DOHA: While smoking is a leading cause for bladder cancer, exposure to some chemicals including hair dye can increase the chances of developing the disease, says an expert.
Risk factors for bladder cancer also include exposure to other carcinogens at work place, age, gender, chronic bladder infection and heredity. However preventive steps and early detection can be a life-saving tool and the key to successful treatment of bladder cancer, says Dr Mohammed Ussama Al Homsi, Senior Consultant, Oncology Department at Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR).
“Smoking is a leading cause of bladder cancer. Other risk factors are connected to some professions, occupational exposure to chemicals including hair dyes and sprays. These particles can travel through air enter the lungs and possibly move through the blood stream and cause bladder cancer,” said Dr Al Homsi.
July was Bladder Cancer Awareness Month. HMC conducted awareness campaign including on the social media as part of its continuous effort to reduce the incidence of cancer in Qatar.
As part of the campaign Dr Al Homsi has spoken about signs and symptoms of bladder cancer and highlighted the importance of prevention, early detection and necessity to adopt a healthy lifestyle. It was published on HMC’s Facebook page. Bladder cancer occurs when abnormal cells within the bladder grow in an uncontrolled way. It can be treated based on how far it has moved into the wall of the bladder.
Symptoms of bladder cancer includes, asymptomatic hematuria, presence of three or more red blood cells visible in a properly collected urine specimen without evidence of infection), painful urination and the need to urinate often than usual. While at an advanced stage of the disease symptoms would be inability to urinate, lower back pain, loss of appetite and weight loss and foot swelling.
Dr Al Homsi says that early detection of bladder cancer increases that chance of successful treatment and prevention and early detection can save lives.
“Stop smoking and do not ignore other symptoms such as blood in the urine, frequent urination and pain when urinating. Finding bladder cancer early, increases the chance of successful and easy treatment, with survival rates reaching 40 to 90 percent,” he said.
“Bladder cancer can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle including diet, physical activity and by staying away from smoking,” he added.
Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide and it occurs in men more frequently than it does in women and usually affects older adults, though it can happen at any age.
