## Bladder Cancer
**Introduction**
Bladder cancer, also known as urothelial carcinoma or bladder carcinoma, is a malignant disease that affects the cells lining the inner wall of the urinary bladder. The main symptom is blood in the urine (hematuria).
**Diagnosis**
Diagnosis involves a physical exam, urine analysis, and imaging tests such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan. A biopsy, where a small tissue sample is removed, may be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
**Prevention**
Bladder cancer risk can be lowered by avoiding smoking, limiting exposure to chemicals like arsenic and benzene, and consuming plenty of fluids to dilute urine.
**Doctors Involved**
Urologists typically diagnose and treat bladder cancer.
**Symptoms**
* Hematuria (blood in urine)
* Urinary frequency
* Urinary urgency
* Painful urination
* Cystitis (bladder inflammation)
* Urinary retention
**Treatment**
Treatment depends on the stage and type of bladder cancer.
* **Non-Muscle-Invasive Cancer:** Superficial tumors can be removed by surgery (TURBT), treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), or immunotherapy.
* **Muscle-Invasive Cancer:** Radical cystectomy (removal of the bladder) or partial cystectomy (removal of part of the bladder) may be performed, followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
* **Metastatic Cancer:** Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapies aim to控制疾病or relieve symptoms.
**Complications**
* Urinary incontinence
* Erectile dysfunction
* Pelvic pain
* Nephrostomy (tube placed in the kidney to drain urine)
* Ureteroscopy (procedure to view the ureters, the tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder)
**Additional Information**
* Bladder cancer can affect both men and women, but men are twice as likely to develop it.
* Smoking is the most significant risk factor.
* Treatment can significantly improve the survival rate.
* Regular monitoring is crucial after treatment to detect any recurrences.
