According to the National Cancer Institute, bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the eighth most common cancer type in women. Each year, more than 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with bladder cancer. Though the cause of bladder cancer is not known, there are risk factors that can raise the probability you will get bladder cancer, which include age, smoking, your occupation and family history.
Symptoms
Bladder cancer, if caught early, is treatable. Prompt recognition of symptoms is essential to an early diagnosis. If you have blood in your urine, pain and burning on urination, a feeling that your bladder is not emptying out completely or you begin to suffer from frequent urination, mention these symptoms to your doctor. Note that these symptoms can also point to other diseases or inflammatory conditions, but early detection is the key to a successful treatment outcome.
Radiological Test
Your doctor may perform an intravenous pyelogram (IVP), which is a conventional X-ray using dye to examine parts of the kidney, the ureters and the bladder. This test shows the upper and lower urinary tract and can detect abnormalities.
Marker Test
A noninvasive test that can be performed is the urine-based marker test, which can detect low-grade bladder cancer as well as recurrences of the cancer. These tests identify key urine indicators that are indicative of this cancer.
Cystoscopy
A cystoscopy involves inserting a narrow tube into the urethra (where urine comes out) and visually inspecting the urethra and bladder using a special lens and fiber-optic lighting system. A small tissue sample can also be extracted for testing with this method.
Computed Tomography
A CTU scan can be done, which shows a cross section of the body in more detail than a normal X-ray. Magnetic Resonance Urography (MRU) is an alternative test for pregnant women and children. According to the Mayo Clinic, intravenous urography and CTU may not be appropriate for pregnant women or patients with contradictory results from traditional diagnostic tests.
FISH
The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test, developed by the Mayo Clinic, uses a mix of fluorescent-labeled probes to determine whether urinary cells harbor abnormalities indicating malignant cancer. It has proven to be more reliable than standard urine cytology tests.
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