Q. Why is bladder cancer so dangerous?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Bladder cancer is an incredibly serious and dangerous disease that can drastically affect a person's life, and even lead to death if it is not diagnosed early on.
The most common type of bladder cancer is called urothelial carcinoma, which begins in the cells lining the bladder. It is often classified as either superficial or invasive. Superficial cancers are typically found on the surface of the bladder and have not spread deep into its walls while invasive cancers have invaded through one or more layers of muscle within the wall of the bladder. Unfortunately, these cancers can spread further to other organs if they are not discovered quickly enough or treated in time.
In terms of risk factors for developing this form of cancer, smoking has been linked to an increased risk; however many cases occur with no known cause at all. Age also plays a role as people over 55 are more likely than younger people to get this form of cancer; genetics may also be involved – those with family members who have had bladder cancer may be at an increased risk for developing it themselves – as are certain pre-existing health conditions like chronic inflammation in your urinary tract from conditions such as chronic infection from bacteria like E-coli or having schistosomiasis (a parasitic infection). Exposure to certain types of chemicals including arsenic, hydrocarbons (found in some solvents), certain dyes used in textiles, printing, leather tanning and paint manufacturing can increase your chances too.
Other symptoms include blood present when you urinate (which will make urine appear red) or pain when you go peeing - this could indicate that there might be something wrong downstairs! If any combination of these symptoms occurs then it’s important that you get checked out by a medical professional right away so they can accurately diagnose what’s causing them – catching any instance early enough increases your chance for successful treatment significantly!
Overall, since there isn't always an immediate way to tell whether someone has developed Bladder Cancer until it reaches later stages - vigilance about detecting signs before they become severe is key for anyone who feels that something just isn't quite right down there! Early diagnosis could save lives so don't hesitate: take action today & speak up about any potential issues before it's too late!