Bladder cancer: what are the warning signs?

5,000. This is the number of deaths per year in France for which the bladder cancer. Each year, it affects between 13,000 and 20,000 additional people.

On the occasion of the 4th edition of Bladder Month, the French Association of Urology (AFU) wants to raise awareness among the general public about this cancer, the 2nd urological cancer (after that of the prostate) and 5th cancer in Francebut which we rarely talk about.

One of the cancers with the poorest prognosis

“Too little known to the general public, bladder cancer is a real public health issue. It is essential to make the general public aware of the warning signs », underlines Benjamin Pradere, urologist and member of the AFU cancerology committee.

Being informed means you have a great chance of survival. Indeed, detect early (from the first signs), the survival rate is 80% at five years. This rate quickly drops to 50%. At the metastatic stage, the survival rate does not exceed 5%.

Metastatic bladder cancer is one of the cancers with the poorest prognosis and one of the great challenges for urology in the 2020s.

Four times more common in men than in women, it is, on average, diagnosed around age 70 Today.

The first sign that should alert

Currently, there is no validated method for systematic screening for bladder tumors. However, one sign should immediately alert: hematuria, i.e. visible presence of blood in the urine. Present in 80 to 90% of cases, hematuria is the first symptom of bladder cancer.

THE recurrent cystitis and the urination problems (frequent urge to urinate, sudden and irrepressible urge to urinate, incontinence) are also signs which should prompt you to consult your doctor quickly.

What risk factors?

THE tobacco is the leading risk factor for bladder cancer. It is responsible for 53% of bladder cancers in men and 39% in women.

Today, we consider thata smoker has 5.5 times more risk to be a victim of bladder cancer than a non-smoker. And all the more so since he will have started smoking at a younger age, and his consumption will be high.

Among the other risk factors identified: certain occupational toxicants used in chemistry (dyes, dyes, etc.), in public works (tars), automobile repair (diesel smoke, etc.) or agriculture (arsenic). Certain diseases such as bilharzia (parasitic disease) and certain treatments can also increase the risks.

With Destination Santé.

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