Bladder cancer is a common cancer that is more often diagnosed in men. In medical practice, two main types of pathology are distinguished: invasive and non-invasive forms. In the first case, the disease is characterized by the appearance of a malignant neoplasm, which progresses rapidly, the non-invasive form in the bladder mainly has a benign course. But even the “mild” variety of the disease requires constant monitoring by a specialist, as it can develop into a dangerous form.
The basic information about a disease such as bladder cancer in men (survival, treatment and diagnostic methods, factors provoking the disease) is given in the article.
Risk group
It is currently not possible to single out specific causes of the disease. It is also unknown why one person, who would seem to be completely healthy and leading a good lifestyle, can suddenly get cancer, and the other does not face the appearance of neoplasms of a different nature, although he has bad habits and associated pathologies.
The following factors increase the likelihood of detecting bladder cancer:
- the presence of bad habits: nicotine and alcohol addiction;
- adverse heredity: cases of cancer in close relatives;
- contact with certain chemical compounds: benzene, aniline, dyes and solvents;
- the presence of congenital pathologies of the bladder;
- frequent physical or emotional stress;
- improper (irrational) nutrition, frequent eating too fatty or fried foods;
- chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the patient’s history;
- chronic diseases of the urethra.
Currently, the effect of HPV (human papillomavirus) on the likelihood of an oncological disease localized in the bladder is being studied. Scientific studies prove the existence of a relationship between these two pathologies. So, papillomas in the bladder are considered a precancerous disease and must be removed.
Cancer prevalence
Bladder cancer in men (survival depends on the nature of the neoplasm) is more common in late middle and old age. About 3-6% of all tumors of a benign or malignant nature with a detailed diagnosis are precisely bladder cancer. Each year, doctors diagnose about 300 new cases of the disease, half of them end in the death of the patient.
The clinical picture of oncology
What are the symptoms and prognosis of bladder cancer in men? Survival, symptoms of tumor development in the body are closely related, i.e., the estimated prognosis depends on the severity of the course of the oncological disease. In the early stages, any ailments may be completely absent, and the first characteristic symptom in the clinical picture of cancer is hematuria - the appearance of a bloody impurity in the urine. Hematuria can be a sign of some other inflammatory processes and chronic diseases, so its origin should be confirmed by laboratory tests and medical diagnostics.
Bladder cancer in men (survival depends largely on the severity of the clinical picture) has the following symptoms:
- difficulty or frequent urination, other violations of the mechanism of urine emission;
- swelling in the groin;
- intense and ongoing pain in the area of ​​concentration of the pelvic organs and on the side of the abdomen;
- anemia;
- general deterioration, weakness, sleep disturbances, and loss of appetite.
Against the background of cancer, pyelonephritis, cystitis, chronic kidney failure and other concomitant diseases of the urinary and digestive systems can occur.
Bladder cancer in men (survival, consequences can be very serious, even fatal) of the fourth degree is characterized by numerous dysfunctions of internal organs. Intense pain occurs in the affected area, the amount of blood in the urine increases significantly, anemia appears, a large number of blood clots on the inner surface of the affected organ. The latter can cause frequent bleeding.
Metastases are possible (especially in the later stages) with a pathology such as bladder cancer in men. The survival of metastases is significantly reduced, because they relate to severe complications.
Cancer Detection Methods
The severity of the clinical picture, the stage and the presence of complications determines bladder cancer in men, survival. Diagnosis of each stage of the development of cancer can vary. The following main methods for detecting oncology are practiced:
- visual examination and initial interview of the patient: the doctor will clarify the complaints, ask about the lifestyle and heredity, will study the anamnesis;
- laboratory analysis of urine: the presence of proteins that are characteristic of malignant tumors, the number of red blood cells and infectious agents is determined;
- cystoscopy: examination of the bladder by introducing a special medical device into the urethra;
- biopsy: the most informative method that allows you to determine the presence and nature of education with 100% probability;
- Ultrasound, MRI and computed tomography: imaging methods help determine the size of the tumor and the extent of spread;
- radiography with contrast medium: the purpose of the procedure is to determine the degree of penetration of the disease into the walls of the organ.
At the discretion of the attending physician, additional studies can be prescribed to assess the spread of the disease.
It is very important to seek qualified medical help at the first alarming symptoms. Even with a successful set of circumstances (if an oncological disease is not diagnosed), difficulty urinating, the appearance of blood in the urine and pain can be signs of quite serious acute inflammatory processes or chronic diseases of the organs of the excretory system.
