To avoid lung cancer, you know you should not smoke. And, to prevent skin cancer, you know to stay out of the sun’s harmful rays. But, do you know how to prevent bladder cancer?

“Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among men and is three times more common in men than in women,” says Nathan Hoffman, MD, a urologist at Park Nicollet Clinic—St. Louis Park. “Like other cancers, it has several risk factors that can potentially be avoided.”

Are you in harms way?
The bladder’s job is to store urine before it leaves the body. The kidneys produce liquid waste when they filter blood. Depending on the substances a person consumes or inhales, urine can harbor a high concentration of harmful chemicals. Over time, these substances can damage cells inside the bladder. That is why bladder cancer becomes more common as people age. In fact, more than 70 percent of people with bladder cancer are older than 65, according to the American Cancer Society.

“Smoking is the most avoidable risk factor for bladder cancer,” Dr. Hoffman says. “Although smoking cessation can help reduce your risk, it can take up to 20 years for the elevated risk of bladder cancer to subside.”

Long-term chemical exposure, from diesel exhaust, paints, printing ink, and hair dye, also increases the risk of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer can also be caused by chronic bladder irritation and catheter use. “People who have indwelling catheters need yearly screening after five to 10 years,” Dr. Hoffman says.

Detecting bladder cancer
Blood in the urine (hematuria) is often the first sign of bladder cancer. “The blood can be caused by benign conditions such as an infection or kidney stones, but if these conditions are ruled out, it is imperative to have further investigation into the potential source of the blood,” Dr. Hoffman says.

When blood is detected in urine, doctors typically perform CT scans to determine if it is coming from the bladder or kidneys. These scans provide detailed, cross-sectional images of these organs. Doctors also check for abnormal areas inside the bladder and urethra using a cystoscope.

A cystoscope is a thin, tube-like tool that has a light and lens. It also may have a device that can remove abnormal tissue. “Removing small, nonaggressive polyps during a cystoscopy usually is sufficient,” Dr. Hoffman explains. “But, these patients do require continued surveillance for at least 10 years after the initial removal as they can commonly recur.”

Treating bladder cancer
If a tumor is invading into the bladder wall, more aggressive therapy will be needed. These treatments may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or combination therapy.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove some or all of the bladder. “We are now performing bladder surgery robotically, using the daVinci® Surgical System, which is very similar to laparoscopy and helps decrease blood loss and recovery time,” Dr. Hoffman says. Depending on the situation, doctors may reconstruct the bladder or create a urostomy, an opening on the side of the abdomen for urine to drain, where it collects into a bag.

“Because blood in the urine is the earliest potential sign of cancer, I would encourage people to see their doctor immediately if this occurs,” Dr. Hoffman adds. “Like other cancers, early detection is the key to a successful outcome.”

To learn more about bladder cancer, call 952-993-3190 or visit parknicollet.com.