Bladder cancer

The most frequent type of bladder cancer is the so-called urothelial cell carcinoma which accounts for about 90% of cases. Other types of bladder cancer are represented by adenocarcinoma and primary squamous cell carcinoma, but they are much less frequent. The latter is often associated with parasitic infections. The symptoms with which bladder cancer can present are also common to other diseases that affect the urinary tract. Frequent manifestations are the presence of blood in the urine and the formation of clots, the burning sensation in the bladder when the abdomen is compressed, the difficulty and pain in urinating, the greater ease of contracting infections. With the progression of the disease these disorders can become important. His behavior is not always predictable with regard to local repercussions and aggression. There are currently no scientifically reliable screening programs or early diagnosis methods. It is therefore necessary to implement preventive measures linked to lifestyle habits which consist of the abolition of smoking and a healthy and balanced diet. When there is a suspicion of bladder cancer, the diagnostic tests normally prescribed are urinary cytology on three samples, which can detect tumor cells in the urine (especially if they are very different from healthy cells) and urinary tract ultrasound, which allows observe sufficiently large formations in the bladder. The actual diagnosis, however, is done with cystoscopy, i.e. inserting an optical instrument into the bladder via the transurethral route to assess whether there are any suspicious lesions inside the organ.