Bladder Cancer Awareness Month Is Marked In May
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month Is Marked In May
H&B Raises Awareness On Bladder Cancer
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated every year as a global campaign focusing attention on bladder cancer.
About 5% of all new cancer cases happen to be bladder cancers. Bladder Cancer Awareness Month is about letting people know about this less known type of cancer as well as raising money to fund the research of bladder cancer.
Despite being the fifth most common cancer, only 1% of money spent on cancer research is spent on bladder cancer. Bladder cancer can often be overlooked by patients and general practitioners due to symptoms often being associated with less serious, more common issues such as urinary infections, back pain, and needing to urinate frequently, amongst others. We must not let it become another ‘forgotten cancer’. It can affect everyone, men, women, and children.
It is the only one among the top 10 cancers whose outcome prognosis is progressively getting worse! The stage of the diagnosis is important because early diagnosis is the number one factor in beating this type of cancer.
There Are Three Types Of Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is a common type of cancer in the United States. Approximately 83,000 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer and some 17,200 people are expected to die from the disease in 2021, according to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER).
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) explains that there are three types of bladder cancer. These cancers are named for the type of cells that become malignant: transitional cell carcinoma, which begins in cells in the innermost tissue layer of the bladder; squamous cell carcinoma, which begins in the squamous cells and may form after long-term infection or irritation; and adenocarcinoma, which begins in glandular cells that are found in the lining of the bladder.
Cancer that is in the lining of the bladder is called superficial bladder cancer. Cancer that has spread through the lining of the bladder and has invaded the muscle wall of the bladder or has spread to nearby organs and lymph nodes is called invasive bladder cancer.
How Can You Help Raising Awareness?
There are more than 600,000 people living with the disease in the U.S., yet far too many people learn what bladder cancer is at the time of diagnosis.
You can help H&B raise awareness of the disease by using social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
If you would like to take part in Bladder Cancer Awareness Month then you can do this by making regular donations to help in the fight against bladder cancer. With the funds supplied to the charity going towards supporting patients, you could help improve the lives of those affected by bladder cancer. There are a number of different bladder cancer charities so it is suggested that you choose the right one for you. Research on how your money will be spent once it has been received by the charity.
Other ways that you can get involved during the month include helping out with patients and their families. If you know someone that is struggling with bladder cancer at the moment, offering to support them and their family will mean that they can enjoy a better quality of life. Get in touch with your local charity to find out how you can help out those in need.
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:
Urgent urination
Urinary incontinence
Painful urination
Frequent urination
Pain in the abdominal area
Pain in the lower back
Blood in the urine
Bladder cancer begins when cells in the bladder develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes tell the cell to multiply rapidly and to go on living when healthy cells would die. The abnormal cells form a tumor that can invade and destroy normal body tissue. In time, the abnormal cells can break away and spread through the body.
Prevention Of Bladder Cancer
Because scientists don’t yet know what causes bladder cancer, it may not be entirely preventable. Still, Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist and founder of H&B recommends implementing certain behaviors into your daily life, as they can possibly reduce your risk of getting bladder cancer:
Don’t smoke
Avoid secondhand cigarette smoke
Avoid exposure to any and all carcinogenic chemicals
Drink plenty of fresh water