Urinary bladder cancer is difficult to diagnose at the initial stage because it has symptoms similar to urinary tract infection and most people tend to ignore small signs like frequent urination at night, said doctors.
In the majority of cases, according to doctors, the people fail to ascertain the need or importance to consult a doctor when the symptoms start appearing — a practice that makes the treatment extensive and expensive in the long run.
“Around 20,000 cases of urinary bladder cancer are reported across India every year, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. A number of cases is not reported at all because people do not realise the need to visit a doctor,” said Abhay Kumar, head of urology department and surgical oncology at Medica Superspecialty Hospital at the launch of a bladder cancer support group last week.
Kumar said the symptoms of urinary bladder cancer almost resemble that of a urinary tract infection that people often tend to ignore. “Any person above the age of 40 years should look out for symptoms like blood in urine, increase in frequency of urine at night. Exposure to chemicals or a history of tobacco consumption could lead to urinary bladder cancer.”
Several survivors who attended the event said there was a need for a support group. “For all these years, I have been an online member of a foreign support group that has been of immense help to me and my family for more than the last five years. I am so glad that now we have a support group here where I can go and meet people in person,” said Jayanta Biswas, 66, a survivor, who is a resident of Kasba in south Kolkata.
Biswas was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2016 which recurred in 2018 after initial treatment.
A resident of Behala in southwest Kolkata, Dipankar Mandal, whose 72-year-old mother Sovana has been diagnosed with bladder cancer, said his family had first thought it was a gynaecological problem. “A gynaecologist referred us to a urologist from where we contacted an oncologist,” Mandal said.
Mandal shared his experience saying that his mother’s ailment for years has forced her indoors. “A support group is the best thing she can have at this age,” he added.