Bladder Cancer Facts
One of the astonishing bladder cancer facts is that the disease accounts for 3.2% of all forms of reported cancers and each year there are estimated 260,000 cases reported for men and 60,000 cases reported for women. Incidentally, Western Europe and North America account for the highest male and female incidences in the world.
Currently, bladder cancer is the fifth most common form of cancer in the US. This form of cancer is 3 times more likely to afflict men than women and current statistics shows that it is more prevalent in Caucasians than other races in the world.
Although it is less common, the major cause of bladder cancer remains largely unknown. In addition, there is no effective cure for bladder cancer and this makes it very difficult to treat although it can be controlled for sometime by intensive treatment.
Transitional cell carcinoma is actually the most prevalent type of bladder cancer. Urothelial carcinomas which affect the renal pelvis and ureter and urethra are less prevalent the former type of bladder cancer and account for just about 10% of all reported cases. Nevertheless, there exists significant geographic variation in specific regions of the world and in certain regions of the world, such parts of Africa and Middle East.
Even after undergoing diagnosis and treatment, individuals who suffer bladder cancer still experience very high recurrence rate. Studies show that even after elimination of superficial tumors, the patient still face a 75% risk of developing the cancer in other areas where the cancer metastasizes such as the kidney.
There are several risk factors associated with bladder cancer. These include factors such as age, race, gender, family history, smoking tobacco, exposure to certain chemical substances such as arsenic, and occupational exposures in industries or homes.
One of the most intriguing bladder cancer facts is that individuals such as hair dressers, machinists, printers, textile workers, and rubber plants workers in risky environments are at very high risks of developing bladder cancer.
Intensive treatment and surveillance combining surgery, radiation, and targeted chemotherapy actually lowers the rate of spread of bladder cancer and increases 5 years survival rate among victims who are diagnosed with the disease at an early age.
If you are interested in checking out bladder cancer facts then you can check out more information from the respective websites of National Cancer Institute and National Library of Medicine. These particular websites provide authoritative facts, statistics, and information on bladder cancer.
Related Topics:
- Bladder Cancer Definition
- Lung Cancer Facts
- Bladder Cancer Diagnosis
- Bladder Cancer Causes
- Esophageal Cancer Facts