Bladder Cancer Surgery

Bladder cancer is a tumor within the bladder, usually starting with the cells lining the bladder walls. These abnormal cells multiply without control. The tumor may or may not be malignant depending on the invasiveness of the type of cancer involved. The cause of bladder cancer is uncertain as with most types of cancer. Studies have shown that several risk factors may contribute to the development of bladder cancer.

About 25 percent of bladder cancer can be attributed to the exposure to cancer-causing chemicals or carcinogens in the workplace. The chemicals that belong to the Arylamines and Benzidine families are considered the most responsible. Arylamines exposure used to be very high in Dye, Rubber, Aluminum, Leather industry workers along with truck drivers and pesticide applicators but most arylamines usage has been reduced in the workplace because of government regulation.

Radiation therapy for women with cervical cancer have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. Certain drugs are known to result in a high risk factor to developing bladder cancer such as chemotherapy agent cyclophosphamide and the analgesic phenacetin. Repeated or chronic bladder infections may also lead to the type of cancer called squamous cell bladder cancer. This type of bladder cancer is very slow growing and as with all cancers, early detection can lead to a higher cure rate.

According to the TNM (tumor, lymph node, and metastases) classification system the cancer stage is classified by the location, size and aggressiveness . Recently the TNM staging system has become very popular with the medical industry to describe all types of cancer. The TNM staging system is divided into 5 main stages along with several sub stages using the following scale.

Stage 0 – Tumors limited to the bladder lining but do not extend through the bladder wall lining.

Stage 1 – Tumors involve the layer beyond the lining of the bladder and beyond but do not involve the muscles of the bladder.

Stage 2 – Tumors involve the muscles in the bladder.

Stage 3 – Tumors involve the fatty tissue surrounding the bladder, the prostate gland, the vagina or uterus.

Stage 4 – Tumors have spread into the lymph nodes or other areas of the body such as the liver, lungs and bones.

The following symptoms of bladder cancer can also be associated with non-cancerous conditions. Nerveless any symptom of a suspicious nature should be always evaluated by a trained urologist. Early detection is critical in the successful outcome of all cancer treatments.

A medical professional should always be consulted if you have blood in the urine or if the urine becomes cloudy. The color of ones urine does give great insight into the internal condition of the urinary track.

Urinary frequency, increased frequency in the need to urinate. This could also be sign of a bladder infection called cystitis, bladder irritation called interstitial cystitis, or from a kidney stone.

Painful urination could also be caused by a bladder infection, kidney stone or another serious problem.

Urinary urgency just after using the restroom and when you do you only urinate small amounts. Could be a bladder infection called cystitis, bladder irritation called interstitial cystitis, or from a kidney stone.

Urinary incontinence. Some women report this symptom after childbirth and may be caused from a weakness in the bladder due to childbirth or ageing. This weakness is called stress incontinence. Suggested reading the kegel exercise and vaginal weight training.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with treating Bladder problems such as Vitamin A, Cranberry Juice, and L-cysteine.

Vitamin A deficiency may increase the risk of cancers of the lung, larynx, bladder, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum and prostate.

Cranberry Juice may also help prevent kidney and bladder infections. If you are taking COUMADIN then check with your doctor before using cranberry.

L-cysteine is another immune system stimulant but should always be taken in conjunction with Vitamin C to reduce the risk of developing stone formation in the kidneys and bladder.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Jain Abhishek, Goel Apul, Sankhwar S NIndian Journal of Urology 2010 26(1):153-155 (Source: Indian Journal of Urology)

Source: MedWorm: Bladder Cancer

I had a Tumor in bladder. They cut it out. They gave me BHG treatments. Today at 3 months I am cancer free for now. Is there anybody that would like to know about this??

The Department of Urology, Chichibu City Hospital. (Source: UroToday) Source: MedWorm: Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in your bladder, a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. It is the fourth most common type of cancer in men and the eighth most common type in women. Tumors can develop on the surface of the bladder wall or in more severe cases, within the wall and into the underlying muscles. Cancer in the bladder typically affects older adults, though it can occur at any age. Bladder tumors are 2 to 3 times more common in men.

Causes of Bladder Cancer

Smoking, gender, and diet can affect the risk of developing bladder cancer. Bladder carcinomas are also associated with industrial exposure to aromatic amines in dyes, paints, benzedine, nitrates, solvents, leather dust, inks, combustion products, rubber, and textiles. The period between exposure to the carcinogen and development of symptoms is about 18 years.

