Bladder Cancer: Symptoms That Put You At Risk
Cancer is a scary word to most people. Incidence of cancer has continued to make it a leading cause of death. Knowing your risk factors for cancerous bladder tumors can make you aware of lifestyle changes to reduce your chance of developing bladder cancer symptoms.
Age
As people get older the chance of developing bladder cancer symptoms increases. Rarely do bladder cancer symptoms occur in those under the age of 40 years. Similar problems that are not bladder cancer symptoms but are indicative of other disease processes do occur in those under forty years old. Benign (those that are non cancerous) bladder tumors can occur as well. It is thought irritation that happens to the lining of the bladder over time may be a contributing factor to bladder cancer symptoms.
Smoking Tobacco
Many would not think that smoking could affect the bladder, but indeed it does. The bladder holds the waste (urine) excreted by the kidneys. If a person smokes this waste includes the nicotine processed by the kidneys. Nicotine is a known irritant; this constant irritation can cause normal cells to become a cancerous bladder tumor.
Parasite Infections
Some infectious parasites can increase the risk of bladder cancer symptoms. The parasites are commonly found in tropical regions.
Gender
If you are male you have a two to three time greater risk of developing bladder cancer symptoms than a female. The close proximity (location) of the prostate to the bladder can be a contributing factor for the higher incidence of cancerous bladder tumors in men. The prostate is one of the leading cancer locations in men; this can spread to the bladder easily since the prostate is next to the bladder.
Race/Origin
The Caucasian population gets bladder cancer symptoms twice as often as the Black and Latino population. The Asian population has the lowest incidence of bladder cancer symptoms.
Family History
There is a higher incidence of bladder cancer symptoms in those who have a close family member who has had bladder cancer. Study is currently under way to determine the genetic link for this.
Personal History
If you have had bladder cancer in the past, you are at an increased risk for reoccurrence of a cancerous bladder tumor.
Medication therapy with Arsenic or Cyclophosphamide.
These cancer treatment medications can increase your risk of bladder cancer symptoms. Knowing your risk factors for bladder cancer symptoms can be the first step in protecting yourself from cancerous bladder tumors. The second step is to know the common bladder cancer symptoms:
• Bloody urine
• Pain in the lower abdomen to thigh region.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Any change in your usual bladder habits.
If you are concerned about any bladder cancer symptoms or risk factors you may have; you should discuss them with your doctor.
