Bladder cancer is one of the 10 most life-threatening cancers that are affecting people in the country, claiming more than 80,000 on a yearly basis. The number of men falling victim to bladder cancer is three to four times greater than that of women, and the number of Caucasians being affected is two times more than that of other races. Bladder cancer can be defined as the abnormal as well as uncontrollable growth and reproduction of cells in the urinary bladder.

Causes of Bladder Cancer
Some of the most common causes of bladder cancer are excessive smoking or chewing of tobacco, parasitic infections from unhygienic places, chemical exposure from working at factories or laboratories, among many others. Those who have gone through radiation exposure to pelvic area for some diseases, especially for cancer in past are also at high risk of getting bladder cancer. Other causes are as follows.

• Taking diabetic medications containing pioglitazone for a prolonged time
• Working as a painter, hairdresser, driver, machinist or printer operator, i.e., working around potentially harmful chemicals
• Having chronic inflammation of the bladder
• People over 40 having an immediate relative like parents and siblings can get bladder cancer due to family history, race or genetics

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer
Reddish tinted urine or secretion of a small amount of blood is the immediate symptoms of bladder cancer. The initial symptoms taken into the notice of the doctors are as follows:

• Change in the color of urine
• Frequent urge to urinate despite just going
• Inflammation and pain while urinating
• Feeling the bladder is not emptied even after urinating
• Even though bladder is full, a little amount of urine comes out

Getting a diagnosis in this initial stage can often prevent the Bladder Cancer that can result from infection of the bladder or urinary tract. However, if the above symptoms are ignored and cancer spreads, the following symptoms common.

• Problems in urinating
• Pain in lower back
• Pain in the bones
• Swollen feet
• Irregular weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling extremely fatigued

Treatment of Bladder Cancer
According to the stage of cancer, the oncologist will start the treatment.

• Stages 0 and 1
  In these stages, a general surgery is needed to remove the cancerous cells or tumors formed on the bladder wall. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy along with medications are used to create a strong immune system that can diminish the cancerous cells.
• Stages 2 and 3
  To treat these types of bladder cancer chemotherapy and the removal of a part of the bladder is the primary treatment. In serious cases, the whole bladder is removed (radical cystectomy) and a new passage is created by surgery for urine to pass. The tumor is sometimes shrunk with immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy either before surgery, or when surgery is not possible and also for killing remained cancerous cells post surgery, thereby preventing them from recurring.
• Stage 4
  In this stage, radical cystectomy (as mentioned earlier) and lymph node removal are done before creating urination passage with surgery. When surgery is not an option, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and Radiation Therapy is used for killing the remnant cancerous cells, relieving the symptoms and extending life. Sometimes, trial medications can also be other treatment options.