Cancer News Information

There are many reports that have been introduced regarding cancer prevention. Cancer is still undergoing extensive research and there are no clear cut lines on how to prevent the disease. However, there are certain lifestyle choices that can reduce the risk of developing cancer. This is because they tend to boost immune system and make you healthy overall. Below are some simple lifestyle changes that you can incorporate to help prevent cancer.

First, avoid using tobacco products. Tobacco will increase your risk of developing different types of cancer such as lung, bladder and kidney cancer. When you chew tobacco, you are increasing the risk of getting pancreatic cancer or cancer of the oral cavity. Remember that expose to second hand tobacco smoke can also put you at risk. You need to seek help if you are willing to quit tobacco but you cannot on your own. There are a number of products in the market which can help you to stop tobacco dependency.

Secondly, incorporate the right foods in your diet. You need to take plenty of fruits and vegetables. Foods from plant sources will improve liver function and boost your immunity. Avoid high fat foods because it enhances the risk of obesity which is known to increase the risk of cancer. Avoid drinking excessive alcohol because it may cause liver cancer.

Thirdly, remain physically active and you will reduce the risk of cancer. Cancer prevention and physical activity have been linked by many researchers. Ideally, you should engage in 30 minutes of activity every day. You can combine vigorous activities and moderate activities. If you are able to exercise more than 30 minutes a day, it will help you increase immune system even more.

You also need to protect yourself from harsh sunlight which is likely to cause skin cancer. The sun rays are the strongest between 10am and 4pm so you should try and stay in the shade during these hours. Wear clothes that cover your skin and opt for dark or bright colors which reflect UV rays as opposed to bleached cotton clothes. Always put on your sun screen and avoid tanning beds and sunlamps.

You also need to protect yourself by avoiding risky behaviors. People who have conditions like HIV and AIDS are likely to experience cancer of the anus, lung and liver. HIV tends to suppress your immune system so you are more prone to infections. You should boost immune system by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying away from irresponsible behaviors which will put you at risk of acquiring HPV and HIV virus.

Lastly, it is always important to take your medical checkups very seriously. Getting proper medical care will help in cancer prevention. The physician will perform the right tests whenever you encounter an illness so that the cancer is detected early enough. Visit the doctor whenever you have a body issue, don't ignore it or treat it on your own using over the counter medication. All these tips will help to increase immune system and prevent cancer.

The American Cancer Society projects that in 2013, nearly 73,000 new bladder cancer diagnoses occur. Most of the cases--nearly 55,000 will occur in men--about 18,000 in women. New diagnoses rates have stabilized in the last few years and have even dropped slightly in women. A bladder cancer diagnosis isn't an automatic death sentence. There are over a half a million bladder cancer survivors in America today.

Surviving Bladder Cancer

A common question most patients ask after a diagnosis relates to survival rates. Like many other cancers, bladder cancer survival rates correlate to the stage of cancer present. While statistics represent a massive amount of patients studied over several years, each person's situation is different and many factors contribute to a person's survival.

The most recent study, according to the American Cancer Society, yields positive survival rates for patients diagnosed with stage zero (98%) or stage one (88%) bladder cancer. As expected, survival rates tend to decline depending on the advanced stage of diagnosed cancer. The rates are:

• Stage two: 63%
• Stage three: 46%
• Stage four: 15%

Keep in mind that these statistics reflect thousands of patients studied over time. Some people who don't get diagnosed until stage four survive and live for years afterward.

Risk Factors

It's unclear what causes bladder cancer, but certain risk factors raise the likelihood of developing cancer. These risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Growing older
• Being Caucasian
• Being male
• Prior cancer treatments
• Certain diabetes medications
• Recurring inflammation in the bladder from infection and other disorders
• Family history

Like many other cancers, a patient may not meet any of these criteria and develop cancer.

Types of Bladder Cancer

Cancer occurs when cells inside the bladder start growing abnormally, meaning they don't divide and grow like other cells. These cells don't die like typical cells and result in a tumor. There are three types of cells in the bladder that may mutate into cancer. The type of cell where the cancer originates dictates the type of cancer a patient has. Some cancer patients' cases consist of multiple cell cancers.

When cancer originates in the cells that line the interior wall of the bladder, the resulting cancer is transitional cell carcinoma. This type of cells stretches and shrinks according to the amount of urine present in the bladder and make up the interior of the urethra and ureters. Transitional cell carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed cancer.

Squamous cells are found in the bladder when an infection or inflammation present. When these cells mutate, squamous cell carcinoma occurs. This type of cancer is rare in the U.S., but much more common in areas of the world where parasitic infection rates are higher.

Another rare form, adenocarcinoma, occurs in the mucous-making cells in the bladder.

Bladder Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of this cancer closely mimic the symptoms present in a bladder infection. This might be part of the reason that diagnosis is delayed because patients see a physician for symptoms and are treated for an infection rather than cancer. Symptoms are:

• Urine that's bright red, looks like dark soda, or very dark yellow
• Urinating often
• Pain when urinating
• Pain in the back or pelvis

Any time a patient experiences symptoms that are concerning, a visit to the doctor is needed, especially if symptoms persist for a long period of time.