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10 Scary Facts About Bladder Cancer Every Woman Must Know!

Keep these facts in mind, so that you can recognise this deadly disease faster!

By Chandana Rao

When we hear the word cancer, we normally think of the more common types of cancers like breast cancer and brain tumours, right?

That is because, many of us laymen would not have heard about the certain rare types of cancers which can affect various parts of our body, some of which we may not even have thought about!

As it is, cancer is a deadly disease whose very name can bring a chill down our spines, so you can imagine how scary it can be to hear of the types of cancers which can affect the most unexpected and delicate parts of the body.

bladder cancer symptoms

Cancer is a disease which takes the lives of thousands of people around the globe every year, regardless of the age and gender.

And the worst part about cancer is that, although it can be treated and cured, there is no guarantee that it will not come back!

In many cases, people who have successfully beat cancer with the help of treatments, experience a relapse a few months or a few years later and then the treatment for the second time can be less effective!

As we may already know, cancer is a disease in which there is an abnormal multiplication of cancerous cells in the body, which eventually destroys the tissues and organs.

The most common types of cancers are breast cancer, brain tumour, lung cancer, blood cancer, throat cancer, etc.

Cancer can affect any part of the body, including unexpected areas like the eye balls, ears, genital organs and the urinary bladder.

The urinary bladder is a muscular sac located in the pelvis in both men and women that assists in the urinary functions.

The signs of bladder cancer can be different in men and women, due to their anatomical structures.

So, here are a few facts on bladder cancer that women must make note of.

Fact #1, Subtle Symptoms:

Fact #1, Subtle Symptoms:

Unlike with certain other types of cancers like brain tumour, where the symptoms like headache are quite pronounced, the symptoms of bladder cancer can be very subtle and could be mistaken for a simple cause of Urinary Tract Infection, so it is always important to recognise them in time.

Fact #2, The Main Symptoms:

Fact #2, The Main Symptoms:

Some of the most common symptoms of bladder cancer in women, which can help you recognise the disease and get help in time are pain during urination, burning sensation in the vagina, dark urine, blood in the urine, frequent urination, etc.

Fact #3, Fatality Rates Higher In Women:

Fact #3, Fatality Rates Higher In Women:

According to the statistics, men are affected more often by bladder cancer compared to women; however, when a woman is affected by bladder cancer, the death rates are higher in them. This is because the symptoms are very subtle in women and it may not be recognised until it is too late!

Fact #4, UTIs Don’t Increase The Risk:

Fact #4, UTIs Don’t Increase The Risk:

There is a popular myth which says that women who get frequent urinary tract infections are more prone to bladder cancer; however, this is not true because a number of research studies conducted on this subject have ruled out this possibility.

Fact #5, Smoking Is A Risk Factor:

Fact #5, Smoking Is A Risk Factor:

Although the exact cause of bladder cancer can be different in different people, smoking is one of the main risk factors of bladder cancer in women, as the toxins in cigarettes can trigger the development of cancerous tissues in the bladder, while the body is trying to flush them out through the urinary tract.

Fact #6, Do Not Ignore Persistent UTIs:

Fact #6, Do Not Ignore Persistent UTIs:

Although frequent UTIs do not increase the risk of bladder cancer, the symptoms of bladder cancer in women are very similar to urinary tract infection symptoms, so if you notice that you have persistent UTIs without any reason, then you must get checked for bladder cancer.

Fact #7, Heredity:

Fact #7, Heredity:

If any of the women in your family, such as your grandmother, mother or paternal aunt have suffered from bladder cancer, then you are at a higher risk of developing bladder cancer, as this disease can also be caused by heredity.

Fact #8, Treatment:

Fact #8, Treatment:

Once a person is diagnosed with bladder cancer, the treatment procedure depends on how far up the cancer has spread. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumours are some of the treatment procedures used to treat bladder cancer.

Fact #9, Infertility Risk:

Fact #9, Infertility Risk:

Women who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer and have been treated successfully are at the higher risk of infertility, as the treatments used to cure bladder cancer can affect their eggs and fertility hormones negatively.

Fact #10, Abnormal Discharge:

Fact #10, Abnormal Discharge:

Although this is a very rare symptom of bladder cancer that most women may not experience, abnormal white discharge can also be a symptom, which could be mistaken by women for other ailments like yeast infection! So, abnormal levels of discharge must not be ignored.

Story first published: Wednesday, December 27, 2017, 12:44 [IST]
Read more about: bladder cancer cancer women