The bladder is a hollow organ and its function is to store urine until it is eliminated. It is found in the bottom half of the abdominal cavity. Numerous individuals feel uncomfortable pressure when this organ is stretched to capacity. Holding urine past this point is unwise, as it can result in infection. Currently, bladder cancer research is underway for the purpose of finding out if more effective treatments or a cure can be discovered for this catastrophic 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.
According to clinical studies, malignancies of this type occur more often individuals who smoke. This is due to the fact that sulfur, one of the numerous hazardous substances associated with smoking cigarettes, irritates the organ's lining, which in turn encourages inappropriate cell division. Fortunately, when a person stops smoking, his or her risk for developing this disease immediately decreases.
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.
One may have a higher than average risk for the disease if he or she has a family history of cancer. However, this will still depend on whether the individual carries the gene for the condition. Studies are currently being completed to determine whether a diagnostic test can be designed to uncover this gene. If a person has the latter, proper screening on a continuous basis can be completed for the purpose of catching any malignancies while they are still in stage I.
For unknown reasons, cancerous tumors of this kind affect less women then men. In addition, Africans and Asians are not at as high of a risk for developing such malignancies as are Caucasians. This is also a fact that cannot be traced to any specific cause. Studies are currently being conducted to uncover why people of certain ethnic backgrounds are at a higher risk than other individuals.
As with all malignant growths, the risk of bladder tumors increases with age. However, this is the case with most cancers, and therefore it is challenging to discover exactly why elderly people are at an increased risk for bladder cancer. Some health scientists believe that specific chemicals placed in beverages and food can also increase a person's risk for such malignancies. This is particularly true if the individual consumes high amounts of specific types of processed foods and beverages.
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.
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.
According to clinical studies, malignancies of this type occur more often individuals who smoke. This is due to the fact that sulfur, one of the numerous hazardous substances associated with smoking cigarettes, irritates the organ's lining, which in turn encourages inappropriate cell division. Fortunately, when a person stops smoking, his or her risk for developing this disease immediately decreases.
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.
One may have a higher than average risk for the disease if he or she has a family history of cancer. However, this will still depend on whether the individual carries the gene for the condition. Studies are currently being completed to determine whether a diagnostic test can be designed to uncover this gene. If a person has the latter, proper screening on a continuous basis can be completed for the purpose of catching any malignancies while they are still in stage I.
For unknown reasons, cancerous tumors of this kind affect less women then men. In addition, Africans and Asians are not at as high of a risk for developing such malignancies as are Caucasians. This is also a fact that cannot be traced to any specific cause. Studies are currently being conducted to uncover why people of certain ethnic backgrounds are at a higher risk than other individuals.
As with all malignant growths, the risk of bladder tumors increases with age. However, this is the case with most cancers, and therefore it is challenging to discover exactly why elderly people are at an increased risk for bladder cancer. Some health scientists believe that specific chemicals placed in beverages and food can also increase a person's risk for such malignancies. This is particularly true if the individual consumes high amounts of specific types of processed foods and beverages.
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.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.seizetheribbon.com for more helpful information about Bladder Cancer Research Projects May Uncover Helpful Information