The disease is more common in men and smoking is the main risk factor; comprehend
Over the past week, two celebrities have used their social networks to talk about their cancer treatments. bladder cancer. The presenter of SBT Celso Portioli justified on Friday 4 his absence from the Telethon due to bladder inflammation, in the midst of oncological treatments, and also the presenter and entrepreneur Roberto Justus announced this Sunday, 6, the discovery of the tumor in the region and the execution of a “preventive chemotherapy” after the removal of the carcinoma.
According to the Instituto da Próstata and the Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia de São Paulo, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in men and the second most treated by urologists, second only to prostate cancer.
The head of clinical oncology at the José Alencar Gomes da Silva National Cancer Institute (Inca), Alexandre Palladino, points out that the estimate in Brazil is that every year of the three-year period 2020-2022 there will be about 7,500 new cases in men. “It is a more common disease in men than in women. The age group can occur at any age, but more common among people between 60 and 70,” he explains.
Although more common in men, women can also be affected, as the to smoke it is still the most predominant risk factor, according to Alfredo Canalini, urologist and president of the Brazilian Society of Urology.
He says he doesn’t believe there is a risk group, but a risk factor. “You also have a group of women. In the past you didn’t see so many bladder tumors, because they didn’t smoke.”
The most common types of tumors in this organ are: transitional cell tumors, which begin in the inner tissue of the bladder; squamous cells, which can appear in the bladder after a prolonged infection or irritation; and adenocarcinoma which begins in secretory cells and can form in the bladder after a long period of irritation or inflammation.
Palladino also explains that when it comes to treatment, this tumor can be divided into two types, the superficial tumor and the invasive one. “In the superficial tumor, it has as a resource to do (surgery) inside the bladder, as a way to decrease local recurrence of the disease. The patient with an invasive tumor, that is, that has gone deeper, is at risk of local recurrence, but also of recurrence in other organs “, she explains.
What are the risk factors for bladder cancer?
Smoking is known as the main risk factor, accounting for 50% of cases in males and 35% among females. According to the SBU, smokers are four to seven times more likely to develop bladder cancer than non-smokers. When you quit smoking, your chances of contracting the disease decrease, although the action of carcinogenic factors can last in the body for more than ten years.
An INCA survey shows that smoking is not the only factor related to the development of this type of cancer. There are at least 28 professions that include carcinogens responsible for bladder cancer in their activities.
The workers most exposed to chemicals are metallurgists, tire manufacturers, radiology professionals, glass manufacturing, paint manufacturing and beauty salons.
The Guidelines Project, from the Brazilian Medical Association and the Federal Council of Medicine, shows that approximately 20% of bladder cancer cases are associated with this occupational exposure.
For Canaline, these work-related factors are avoidable “today you have personal protective equipment that really protects the patient from this type of contact,” he explains.
Also, for Palladino, problems with diet, processed meats and work activities are additive factors. “Smoking is the main risk factor. So a patient who is a smoker and has another associated risk factor will have a higher risk,” he says. . .
What are the symptoms of bladder cancer?
Early diagnosis is the first and foremost way to inhibit the development of the disease, most cancers are diagnosed after the first symptom, which is the presence of blood in the urine, known in medical circles as hematuria. This first sign occurs in 37% to 62% of patients.
The presence of blood can also be accompanied by pain and irritation. In addition to other rarer symptoms such as low back pain, presence of a palpable mass in the hypogastrium or swelling in the lower limbs. In more severe stages, they can also manifest themselves through weight loss.
“An early diagnosis must be made. Sometimes we see that man or woman who has a bleeding in the urine and we think ‘this is nonsense, is it an infection or a kidney stone’, look carefully because you might be facing a potentially treatable and life-threatening disease depends on how you deal with it “warns Canalini.
Treatments with Immuno BCG and “preventive chemotherapy”
Among the treatments for the disease is immunotherapy with the application of Immuno BCG, used by the presenter Celso Portiolli. Despite having a good response in his body, Celsus reported that his bladder “got very inflamed,” which caused him to return to the hospital this weekend.
The treatment, according to urologist Alfredo Canalini, is generally used in superficial tumors, that is, in tumors that do not infiltrate the bladder wall.
“This drug is done through the introduction of a very thin probe into the bladder and the substance is injected inside the bladder,” explains the doctor who stresses that despite the adversities the treatment is reliable.
“Over time, BCG has proved to be the best weapon, so much so that it is still used today, but it has this possibility, yes, of triggering an adverse reaction of an inflammatory irritation of the bladder that the patient must eventually treat. one of the risks of treatment, but these are perfectly controllable situations “.
Meanwhile, Roberto Justus says he uses preventive chemotherapy after removing the carcinoma. Oncologist Alexandre Palladino claims to be a post-operative chemotherapy, common for more advanced cancers, in which attempts are made to prevent the disease from recurring. “This is not local immunotherapy, as in the case of BCG, it is intravenous chemotherapy.” .
The treatments are numerous, but it is necessary to analyze each case independently is what Palladino believes. “Fortunately, most cancers are diagnosed in the early stage due to bleeding, about 70% of patients are diagnosed in the early stages and are usually treated with urethral surgery, without the need for open surgery,” he says. . .
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Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
