The urinary tract of the human body is the system of organs whose main function is to flush out waste products from the body through the urine. The urinary tract consists of the following organs:
1. Kidneys
2. Ureter
3. Bladder
4. Urethra
In males, the prostate, testes and the penis also form a part of the urinary tract. All these organs are made up of tissues which are in turn made up of cells. In the normal course of the functioning of the body, the cells and develop, die out and renew in a regular pattern. It is only when these cells, begin to develop and divide in an uncontrolled, rapid manner or when these cells just don't die out but continue to persist that urinary tract cancer is said to occur.
These rapidly multiplying cells invade the organs of the body and cut off the oxygen and nutrients that these organs need to survive. The obvious outcome is that the organ which has been attacked is unable to function normally. That is why these cells are known as malignant cells. The malignant cells if not controlled in time have a tendency to spread to other organs very quickly. Given that the urinary system is crucial for flushing out toxic chemicals out of the body, urinary tract cancer is a cause for concern.
The causes of cancer of the urinary tract are similar to the factors that are responsible for the development of cancer in other organs of the body as well:
• Smoking is the single largest factor responsible for the development of cancer.
• Prolonged to exposure to certain types of strong chemicals such as asbestos, trichloroethylene and cadmium have also been linked to cancer.
• A diet that consists of high intake of fats and meat has been found to be a contributor to the growth of malignant cells. • People who are obese have a higher risk of developing cancer.
• Hypertensive people have also been found to have a higher chance of developing cancer.
The are main symptom of urinary tract cancer, is the presence of blood in the urine and diagnosis is made through blood and urine tests together with CT and Ultrasound Scans and Biopsy.
Medical sciences is now equipped enough to eradicate most forms of cancer at an early stage and also to put in remission advanced cancers. Pain management is also far more advanced than it was even five years ago.
Although the standard treatment procedures for cancer such as Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy and surgery may be applied as urinary tract cancer treatment but the most effective form of treatment is surgery for the removal of the cancerous cells. Immunotherapy has also been proven to quite effective in treating certain cases of this form of cancer.
Immunotherapy involves the use of medicines to bolster the immune system of the body to fight back against the malignant cancer-causing cells.
In order to prevent or ensure the early detection of urinary tract cancer, it is important to go for regular check-ups to an urologist and lead a healthy lifestyle.
