Bladder cancer is the second most common cancer of the urinary tract and affects men and women – in Cyprus it is the fourth most common malignancy in men and the eighth in women and the main aggravating factor is smoking, PASYK said in a statement. .
As reported, in Europe, bladder cancer is the 5th most common and more than 200,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year and 655,000 people live with this cancer, according to data from the World Bladder Cancer Organization. cyst, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition.
Smokers, it is noted, are considered particularly vulnerable and are four to seven times more likely to develop the disease. At the same time, there is an increase in the incidence of women and this is due to the increase in the percentage of women who smoke, which is why smoking cessation, according to experts, is considered a necessary component in the successful treatment of this cancer.
PASYKAF through the Program “Prevention and Treatment of Bladder Cancer” seeks information, prevention and early diagnosis of bladder cancer in order to reduce annual events and improve the quality of life of patients. According to the Cancer Record Monitoring Unit, close to 140 new cases are reported each year, including men and women over the age of 65.
The most common symptoms of bladder cancer are hematuria, frequent urination, painful urination, urgency to urinate, pain in the abdomen or lower back, and recurrent urinary tract infections. People who may notice any of these symptoms are advised to speak directly to a urologist for further investigation.
Other aggravating factors for bladder cancer are exposure to chemicals such as paints, skins and fuels in the workplace, chronic cystitis, recurrent urinary tract infections and long-term use of a catheter.
Diagnosis for bladder cancer includes general and urine culture to rule out urinary tract infection and documentation of hematuria, cystoscopy to diagnose and monitor the disease, urinary cytology and computed tomography.
In the context of information and awareness about bladder cancer, people with experience of this cancer are invited to contact the offices of PASYKAF or visit its website at www.pasykaf.org to be further informed about the Bladder Cancer Program, the supported by the Cyprus Urological Society.
