Bladder cancer is rarely talked about though the number of people suffering from it is quite high. If the cancer is detected early, it can be cured with prompt treatment. But, often, bladder cancer is diagnosed mostly at an advanced stage as the symptoms are similar to that of kidney diseases and urinary tract infections. Now, could it be prevented? There may not be any sure method of preventing it, but the chances can be reduced.

But what is bladder cancer? There are different types of bladder cancer–Urothelial carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma,  Adenocarcinoma. Now, how would you know one is suffering from any of it?

Symptoms and signs. The more common ones are:

Hematuria–blood in the urine

Pain or burning sensation during urination

Strong urge to urinate and frequent urination

Other health problems such as kidney stones, kidney diseases and urinary tract infections also cause blood in the urine.

What to do:  Hence, if you notice blood in your urine, you must consult your doctor immediately for proper diagnosis. In some cases, the blood in the urine may not be visible to the naked eye. Hence, it is advisable to get your urine tested if you suffer from any urination problem.

Treatment & Prevention: Like any other cancer, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are advised for its

Quit smoking: Give up smoking and all forms of tobacco, as smokers are found to be at higher risk of bladder cancer.

Increase fluid intake: Drink plenty of water and other forms of fluids and juices. Drinking plenty of water can flush out all the toxins from the body and rid many infections.

Citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables: Rich in fibre and vitamins, citrus fruits have many health benefits. Add them to your daily diet plan to stay healthy.

Bladder cancer is mostly detected at an advanced stage, according to health reports. If it is detected early and treated properly, it can be cured, 

New medicine: In an international clinical trial 2016, a new drug – atezolizumab -was found highly effective against advanced bladder cancer. The injections of the medicine was found to shrink cancer tumours

The expert view: "Our new study results argue that atezolizumab represents a major advance in the treatment of bladder cancer," said lead study investigator and medical oncologist Arjun Balar, Assistant Professor at New York University Langone Medical Center in the US.

The drug atezolizumab, also known by its brand name, Tecentriq, was in May 2016 approved by the US Food and Drug Administration based on research from a related clinical trial presented in 2015.

"Atezolizumab is the first therapy to be approved in more three decades for this disease, and it is the new standard of care for patients whose initial therapy with platinum-based chemotherapy drugs has failed," Balar said.

According to the study which was conducted across US, Canada and Europe, Atezolizumab was well tolerated by all patients, Balar added.