Do Women Get Bladder Cancer

How Do You Treat Bladder Cancer

Treatment Differences and Outcomes for Women with Bladder Cancer

Treatment

Surgical Treatment. Surgery may be recommended to remove all or part of the bladder tumor .
Chemotherapy. Bladder cancer does not typically respond well to chemotherapy, but certain chemotherapy protocols can extend survival time.
Radiation Therapy.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Therapy.

History Of Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

Bladder Cancer Awareness Month was first recognized by the U.S. Congress in May 2015 as a Senate Resolution sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez, and was the result of hard work by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network to bring more attention to the disease. BCAN has been organizing the annual Walk for Bladder Cancer event since May 2011, with 2021s walk being held, nationwide, on May 1.

Comprehensive considers the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network a valuable resource, for the bladder cancer community of patients, caregivers, survivors, advocates, medical and research professionals to unite in support of people touched by bladder cancer. Since its founding in 2005, BCAN has been on the frontlines advocating for greater public awareness and increased funding for research to identify effective treatments and eventually, a cure.

Every year, but with a focus during Mays Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, BCAN provides patients, caregivers and the medical community with the educational resources and support services necessary to navigate their cancer journey. BCAN works collaboratively to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and empower the patient community by allowing them to share experiences with others, and to participate in building awareness of the need for a cure.

Types Of Bladder Cancer

There are several types of bladder cancer.

Urothelial carcinoma : Urothelial carcinoma is by far the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for over 90% of all cases. This cancer starts when the urothelial cells that line the bladder start to grow out of control. Urothelial cells also line other parts of the urinary tract. If you are diagnosed with bladder cancer, your entire urinary tract will be checked for tumors.
Non-transitional carcinomas: Less common types of bladder cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma.

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Can Women Get Bladder Cancer

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In the United States, bladder cancer is much less common in women than in men. In fact, bladder cancer is not one of the top 10 most common cancers among women. According to the American Cancer Society, about 18,700 women in the United States will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2019. This compares to an about 61,700 new cases of bladder cancer in men.1

Facts And Stats On Bladder Cancer

Men have a higher incidence of bladder cancer than women.
Older adults are particularly affected as the risk for bladder cancer increases with age. Nine out of ten people diagnosed are over the age of 55. The average age is 73.
Bladder cancer has the highest recurrence rate of any form of cancer.
Due to the incidence and recurrence, prevention, early detection and prompt treatment are imperative.

Tests For Bladder Cancer

Your doctor may do some tests to check for bladder cancer:

urine tests your urine will be checked for signs of bladder cancer
blood tests to check your general health
ultrasound a scan on the outside of your abdomen to check for cancer
cystoscopy the doctor puts a small camera into your bladder to see inside
biopsy the doctor takes a small sample of the cells from the bladder to check for signs of cancer.

Your doctor might ask you to have further tests. These can include:

CT scan and x-rays scans that take pictures of the inside of the body, sometimes also called a CT-IVP or a triple phase abdominal-pelvic CT scan
MRI scan a scan that uses magnetism and radio waves to take pictures of the inside of the body
bone scan a scan that uses dye to show changes in your bones
FDG-PET scan a scan that uses an injection of liquid to show cancer cells.

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Does Bladder Cancer Spread To Distant Parts Of The Body

Rarely , it has spread to distant parts of the body. Black patients are slightly more likely to have more advanced disease when theyre diagnosed, compared to whites. Survival statistics are discussed in Survival Rates for Bladder Cancer. Visit the American Cancer Societys Cancer Statistics Center for more key statistics.

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Is Bladder Cancer Fatal

It also affects females. In 2019, the American Cancer Society predict that around 80,470 people will receive a diagnosis of bladder cancer and 17,670 will die from it in the United States. Bladder cancer can be benign or malignant. Malignant bladder cancer may be life threatening, as it can spread quickly.

Regional Variations Of Gender

Women and Bladder Cancer

Results from an open cancer incidence and mortality database including 182 countries indicate that increased UCB-specific mortality in women compared to men is a common finding in the majority of countries . In 43% of countries, however, there was no gender-specific difference in the mortality among UCB patients . Interestingly, gender-specific disparities diminished over time in certain countries: especially in Germany, female patients experienced inferior outcomes in historical RC cohorts that were treated before the year 2000, whereas more contemporary cohorts show conflicting findings . Changes over time and regional variations of gender-specific UCB outcomes may be due to differences in UCB incidence and outcome registries , variable awareness of gender-specific differences in UCB behavior, different exposure to carcinogens as well as distinct health care systems with variant delays of diagnosis and treatment . However, further studies are needed to define the specific underlying reasons, thus contributing to our understanding of gender-specific differences in UCB outcomes.

