What is it about ?
The term “bladder cancer” includes all the malignant tumors that may appear in the bladder. Bladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor affecting the kidney and urinary tract.
Metastases of bladder cancer are found mainly in the liver, lungs and bones.
Risk factors
The main risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking. It is responsible for about 1 in 2 cases. If you smoke, you are 4 times more likely to develop bladder cancer.
Some chemical products, used for example in the rubber, paint or petroleum industry, also increase the risk of bladder cancer. But malignant tumors take several years to appear. This is why it is difficult to demonstrate a direct link with a particular chemical.
In whom and how often does it occur?
In 2017, the Cancer Registry Foundation recorded 2,326 new cases of bladder cancer in Belgium.
Bladder cancer is almost 4 times more common in men than in women. Bladder cancer is the 5th most common form of cancer in Belgium (around 5% of all cancers).
The disease mainly affects people over the age of 601.
How to recognize it?
9 times out of 10, the first visible sign is the presence of blood in the urine. The urine therefore takes on a pink or red color. This bleeding usually does not cause pain.
2 in 10 times bladder cancer has the following symptoms:
- You have pain when urinating;
- You urinate more often ;
- You feel the need to urinate urgently;
- You have more difficulty in holding on to urinating.
How is the diagnosis made?
The doctor examines inside the bladder using a flexible tube fitted with a camera (cystoscopy). He also realizes a CT scan urinary tract.
Sometimes the amount of blood in the urine is so low that it cannot be seen. In this case, the doctor will have a urine analysis to detect blood and look for malignant cells.
What can you do ?
- Try tostop smoking. This is the first preventive measure.
- Protect yourself properly if you come into contact with chemicals in your job.
- See the doctor if you notice blood in your urine.
What can your doctor do?
Remove the tumor
The majority (7-8 times in 10) of bladder cancers are superficial. The doctor can remove these tumors laparoscopically, passing through the urethra. Then, the doctor often introduces (instills) an irritant (chemotherapy agent) into the bladder, in order to “burn” the local or very small residues.
Flush the bladder with a chemotherapy agent
Facing a aggressive bladder cancer, multiple instillations of a chemotherapy agent into the bladder may be indicated to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Remove the bladder
Facing a advanced bladder cancer, the doctor will remove the bladder (cystectomy). This is the only option. In half of the cases, there are indeed already metastases.
Control
After treatment, the doctor should check your bladder frequently, as the risk of cancer coming back is high. At the beginning, the checks take place every 3 months, then once a year.
About 7 in 10 patients relapse at one time or another. The earlier a recurrence is discovered, the sooner the treatment can be started and the less burdensome it will be. You can limit your risk of recurrence by quitting smoking.
Want to know more?
- Bladder cancer – Cancer Foundation
- Stop smoking. It’s possible – Tabacstop
- The scanner, here, Where to find on this page of Cliniques St Luc UCL
Are you looking for more specialized help?
- Smoking Assistance Center (CAF®) – FARES – Respiratory Affections Fund
- Tobacco specialists – FARES – Respiratory Affections Fund