Bladder cancer: how to identify this little-known disease?

During an awareness campaign, the French Association of Urology (AFU) takes stock of a cancer that is still very little known: that of the bladder.

Bladder cancer: the presence of blood in the urine should alert

To date, there is no validated method for systematic screening for bladder tumors.

“It is therefore essential to detect bladder cancer very early based on alarm symptoms: hematuria (the presence of blood in the urine is by far the most common symptom) but sometimes also cystitis. repetition or even urination problems”, underline the activists in a press release.

Bladder cancer: incidence and risk factors

Bladder cancers are 4 times more common in men and are most often diagnosed around the age of 70. Between 13,000 and 20,000 new people are affected each year in France by this pathology.

“When bladder cancer is caught in time, survival is more than 80% at 5 years. If the diagnosis is made later, the patient has only a 50% chance of survival, a figure which drops to 5%. at the metastatic stage”, specifies the AFU.

Tobacco is the leading risk factor for bladder cancer. “Epidemiological studies confirm that not only is tobacco a major source of bladder tumors, but also, due to additives added by the industry, this risk is constantly increasing,” say the specialists. “Today, we consider that a smoker is 5.5 times more likely to be a victim of bladder cancer than a non-smoker, and even more so once he or she has started smoking. young or if he consumes a lot of tobacco”, they continue.

Bladder cancer: what about therapeutic innovations?

“The primary objective of Bladder Cancer Month is to make the general public aware of the seriousness of this cancer but also of the very good prognosis if it is diagnosed early,” explains Dr Benjamin Pradere, urologist and member of the AFU cancer committee.

“In terms of therapeutic innovations, the new treatments that were presented at ESMO are also at the heart of this bladder month. The challenge for urologists and patients is to have, as soon as possible, these new treatments available to them. arrangement”, concludes Professor Yann Neuzillet, urological surgeon and member of the AFU oncology committee.