Bladder Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Treatment Options

Dr. Mark Hong has helped countless men in and around the Phoenix address serious health issues related to the urinary tract. This includes issues involving erectile dysfunction and male infertility as well as advanced cancer treatment for the prostate, bladder, and testicles. Offering diverse services such as these allows Dr. Hong's patients to be as healthy as possible.

We'd like to use this blog post to focus on the issue of bladder cancer. By knowing what the symptoms and risk factors are, you'll be in a better position to get proper treatment promptly.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Bladder Cancer

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of bladder cancer are as follows:

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Pain during urination
• Frequent need to urinate
• Difficulty urinating
• Pain in the side or the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Pronounced weight loss
• Swelling of the feet
• Bone pain

A number of the symptoms above are associated with other bladder problems. If you should notice any of these symptoms, be sure to discuss them with your general practitioner right away. Tests can be performed in order to properly diagnose and assess your health condition, allowing proper treatment to be implemented as soon as possible. The sooner than cancer is caught, the better the chances that patients will experience successful treatment.

Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer

Common risk factors for bladder cancer include the following:

• Smoking and use of smokeless tobacco
• Advanced age
• Ethnicity (Caucasians run greater risk)
• Gender (risk greater in men)
• Previous battle with cancer
• Family history of cancer
• Repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Repeated bladder inflammation (cystitis)

Regular Checkups Are Crucial to Detect Bladder Cancer

It's important that you meet with your general practitioner for regular checkups to help identify any health issues you may have. If you are at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer or believe you might have bladder cancer or a serious health issue, meeting with a urologist is generally the best idea possible.

Treatment Options for Bladder Cancer

When it comes to treating bladder cancer, the following treatments are most common:

• Transurethral Bladder Tumor Resection (TURBT) (removal of the cancer or burning away of cancerous cells in the bladder)
• Cystectomy (surgical removal of part of the bladder or the entire bladder)
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy

The right treatment option for you and your needs will depend on the stage and severity of the bladder cancer. This can be discussed in more detail during the consultation process.

Monitoring Wellness to Prevent Recurrence of Cancer

After undergoing treatment for bladder cancer, it's common for patients to undergo regular monitoring and checkups with a urologist to ensure that the cancer does not come back and that patients are in good overall health regarding their urinary tract and bladder. This is going to be crucial in the months and years after the surgery to ensure the cancer has been completely eliminated.

Contact Dr. Mark Hong

For more information about bladder cancer and how it can be diagnosed and treated, it's important that you contact our men's health and urology center today. Dr. Mark Hong looks forward to your visit and helping you undergo the necessary treatment to restore your health and wellness.