Men's Health Month: Recognize Your Individual Risk for Bladder Cancer

June is Men's Health Month. Bladder Cancer is more prevalent in men, especially military veterans, firefighters and cigarette smokers. The Men's Health Network offers information. Several physicians cite facts about the disease and insights on how to improve early detection.

Washington DC (PRWEB) June 5, 2009 -- Early detection of bladder cancer, especially for military veterans and firefighters is the latest message being directed to men during Men's Health Month by Men's Health Network, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play, and pray. Recognizing that veterans and firefighters are among the most prominent occupational groups at increased risk for bladder cancer, Men's Health Network has added new bladder cancer awareness information to their web-based library of men's health issues at http://www.menshealthnetwork.org.

Bladder cancer is recognized as the leading occupational cancer because of workplace exposure to toxins. "In an occupational environment laden with chemicals and carcinogens, Men's Health Network is poised to increase awareness of a forgotten cancer -bladder cancer," said Scott Williams, Vice President for Men's Health Network.

Williams also emphasized, "Men need to be especially vigilant of symptoms. It's the fourth most common cancer and has one of the highest recurrence rates of all cancers. In men, it is almost as prevalent as colon cancer and men make up about 75 percent of the diagnosed cases."

Barry Stein, M.D., urologist and advocate for bladder cancer awareness issued this statement to firefighters at their recent FDIC conference. "Firefighters have been identified at twice the risk for developing bladder cancer than the general population. Men get screened for prostate and colon cancers; they are not immune from lung cancer if they smoke or are exposed to tobacco smoke; and watch for signs of skin cancer. Yet, one of the most deadly cancers, bladder cancer, if not detected early, is not on your cancer watch list."

"If diagnosed in its early stages, bladder cancer has a five-year survival rate in men of almost 95% and is very treatable," add Stein. "If diagnosed at an advanced stage, the five-year survival rate is less than ten percent (10%). Knowing your symptoms and risk factors for bladder cancer was never more important."

Liam Hurley, M.D., urologist from Andover, MA, concurs, "The North American Association of Central Cancer Registries estimate 70,980 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer this year; 52, 810 will be men. That's an increase from last year. It's important to identify ways to encourage early detection; physicians have a battery of tests available, including a low-cost, point-of-care urine test that can be used to aid in diagnosis and monitor of bladder cancer."

Men's Health Network is supporting broader bladder cancer awareness among the veteran population. Studies have shown that veterans are four times more likely to have bladder cancer than the general population. Likewise, others who work with chemicals, burning material, and soot have a higher risk for the cancer. Prolonged exposure to benzene compounds found in burning debris is also associated with bladder cancer risk. The number one risk factor for the disease is smoking cigarettes, increasing one's risk four to seven times.

"Know the symptoms for bladder cancer," emphasized Dr. Hurley. "One of the first signs is blood in the urine (hematuria). Other signs can include painful urination, increased frequency of urination, a feeling of needing to urinate but not being able to do so, and chronic bladder inflammation from recurrent urinary tract infections. While each of these symptoms might have benign causes, the possibility of bladder cancer should not be excluded, especially for those who are at higher risk. Hematuria is the most frequent symptom of bladder cancer. However, there are many reasons for hematuria, including urinary tract infections and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and don't delay in consulting your physician.

Bladder Cancer is often referred to as a lifetime cancer with one of the highest recurrence rates of any cancer - even skin cancer. According to government data, bladder cancer annual costs are almost $3 billion compared to $1.5 billion spent on prostate cancer.

Today, more than a half million people have had or are living with bladder cancer. Men's Health Network encourages a grassroots movement to improve education of bladder cancer among state and national government leaders and to get the facts about bladder cancer in the firehouses, veteran health centers and workplaces across America.

"Legislation was passed last summer in my home state of Rhode Island creating a firefighters cancer wellness program," said Dr. Stein. "The program emphasizes the need for both annual testing and keeping firefighters informed about developments concerning links between firefighters' exposure to hazardous materials and bladder cancer. This type of legislation validates the importance of early detection efforts for bladder cancer for all at risk."

For consumer health information refer to the Mens Health Network. Health professionals can review the most recent bladder cancer medical studies at the http://www.urotoday.com.

# # #