There is currently limited evidence that diet plays a part in the development of bladder cancer, but a diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in fat may help reduce the risk. Urinary infections, kidney and bladder stones, and other causes of chronic bladder irritation have been linked with bladder cancer (especially squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder), but they do not necessarily cause bladder cancer.

Signs of Bladder Cancer

In early cases around 25% of patients have no symptoms. Commonly the first sign of bladder tumours is blood in the urine, pain after urination, urinary frequency and dribbling. However, these signs and symptoms are not specific to bladder cancer, and may also be caused by non-cancerous conditions, including prostate infections and cystitis.

Types of Bladder Cancer

Cancers are divided into superficial and invasive disease. Superficial bladder cancer is limited to the innermost linings of the bladder. Invasive bladder cancer has at least penetrated the muscular layer of the bladder wall. Less than 5% of bladder cancers in the United States are squamous cell carcinomas, however, worldwide this is the most common form, accounting for 75% of bladder carcinoma in underdeveloped nations. Urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) is by far the most common type of bladder cancer in the United States.

Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer

Cancer in the bladder is usually curable if it is diagnosed while the cancer is still contained in the bladder, and up to 80% of tumors are diagnosed at this early stage. A biopsy for bladder cancer is usually done during cystoscopy. CT and Ultrasound scans, urinalysis and arteriography may also be done.

Treatment for Bladder Cancer

Treatments include bladder cancer surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and biologic therapy. The stage and grade of the cancer provides important information and can help guide treatment. Superficial bladder tumors are surgically removed with chemotherapy being added to the treatment regime to help prevent recurrence. Radical cystectomy and urinary diversion (an external bag) is usually undertaken for invasive bladder cancer.

Several new compounds have shown activity against transitional cell bladder cancer and are now being tested in combination chemotherapy trials. BCG immunotherapy is the most effective intravesical therapy and involves a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis. Immunotherapy in the form of BCG instillation is also used to treat and prevent the recurrence of superficial tumors. Alternative bladder cancer treatments such as herbal treatment may also be of some benefit.

Risk Reduction

Stopping smoking can reduce the risk of getting bladder cancer and if you have been diagnosed with superficial bladder cancer, stopping smoking will reduce the risk of developing more tumours in the future. Bladder cancer has a recurrence rate of 50%-80% and therefore, doctors recommend cystoscopy screening every three months for the first two years after treatment. People who drink a lot of fluids each day have a lower rate of bladder cancer.

Survival Rates

The prognosis depends on the stage of the cancer, whether it is superficial or invasive bladder cancer, and whether it has spread to other places in the body. Superficial bladder cancer has a good prognosis, with 5-year survival rates of 82-100%. If a tumor has grown into the wall of the bladder but has not spread to other organs, treatment usually involves surgical removal of the tumor, or combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with a five-year survival rate of 60% to 75%. Patients with more deeply invasive tumors,which are also usually less well differentiated, and those with lymphovascular invasion experience 5-year survival rates of 30% to 50% following radical cystectomy.

Smokeless tobacco’s use is, in a way, more damaging to the human body than that of tobacco cigarettes. In fact, when we think of smokeless tobacco, the first thought that probably surfaces in the back of the mind are the deleterious diseases that affect the lip, tongue, throat and stomach in the form of cancers. These cancers that affect the various internal and external organs of the body have already been proven to develop from constant use of smokeless tobacco.

But, there are still many who have not given a thought to the dangers of smokeless tobacco otherwise called chewing tobacco. Actually, theses people are not aware that this type of tobacco has a far more deleterious effect on the system than cigarettes containing tobacco. Science has shown that people who use chewing tobacco are greatly increasing the chances of developing cancer of the bladder. The astonishing and frightening aspect of this practice is that not many people who use this kind of tobacco variant and those who are yet to begin using smokeless tobacco do not possess even the slightest idea regarding the serious effects this harmful stuff can bring about on its unsuspecting user community.

The harmful ingredient, also known as Carcinogen, found in tobacco puts its users at a 400 percent increased risk of contracting bladder cancer than those who do not use this substance, by no means. Even more disturbing is the news that the risk factor associated with chewing tobacco will stay on for years even after the user quits smokeless tobacco completely. Sounds scary, is not it?

