Can recurrent UTIs be a sign of cancer?

Can Recurrent UTIs Be a Sign of Cancer?

dpadmin Livontaglobal

UTIs (urinary tract infections) can be a serious and unpleasant health condition. Fortunately, antibiotics are frequently effective in treating them. However, if symptoms of a UTI persist or appear to occur frequently, it may be a sign of something more serious, such as bladder cancer. Cancer treatment in India is available at many reputed hospitals. In case of any consistent health issues, do not delay getting diagnosed.

What causes UTIs?

The most common cause of UTIs is when bacteria enter the urethra, which is the duct via which urine exits the bladder, grow there, and then move up the urinary tract. The urethra and bladder, collectively known as the “lower urinary tract,” are where infection most frequently manifests itself, however the ureter, the duct via which urine enters the bladder, and the kidney can also occasionally become infected. The term “bladder infection” or “cystis” is frequently used to describe a lower urinary tract infection.

Common UTI Symptoms

The majority of UTIs affect the bladder and urethra, and they are characterised by signs and symptoms such as a constant urge to urinate, discomfort or burning when passing urine, a strong urine smell, murky urine, blood in the urine (hematuria), and pelvic pain.
UTIs can less frequently spread to the ureters and kidneys, where they may produce symptoms like nausea, vomiting, upper back and side pain, fever, and chills. If you experience these symptoms, you should contact a doctor right once. Kidney infections can cause life-threatening consequences and/or irreversible kidney damage. Experts from cancer hospitals in India can help to get the right treatment after a thorough check-up.

What Can Mimic a UTI?

What else could it be, then, if a UTI is not the cause? The symptoms of a UTI can be caused by a number of other infectious and non-infectious illness processes. These include some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), illnesses like bladder cancer, and conditions like vaginitis, overactive bladder, and kidney stones. Recurrent UTI-like symptoms should be thoroughly explored due to the potential harmful repercussions of several of these alternative diagnosis.

What are bladder cancer risk factors?

Bladder cancer develops when the bladder’s normal cells start to expand and spread out of control, creating a cancerous tumour. Genes that aid in cell growth and division may be turned on, whereas genes that govern cell division, repair, and programmed death may be turned off, resulting in this aberrant cell growth. This abnormal cell growth is brought on by mutations in the genes that regulate cell replication, repair, and programmed death.
The majority of the gene changes linked to bladder cancer are “acquired,” which means they appear later in life rather than being present at birth (also known as “inherited”). Some acquired gene mutations are brought on by exposure to toxins or substances that are known to increase the risk of developing bladder cancer, like tobacco smoke.

Can UTIs Increase the Risk of Bladder Cancer?

Many common UTI symptoms can be mistaken for bladder cancer symptoms. A kidney stone or an enlarged prostate may be indicated by changes in your urinary patterns, such as a weak urine stream or soreness. If you continue to experience symptoms, even after receiving treatment for a UTI, speak with your doctor.

Bladder cancers can be divided into two groups:

  • Ninety-five percent of bladder cancer diagnoses in the US are transitional cell carcinoma or urothelial carcinoma.
  • About 5% of bladder cancer cases have squamous cell carcinoma, which can be aggressive.
  • Since bladder cancers that are detected early frequently have a five-year survival rate of about 95%, prompt detection and therapy are crucial.

 

Urothelial carcinoma is a cancer that starts in the urothelial cells of the urinary tract and accounts for about 90% of instances of bladder cancer. Epidemiological studies that have looked at evidence of a relationship between UTIs and urothelial carcinoma have yielded conflicting results. While some research suggests that people who have had prior UTIs may be at an increased risk for developing bladder cancer, other findings imply that bladder cancer may actually be protected against by prior UTIs, possibly as a result of the antibiotics used to treat them.

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