Urinary Diversions: Considerations For Elderly Patients

Although continent diversions and orthotopic neobladders are increasingly being used at high volume centers, the most common diversion remains a non-continent diversion . This is holds true in the elderly population . There has yet to be a well documented major difference in quality of life between the various urinary diversion types . However, either a continent diversion or an orthotopic neobladder is a safe and reasonable option for carefully selected elderly patients .

There are several benefits to an ileal conduit diversion, which is likely the reason it is commonly used in the elderly population. The procedure has relative ease, shorter operative time, and more predictable functional outcomes . The shorter length of contact time between urine and bowel results in less metabolic changes, although up to 10 % with an ileal conduit will have some metabolic disturbances . The most common metabolic disturbance is a hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, which results from a chronic acid load and reduced renal function . This can result in muscle weakness, electrolyte abnormalities, and bone demineralization. The resultant bone demineralization is of particular concern in the elderly. It occurs from the effects of chronic acidosis on bone buffing, an impairment of renal activation of vitamin D, and an activation of osteoclasts . To date there is no standardized way to follow or screen patients with urinary diversions for osteopenia .

Blood In Urine May Be Interpreted Differently In Men Vs Women

While the symptoms may be similar for both genders, how they are interpreted can be different. In women, blood in the urine may be overlooked as a possible sign of bladder cancer, since it has a far less serious explanation for most people. Blood in the urine may be assumed to be a urinary tract infection or confused with postmenopausal uterine bleeding.

Symptoms of bladder cancer can be very similar to those of urinary tract infections, which are common in women, says Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center medical oncologist and genitourinary cancer specialist Emily Feld. If blood in the urine is being attributed to a urinary tract infection, it is important to check a urine culture to confirm you actually have an infection. If the culture is negative and/or your symptoms persist despite treatment with antibiotics, you should have a urologist evaluate you. Hematuria, even when it is painless, is not something to ignore.

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Does It Have Different Causes In Men And Women

Generally, researchers think that bladder cancer has similar causes in men and women.2

Bladder cancer develops when there is a change to the DNA in certain cells in the bladder, which causes them to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. Some people may be more likely to develop bladder cancer than others, due to genetic mutations that may be inherited.

The main controllable risk factor for cancer is smoking or any kind of tobacco use. Men and women who smoke are both at least twice as likely to get bladder cancer than people who don’t smoke.4

Other risk factors can include having a family history of bladder cancer, exposure to certain chemicals, drinking well water that contains arsenic, drinking water treated with chlorine, and prolonged use of urinary catheters.4

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Bladder Control

Urinary Incontinence is twice as common in women as in men.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are major reasons of the increased prevalence of incontinence in women as compared to men.
Between the ages of 18 and 44, approximately 24% of women experience incontinence.
Approximately 23% of women aged 60 and above deal with incontinence.

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Prognosis And Survival Rates For Bladder Cancer

When someone is diagnosed with bladder cancer, their doctor will give them a prognosis. A prognosis is the doctors opinion of how likely the cancer will spread and the chances of getting better. A prognosis depends on the type and stage of cancer, as well as the persons age and general health.

Bladder cancer can usually be effectively treated if it is found before it spreads outside the bladder.

If you have bladder cancer, your doctor will talk to you about your individual situation when working out your prognosis. Every persons experience is different, and there is support available to you.

What Is Bladder Cancer

Cancer can start any place in the body. Cancer that starts in the bladder is called bladder cancer. It starts when cells in the bladder grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. This makes it hard for the body to work the way it should.

Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. For instance, cancer cells in the bladder can travel to the bone and grow there. When cancer cells spread, its called metastasis.

Cancer is always named for the place where it starts. So when bladder cancer spreads to the bone , it’s still called bladder cancer. Its not called bone cancer unless it starts in the bone.

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How Do I Take Care Of Myself

About half of all people with bladder cancer have early-stage cancer thats relatively easy to treat. But bladder cancer often comes back . People whove had bladder cancer will need regular checkups after treatment. Being vigilant about follow-up care is one thing you can do to take care of yourself. Here are some other suggestions from the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network include:

Follow a heart-healthy diet: Plan menus that include skinless poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products, nuts and legumes, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Focus on high-fiber foods: Bladder cancer treatment may cause digestive issues and a fiber-rich diet may help.
Get some exercise: Gentle exercise may help manage stress.
Connect with others: Bladder cancer often comes back. Its not easy to have a rare disease thats likely to return. Connecting with people who understand what youre going through may help.

