หยุดมะเร็งกระเพาะปัสสาวะ ด้วยการตรวจและรักษาแต่เนิ่นๆ (Bladder Cancer)

According to statistics from the National Cancer Institute, bladder cancer ranks among the top 10 most common cancers in the country. Most patients are over the age of 50, and it is more frequently found in men than in women.
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Causes and Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer Smoking is identified as a major risk factor, increasing the risk by about 3-4 times, as the toxins in cigarette smoke can cause damage and inflammation in the bladder tissue, leading to abnormal cell division. Additionally, exposure to certain chemicals, such as aromatic amines in the dye, plastic, rubber, metal, or petrochemical industries, as well as bacterial, fungal, viral infections, and parasites like schistosomiasis, also contribute to the risk.
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Other factors that do not have a clearly established relationship with increased risk but should be approached with caution include arsenic exposure (often found in contaminated drinking water from agricultural activities), radiation in the pelvic area from prostate or gynecological cancer treatments, and certain chemotherapy drugs.
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Symptoms of Bladder Cancer The symptoms of bladder cancer depend on the stage of the disease. The most common symptom is blood in the urine (hematuria) without pain, which can be seen with the naked eye or detected in urine tests. Some patients may also present with frequent urination and pain in the lower abdomen or at the urethra during urination. If the cancer invades deeper into the muscle layer, symptoms may include lower abdominal pain even without urination, back pain due to the tumor pressing on the ureters, and signs of kidney failure such as nausea, vomiting, and decreased urination. If cancer spreads to lymph nodes and bones, patients may experience severe pelvic and lower back pain, swelling in the legs, noticeable weight loss, and fatigue.
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Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer Diagnosing bladder cancer usually requires several methods, including:
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<li>Medical history and physical examination: Doctors will ask about symptoms, particularly those related to urination and risk factors. If suspicious, further examination may be needed to check for abnormalities in the abdomen or pelvis.</li>
<li>Urine tests: These include checking for red blood cells in urine and cancer cells through urine cytology.</li>
<li>Cystoscopy: A procedure allowing doctors to visually inspect the bladder lining and take biopsies of suspicious areas for laboratory analysis.</li>
<li>Imaging tests: Ultrasound, CT scans, or MRIs to look for tumors or assess the spread of cancer to surrounding organs.</li>
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Treatment of Bladder Cancer Generally, bladder cancer treatment divides patients into two main groups based on symptoms and disease stage:
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<li>Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC): In cases where cancer cells are confined to the bladder lining, doctors will use a small instrument inserted through the urethra to destroy cancerous tissue with electrical currents, followed by sending biopsy samples for laboratory analysis. After surgery, immunotherapy or chemotherapy may be used to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, depending on the severity and number of tumors. Regular cystoscopy is done every 3-6 months for the first 2-3 years post-surgery.</li>
<li>Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC): If cancer has spread to the bladder muscle, outer lining, or nearby organs, treatment becomes more complex. One main approach is complete bladder removal, which may also involve removing parts of the urinary tract, lymph nodes, prostate, and seminal vesicles in men, or the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and parts of the vagina in women. After removal, doctors may construct a new bladder from intestinal tissue.</li>
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Post-surgery, radiation and chemotherapy may be used to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, or immunotherapy for patients who do not respond to chemotherapy. For patients who cannot undergo major surgery due to health concerns, chemotherapy may be administered first to shrink the tumor before considering surgery or other treatment options for safety and optimal outcomes.
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Conclusion Bladder cancer, when detected in its early stages, can be treated effectively. Therefore, individuals aged 50 and over, or those younger with a history of smoking and chemical exposure, as well as those with other risk factors, should undergo regular health screenings. If suspicious symptoms arise, consulting a doctor for thorough examinations can lead to timely diagnosis and treatment, which is often less costly than managing advanced disease.

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