Oncourologist spoke about the impact of urinary tract infections on the development of cancer

Frequent cystitis and prostatitis, which many patients have been self-treating for years, can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer. Alexander Sysoev, oncourologist at the SM Clinic, told Izvestia about this on March 14.

Urinary tract infections such as cystitis and prostatitis can have long-term health effects, including an increased risk of bladder cancer. According to the expert, chronic infections can cause inflammation in the pelvic organs, which weakens the protection of the bladder and disrupts cellular renewal. In conditions of constant inflammation, the likelihood of malignant changes increases.

As the specialist noted, it was previously believed that the urine of a healthy person is sterile, but modern research shows that the urinary tract has its own microbiome, a system of microorganisms whose composition depends on many factors, including age, hormones and the immune system. Problems begin when the balance of bacteria is disrupted, which leads to the dominance of pathogenic microorganisms. This can contribute to the development of not only infectious diseases, but also cancer.

"Inflammation damages the protective barrier of the bladder, weakens local immunity and disrupts the renewal of epithelial cells. Against this background, the likelihood of malignant changes increases," explained Sysoev.

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According to the expert, scientists have also found a link between a violation of the urinary tract microflora and the development of various diseases, including bladder cancer. In the future, studying the microbiome may become an important tool for early diagnosis of cancer. A so-called bacterial "trail" left by pathogenic microorganisms has been identified in patients with bladder cancer.

Nevertheless, the specialist stressed that the presence of urinary tract infections in itself does not mean a risk of developing cancer. The danger arises when the inflammation recurs from year to year and does not receive proper attention.

"In such a situation, it is very important not to ignore the symptoms. Regular preventive examinations by specialists, avoiding uncontrolled use of antibiotics and properly selected therapy will help reduce chronic inflammation and potential risks associated with cancer," added Sysoev.

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All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.