pelvic radiotherapy, certain chemotherapy drugs (such as cyclophosphamide), etc.

• What are the common symptoms of bladder cancer?

1. Painless hematuria: the most common first symptom, red or soy sauce-colored urine.
2. Abnormal urination: frequent urination, urgency, pain or difficulty urinating.
3. Late symptoms: pelvic pain, weight loss, lower limb edema (manifestation of tumor metastasis).

• How to detect and diagnose bladder cancer?

1. Urine test: urine routine, urine exfoliative cytology (looking for cancer cells).
2. Imaging examination: ultrasound, CT/MRI (assess tumor location and metastasis).
3. Cystoscopy + biopsy: the gold standard for diagnosis, direct observation of the inside of the bladder and tissue pathology examination.

• What are the treatments for bladder cancer?

Choose according to tumor stage, grade and patient condition:

1. Non-muscle invasive cancer:

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to remove the tumor.

Immediately after surgery, chemotherapy is given intravesical instillation. After surgery, chemotherapy drugs are instilled regularly every week for a total of 8 weeks, and then changed to monthly chemotherapy drug instillation for about 1 year. Cystoscopy is required every 3 months.

2. Muscle-invasive cancer or advanced stage:

Partial or total cystectomy, urinary diversion (such as artificial bladder) is required.

Comprehensive treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy (such as PD-1 inhibitors).

• How to prevent bladder cancer in daily life?

1. Quit smoking: significantly reduce the risk.
2. Occupational protection: take good protection when exposed to chemical substances.
3. Drink more water: dilute urine and reduce the retention of harmful substances.
4. Healthy diet: eat more vegetables and fruits, and avoid long-term high-fat diet.

• Doctor's reminder

About 90% of bladder cancer patients initially present with hematuria, which is usually painless, intermittent, and visible throughout the whole process.

Sometimes intermittent hematuria is easily overlooked.

If unexplained hematuria occurs, even if it occurs only occasionally or is asymptomatic, you should seek medical attention promptly.