Treatment methods
In case of cancer (bladder cancer in men), the basic treatment methods can improve significantly if the therapy is carried out in a timely manner. Methods for stopping the tumor can be as follows: radical (surgical), chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The choice of method of therapy largely depends on the nature and speed of the disease. So, for example, in the fourth (last) stage of cancer, often even the surgical intervention is ineffective, and all the actions of doctors are aimed at alleviating the patient's condition.
Surgical intervention
Therapy of a disease called bladder cancer in men (survival with timely detection of pathology is quite high) involves the excision of a tumor, metastases or the organ itself by surgery. The treatment method is indicated at any stage of the disease, except the fourth - in the advanced case, the disease most likely has already affected many organs and systems, which makes the surgical intervention inappropriate or even life-threatening for the patient.
The volume and method of conducting the operation are purely individual. So, for example, the removal of a small neoplasm in the early stages (with timely diagnosis of the disease) most often gives a positive result, and the patient recovers, in the second or third stage, complete removal of the damaged organ may be indicated.
Irradiation: chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy suggest a diagnosis of bladder cancer in men. Chemotherapy treatment significantly increases survival, it also reduces the risk of relapse and is the most effective method of stopping oncology, which has spread to other organ systems.
Radiation therapy is often used to reduce the size of the resulting neoplasm, which allows further surgical intervention to be possible. A method of treatment for bleeding also helps. Radiotherapy reduces bone pain in metastases.
Relief of the patient in the later stages
Unfortunately, if a fourth stage cancer is diagnosed, most treatment methods that can significantly improve the prognosis are not available and will not bring the proper result. The only thing that doctors are able to do is to alleviate the symptoms somewhat and improve the patient’s well-being in a serious illness such as bladder cancer in men.
Survival methods of treatment at the third or fourth stages cannot be improved, they are aimed at maintaining those body functions that are important for life: blood transfusion, plasmapheresis, blood purification; prevention of life-threatening complications is practiced. An important element is timely analgesic therapy.
Innovative treatment methods help reduce soreness at the last stage of the development of cancer of the bladder and extend the patient's life up to a year or more.
Relapses
Compared to other oncological diseases, men’s bladder cancer (survival rate after surgery is about 50%) is characterized by frequent relapses. Two to four months after excision of the tumor, and then regularly (based on the characteristics of the course of the disease in a particular patient), preventive examinations are indicated.
The following factors increase the risk of relapse:
- large tumor size;
- excision of several neoplasms;
- non-compliance with the recommendations of the attending physician;
- unsystematic medication;
- late stage cancer;
- gender affiliation.
Bladder Cancer Survival
What is the percentage of positive therapy for men with bladder cancer (survival)? The prognosis for diagnosing a tumor at the initial stage is from 50 to 80% of cases of positive completion of treatment, oncology of the third or fourth degree gives the worst indicators: about 15-20%. It is about the survival of patients for sixty months after therapy. After successful treatment of the zero stage of cancer, when the neoplasm itself has not yet been found, but individual abnormal cells have been detected, the survival rate is a record 90-95%.
Women are generally worse off than men. The prognosis also depends on the age of the patient: if we talk about average survival, then after eighty years of age, this figure is 35-40%. The picture is not happy, given the average value of positive outcomes in oncology of the urinary system, which is 77%.
The presence and localization of metastases affects survival. In the event that the cancer metastasizes to parts of the lymphatic system near the bladder, then the value is approximately 30%, with foci of pathology in distant organs, survival is reduced to 10-12%.
The best results, as a rule, can be achieved with the detection of cancer in the early stages, the immediate start of treatment and an integrated approach to therapy. Despite relatively small survival rates, the disease can and should be fought. This will help significantly increase the duration and quality of life of the patient.
Disease prevention
The priority areas of prevention are the elimination of factors that provoke diseases. If it is impossible to deal with unfavorable heredity, then it is quite possible to improve one's own lifestyle. The main preventive measures include:
- decisive fight against nicotine and alcohol addiction;
- minimization (or even better - complete elimination) of contacts with hazardous chemical compounds;
- providing your own body with the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals, correction of diet;
- elimination of unsystematic drug administration;
- drinking plenty of clean water (at least 2 liters per day).
With the disease “bladder cancer” in men, survival is markedly increased if the neoplasm is diagnosed in the initial stages.