Smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer, as well as for most other forms of cancer. This is simply because tobacco contains carcinogenic (carcinogenic) substances. If you smoke heavily for years, these substances gradually permeate into your blood stream and are metabolized into your urine, where they remain inactive.
Eventually, the toxins begin to attack healthy cells in your body. Cancerous cells begin to rapidly grow, while healthy tissue gradually deteriorates. As a result, bladder cancer progresses slowly over time. This type of cancer is called non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and accounts for more than 90 percent of all malignancies.
One of the key signs of bladder cancer is hematuria--a decrease in the volume of the urine that a person produces. Hematuria is caused by a decrease in the number of red blood cells produced by the white blood cells. When there is an increase in the number of red blood cells, the oxygen level in the urine increases. Because more oxygen causes a higher pH, which means that the urine is less alkaline. When a person has either an abnormally high pH or low pH, the result is often hematuria. It is also possible to have hematuria due to trauma to the lower urinary tract, such as when the bladder becomes inflamed or if infection spreads through the urinary tract.
Another sign of bladder cancer is a noticeable change in the appearance of the urinary bladder, such as loss of its color or shape, or a change in the amount of urine produced. Some people may even experience pain during urination. In very rare cases, the cancer can spread from the bladder into the kidney and cause kidney problems, such as kidney failure. When these cells begin to grow and move out of the kidney, they are called "steatoma." Other signs that may indicate bladder cancer include painful urination, such as episodes of incontinence. This pain can come on suddenly and disappear just as quickly.
There are two types of bladder cancer: those that start in the lining of the bladder and those that start outside of it. The inside bladder wall is called the glomerular lining. It is made up of mucus-like material and has a long thin tube running from it out of the body. When it comes into contact with a cancerous cell, the lining can be easily damaged. The result is usually death from asphyxiation, although in some cases, the damage may not kill the person.
On the other hand, symptoms that occur outside the bladder wall can be much more dangerous. In these cases, the bladder is not involved in the process of passing urine, so any damage to the lining results in severe and even fatal back pain. Common symptoms of both types of bladder cancer include ureteral bleeding, blood in the urine, and pain in the back or side area. Sometimes, the only symptom is urination, with no loss of urine. If a person has any of these symptoms, they should see a doctor as quickly as possible.
Some people might think that the symptoms of bladder cancer will go away once the person stops drinking. In fact, once you stop drinking, the problem often returns. Chemicals in the urine stream are constantly moving, carrying nutrients to the bladder, and sometimes getting passed into the stool. These wastes irritate the lining of the bladder. If this irritation goes untreated, it can progress to cancer, causing the patient to extreme pain in the abdomen, kidney failure, and possibly death.
Chemicals in the urine can be stopped by using special products that dissolve in the liquid. Many people have become dehydrated as a result of avoiding urine, and this causes severe back pain and can even cause the patient to lose their bladder control. Doctors have developed drugs to help patients who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, but these drugs can't stop the urine flow entirely. They can, however, reduce the amount of urine a person produces. This reduction can make a huge difference in the symptoms a person is experiencing, and is very helpful in relieving back pain.