Saturday, November 16, 2013

New Treatments May Be Found Through Bladder Cancer Research

By Bonnie Contreras


Urine is typically held in a hollow organ called the bladder until it can be eliminated. This organ is found in the lower region of the abdominal cavity. When it becomes full to capacity, most individuals experience an uncomfortable sensation. If urine is held past this point, it can cause infections. Ongoing bladder cancer research is being completed to discover a cure, as well as more efficient treatments for this devastating disease.

Unfortunately, this type of cancer is the 6th most common in the United States and other parts of the Western world. However, patients lives can often be saved if malignancies in this organ are caught early. It is a sad fact that the disease is not always discovered until it has spread to surrounding organs.

Studies have concluded that using tobacco products can place a person at a higher than normal risk for such malignancies. One of the many hazardous substances found in smoke from cigarettes is sulfur, which irritates the bladder's lining, and subsequently encourages cell division. Fortunately, those who stop using cigarettes lower their risk factor for the disease almost immediately.

Symptoms of a malignancy in this area include blood in one's urine, low back pain, painful urination, and the need to urinate frequently. It is important to understand, however, that symptoms of this type do not always mean that one has a malignant tumor. There is a vast array of other conditions that may also cause such symptoms. These include cysts, infections, and other disorders. This is why anyone having such symptoms should seek medical evaluation.

Those with a history of cancer in their family may have a higher risk than others for contracting the aforementioned disease. This all depends on whether or not the person carries a certain gene. Studies are underway to develop a test that can be used to determine whether such a gene is present. If a person tests positive for this gene, appropriate screenings can be regularly completed in order to uncover any cell division while it is still in its early stages.

For reasons not yet known to the medical community, this type of malignancy affects more males than females. Additionally, there is a higher incidence of the disease among Caucasians than Asians are Africans. This is also a phenomena for which there is no known reason, although research is being conducted to discover why people of certain races have an increased risk.

As with most malignancies, bladder tumor risk increases with age. However, this is true about most cancers, and therefore it is difficult for scientists to determine exactly why the elderly are at an elevated risk for the disease. Some health care professionals are of the opinion that specific chemicals found in beverages and food can raise a person's risk for such tumors, if high amounts of such products are consumed.

Treatments for the aforementioned cancer usually include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical removal of tumors. More bladder cancer research is currently being conducted in an attempt to find a cure and better treatments for this devastating disease. Although not a common disorder, bladder cancer can lead to death. For this reason, any person who is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above should schedule an appointment for evaluation by a medical professional.




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