May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

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Has you or someone you love ever been diagnosed with bladder cancer? If so, then you know the key is early detection because you have a much higher chance of beating the cancer. Here are some interesting statistics courtesy of the American Cancer Society:

#1 – Bladder cancer represents 4.6 percent of all new cancer cases in the United States.
#2 – The average age at diagnosis is 73. It’s most frequently diagnosed in people between the ages of 65 to 74. 

#3 – 90 percent of people diagnosed with bladder cancer are over the age of 55. The risk of the disease developing increases as you grow older.

Who is most at risk for developing bladder cancer?

Your urologist will tell you that anyone can develop bladder cancer. However, most of the older adults around the ages of 60 to 65 are the most common age group to develop the disease. There are also several risk factors involved that could lead to someone developing bladder cancer. They can include:

– Smoking or tobacco use

– Repeated exposure to chemicals in the workplace

– Radiation therapy that occurs in the pelvic region

There are obviously more risk factors to consider but these are some the most common you might encounter. Your urologist will always tell you, without a doubt, that if you’re a smoker you need to quit. This greatly decreases your risk levels. If you need help with your smoking habit, please don’t hesitate to talk to us about your needs and concerns.

How Would I Know if I Have Bladder Cancer?

There are a few different ways that we can tell if you have and diagnose bladder cancer. There are symptoms that can show up that are more common than others. The first one is if you end up having painless blood in your urine. Sometimes it’s visible to the naked eye. Other times we need a microscope to help us detect it.

A couple of the less common symptoms of bladder cancer can include frequent or painful urination. Now, it’s important to note that these things could also be related to an infection in your urinary tract. Whatever your symptoms may be, it’s important to talk to urology office.