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Bladder cancer affects many people every year, and despite that, false and outdated beliefs of the people still prevail. While some mistakenly think bladder cancer affects only the older population, others feel that a condition this serious would come with some obvious symptoms. As a result, there is a delay in both diagnosis and treatment, leading to negative outcomes. This article uncovers the common myths associated with bladder cancer while giving an insight into the facts about the disease, which will help raise awareness about bladder cancer among people and promote early detection before things get worse.

A quick overview of bladder cancer Bladder cancer is associated with the uncontrollable growth of abnormal, cancerous cells in the bladder (urine-storing organ) lining. These cancerous cells disrupt the normal functioning of the bladder and can also spread to surrounding organs, damaging them. Among the different types of cancers, bladder cancer is the fourth most common type in men, and it is three times more likely to be seen in men than in women. Bladder cancer comes in two major types: Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, where the cancerous cells are restricted in the bladder lining and have not invaded the bladder wall, and are regarded as early-stage cancer, and Muscle-Invasive bladder cancer when cancer invades the bladder wall and is considered as advanced-stage cancer. Myths vs Facts of Bladder Cancer Many people without reliable information have formed opinions about bladder cancer, which has caused many misconceptions which get circulated. Let us clear these myths by talking about the facts about bladder cancer. Myths

• Bladder cancer only affects men
• It is quite easy to tackle bladder cancer
• Smoking is the sole cause of bladder cancer
• Removing the bladder is the only treatment option for bladder cancer
• The quality of life of people living with urinary diversion is negatively affected.

Facts

• While men are more likely to develop bladder cancer, women also stand a chance of developing it.
• Bladder cancer patients have to deal with pain and surgeries, which leads to emotional distress in such patients, making it difficult to cope with the disease.
• Although smoking is one of the most common risk factors that can cause bladder cancer, it is not the sole reason. Other factors like genetics, chemical exposure in industries, family history, and drinking water which is rich in arsenic are other factors that can also lead to bladder cancer.

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