- According to Globocan, in Mexico bladder cancer is more prevalent in men, with just over 70% of total cases.
- Having such non-specific symptoms, it is often confused with sexually transmitted diseases or urinary tract infections, which can delay its diagnosis.
- In Mexico, urothelial carcinoma represents 90% of the 9,587 reported cases of this tumor, which makes it the most common subtype.
Tumors remain a serious global public health problem. One of the main drawbacks is that they can develop in any part of the body and within the wide variety the Bladder cancer is one of the deadliest. Although everyone is at risk, those most at risk are men over the age of 50.
Most cases begin in the inner lining of the bladder, although over time the tumor can grow outside the bladder and reach nearby structures. In this way you can spread to nearby lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
For this reason it is important that people know the risk factors for the disease and undergo regular check-ups with specialist doctors, especially if they have a family history or have been exposed to chemical substances at work or in their environment.
“Knowing the risk factors and the symptoms is crucial to take preventive measures to reduce your risk of developing bladder cancer in the future”, mentions Dr. Osvaldo Hernández Flores, Medical Oncologist and principal investigator in Integral Satellite Oncology.
List of risk factors
Among the main risk factors, in addition to family history with this condition and exposure to chemicals, smoking, alcohol consumption, recurrent bladder infections and age are the most representative.
However, if people begin to have symptoms such as blood in the urine, pain, burning, or an urgent need to urinate, but in small amounts, and pain in the lower abdomen or back, it is a substantial reason to go to a specialist.
“Bladder cancer can be a silent disease with no symptoms in its early stages. This makes it even more important for people to have regular checkups to diagnose any early signs, which become more aggressive over time. Although it is a serious pathology, when detected early in its early stages it can be treatable, improving the quality of life of patients”.
He Bladder cancer can affect people of all ages., although it is more common in adults older than 55 years. However, having such non-specific symptoms, it usually be confused with sexually transmitted diseases or urinary tract infections, which can delay diagnosis.
Physical and mental consequences
Another very important point is the treatment that patients diagnosed with cancer receive. It is not only a physical discomfort but also affects mental and emotional health. Various studies suggest that between 30 to 50% of patients suffering from cancer present some psychological alteration.
These patients often experience a wide range of emotions such as anxiety, depression and stress, which can affect their ability to cope with the condition; however, psychological treatment will help patients deal with these emotions and provide them with tools and techniques to manage pain, fatigue, and other symptoms.
“A psychological treatment can make a difference in patients diagnosed with cancer. Going to psychotherapy can help manage emotional symptoms and improve their well-being, which is why psychological treatment is essential for both the patient and the family, to show them the tools that can begin to be developed for cancer treatment,” mentioned Ana. Calderón, a psychologist at the Mexican Association for the Fight Against Cancer (AMLCC).
In short, the bladder cancer It is a public health problem in Mexico and the importance of early detection must be taken seriously, as well as generating greater knowledge of risk factors and symptoms, since this will allow more population to improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of suffering from it.
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