The most prevalent bladder cancer symptoms are painful urination which is increased in frequency and hematuria (presence of blood in the urine). Aside from these blood traces in urine, urine color may vary from dark reddish amber to brown.
Upon spotting a considerable discoloration in urine color, you need to go and see your family doctor for diagnosis and medication. Furthermore, you should make an appointment with an urologist, a doctor who focuses primarily on urinary tract infections and ailments including cancer of the bladder.
Necessary Tests in Diagnosing Bladder Cancer Symptoms
Confirmation of bladder cancer symptoms will all start off with an in depth physical assessment of the abdomen and the pelvis to be able to ascertain the possible presence of tumors or further irregularities. This is performed through rectal or vaginal assessment.
Urinalysis will likewise be another diagnostic measure whereby you’ll be asked to give urine sample for laboratory testing. This will provide specifics on the white and red blood cells, cancer cells along with other parameters that may signify some more chemical abnormalities that could present as bladder cancer symptoms.
Additionally, intravenous pyelogram or IVP is utilized to provide images of the urinary bladder by making use of x-rays. With a particular dye which is injected into a vein, its path is followed until the dye joins the urine, passes through the urinary tract after which to the bladder. By using X-rays, photographs of the bladder and also the are taken as the dyed urine reaches the urinary bladder.
A minor surgery called a cystoscopy can also be performed by your urologist. A specialized tube placed on a light at the end also known as cystoscope will be introduced straight into the bladder up to the urethra, a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals. This makes it possible for the doctor to view the bladder from the end of the inserted tube. At this point, the doctor is able to confirm and view any irregularities or bladder cancer symptoms, presence of tumors in the surrounding area. By way of this minor operation, bladder tumors are sorted by stages through collection of tissue samples extracted from the tumor, then will be examined under a microscope. This technique is what we call biopsy. With the technoligical advancements nowadays, there are micro-instruments readily available for use in diagnosis which could also be employed for management of bladder cancer symptoms while doing so.
Stages of Severity: Classifying Bladder Cancer Symptoms
The degree of the tumor may be diagnosed once the required laboratory testings were done. The biopsy results lead to the confirmation or absence of the bladder cancer symptoms, and also the stage of the tumor, if perhaps there is any. Bladder cancer symptoms are known to have five stages.
Stage 0: The least severe stage happens as cancer cells only line the internal surface of the bladder.
Stage 1: The cancer cells have now penetrated the deep inner lining of the urinary bladder but the bladder muscles are not yet affected.
Stage 2: Cancer cells have already penetrated into the bladder muscles.
Stage 3: Cancer cells are now dispersing all over the bladder muscles as well as their surrounding tissue such as the uterus (in girls) or the prostate (in boys).
Stage 4: Considered as the most severe stage, cancer cells have affected and spread all through the pelvis and the abdominal walls. These cells can also metastasise in the lymph nodes, lungs as well as other abdominal organs.
Bladder Cancer Symptoms: Treatment
Bladder cancer treatment would depend on the type and the stage of the bladder cancer. You will find numerous treatment options readily available to you. Effective treatment solutions are often accomplished upon early diagnosis of the cancer. Speak to your medical professional or specialist right away in case you are experiencing any bladder cancer symptoms.
For a better understanding of bladder cancer, Ben Gibson has approximately two decades of experience in the healthcare industry and maintains a web site focused on bladder cancer symptoms that you should have a look at.