Urinary diversion

Some people with bladder cancer need surgery that removes their bladder and their bodies natural reservoir for pee. There are three types of urinary diversion surgeries. All three types involve surgically converting part of your intestine to become a passage tube for pee or a reservoir for storing pee.

Urinary diversion may be a challenging lifestyle change. If youll need urinary diversion surgery, ask your healthcare provider to explain each surgery types advantages and disadvantages. That way, youll know what to expect and how to take care of yourself.

Is Bladder Cancer More Common In Women Than Men

Survival Differences for Women with Bladder Cancer

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Healthy Changes To Combat Bladder Cancer

Avoid Smoking Research into the link between the differences in bladder cancer risks between men and women due to smoking is as of yet inclusive but it has been found. Stopping smoking, or not ever starting smoking or using e-cigarettes, remains a catch-all method for reducing health risks of all kinds.

Know and Share Family History If blood relatives have had bladder cancer, an individuals risk for the cancer is elevated. If this is the case, be sure to make your physician aware and start screening as soon as is recommended to find cancer as soon as possible, if it presents.

Pay Attention to Your Body Notice anything that appears to be irregular with your urinary tract, including blood in urine, frequent urination or back pain? Do not shrug it off and make sure to tell your doctor about these issues. A key factor in mens success rates with treated cancers is found in early diagnosis. Do not wait to get diagnosed if you think there could be problem.

Comprehensive Cancer Centers Can Help

Physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide a variety of treatment options for patients whove been referred to the practice with bladder cancer. Our practice has great success in treating cancers that are diagnosed early, including bladder cancer. Be sure to pay attention to risk factors, and take charge of your health, not only just during Bladder Cancer Awareness month, but all year long. To schedule an appointment with Comprehensive, please call 702-952-3350.

The content is this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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The Signs And Symptoms

Bladder cancer is often painless unless it is in an advanced stage of disease. The most common and sometimes the only warning sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine.

Some individuals may have visible blood in their urine while others may have microscopic blood in the urine, meaning blood in the urine that is only visible while looking at it under a microscope.
The blood may be dark red, light red or pink, and may come and go.
Although blood in the urine is the most common symptom of bladder cancer, it could also be caused by kidney or prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, kidney stones, urinary tract infection, or trauma or injury to the urologic organs. Because of the many possible causes, evaluation by a urologist is key to a quick, accurate diagnosis.

Why Is Bladder Cancer More Prevalent Among Men

Why is bladder cancer more prevalent among men? One reason is that men smoke at higher rates than women, and smoking is the biggest risk factor for bladder cancer. 2 Gender differences in smoking were especially pronounced in the past, so older men are much more likely to be current or former smokers than are older women. 11

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What Are The Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer

Many people with bladder cancer can have blood in their urine but no pain while urinating. There are a number of symptoms that might indicate bladder cancer like fatigue, weight loss, and bone tenderness, and these can indicate more advanced disease. You should pay particular attention to the following symptoms:

an intravenous pyelogram

Your doctor can rate bladder cancer with a staging system that goes from stages 0 to 4 to identify how far the cancer has spread. The stages of bladder cancer mean the following:

Stage 0 bladder cancer hasnt spread past the lining of the bladder.
Stage 1 bladder cancer has spread past the lining of the bladder, but it hasnt reached the layer of muscle in the bladder.
Stage 2 bladder cancer has spread to the layer of muscle in the bladder.
Stage 3 bladder cancer has spread into the tissues that surround the bladder.
Stage 4 bladder cancer has spread past the bladder to the neighboring areas of the body.

Your doctor will work with you to decide what treatment to provide based on the type and stage of your bladder cancer, your symptoms, and your overall health.

Transurethral Resection Of A Bladder Tumour

If abnormalities are found in your bladder during a cystoscopy, you should be offered an operation known as TURBT. This is so any abnormal areas of tissue can be removed and tested for cancer .

TURBT is carried out under general anaesthetic.

Sometimes, a sample of the muscle wall of your bladder is also taken to check whether the cancer has spread, but this may be a separate operation within 6 weeks of the first biopsy.

You should also be offered a dose of chemotherapy after the operation. This may help to prevent the bladder cancer returning if the removed cells are found to be cancerous.

See treating bladder cancer for more information about the TURBT procedure

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