The mistaken notion that the smokeless tobacco is harmless as it does not emit any smoke has to give way for the truth. People who are entrusted with the mission of creating awareness among people regarding the importance of tobacco cessation, and educators who work in this arena need to find a way to get the message across in a very effective and efficient way. Traces of chewing tobacco do not just stay in the oral cavity and get purged, but will get swallowed and go into the stomach and damage the human oesophagus and bladder.

These are a few facts taken out from a study called “Smokeless tobacco as a possible risk factor in women”. One of the most common bladder malignancies in Pakistani women is called the ‘transitional cell carcinoma’. Those having bladder carcinoma have been associated with use of smokeless tobacco. And, in these women, a higher correlation between bladder carcinoma and constant smokeless tobacco use exists. Further studies need to go in to clarify and confirm the increased role of smokeless tobacco in contracting bladder carcinoma. Even though people are aware of its damaging effects, when it comes to that very moment, people are unable to restrain themselves from the use of smokeless tobacco. This is due to the serious addictive potential this substance has when compared to other similar substances.

Background:
The hepaCAM gene encodes a new immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecule, and its expression is suppressed in a variety of human cancers. Additionally, hepaCAM possesses properties often observed in tumor suppressor genes. However, the expression and biological function of hepaCAM has not been investigated in bladder cancer. We therefore sought to examine hepaCAM expression and the relationship between its structure and function in human transitional cell carcinoma of bladder (TCCB).
Methods:
hepaCAM expression was evaluated in 28 normal and 34 TCCB bladder specimens and 2 TCCB cell lines using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The wild-type hepaCAM and the extracellular domain-truncated mutant gene were transfected into the TCCB cell line T24, and the biological properties of both th…

Source: MedWorm: Bladder Cancer

Functional significance of the hepaCAM gene in bladder cancer 7thSpace Interactive (press release) However, the expression and biological function of hepaCAM has not been investigated in bladder cancer. We therefore sought to examine hepaCAM expression …

Source: bladder cancer – Google News

How I discovered Bladder Cancer

And Survived

I was out with two friends fishing from my boat, a male and his lady friend , we fished for a good part of the day . My male friend decided he had enough and wanted to go to shore but his lady friend was an ardent fisherman (Fisherlady) and she wanted to continue fishing ,so I agreed to take her back out. We were anchored up in a narrow creek that didn’t have an accessible shore line. I had to urinate and normally with the guys on the boat we would do so off the stern of the boat ,but I didn’t want to embarrass my lady guest so I waited as long as I could but could not hold out any longer. I excused myself and went to the stern of the boat to urinate. When I started to urinate it appeared that I was urinating a Merlot Wine, My urine was coming out pure blood and shortly I could not urinate at all. I mentioned to my guest the problem I was having. As it turned out my guest was a registered Nurse and the Coroner in her home town. She immediately went in to action and started hauling up the anchor and yelled to me to start the motor and head back to the dock. On the way in she called her friend and told him to meet us at the dock.

Arriving at the dock they immediately took me to the nearby hospital emergency room. I spent a half an hour filling out paper work and explaining my problem and was then told to go to the waiting room. After what seemed to be an eternity I felt I had to urinate. I went to the men’s room and I was able to urinate, it started out as blood but eventually it cleared up and back to normal. I thanked my friends and I told them everything seemed to have cleared up and I was going home.

I called a doctor friend of mine and he told me that I probably ruptured a small blood vessel by waiting too long to urinate. I called my local doctor and he said I probably had an infection in my bladder. I never experienced any pain, discomfort or an inability to urinate before so I figured that it was a minor problem.

I continued to urinate normally for the next month or so and then suddenly I started urinating blood again. This time I called my local doctor and told him that I wanted to see a Urologist. The Urologist’s facility was well equipped and he ran all of the usual tests, his conclusion, I had a cancer in my bladder about the size of a half dollar, but it looked like it hadn’t gone so far that it couldn’t be just scraped out. The Urologists facility had a surgical unit so they immediately took me in to scrape my bladder. The scraping wasn’t successful as it was determined that the cancer was a not a grade two which would have made the scraping possible but a grade three which meant the cancer penetrated deeper into the tissue.

The doctor said that I had four options, Chemotherapy or Radiology which he didn’t think would improve my chances of survival. The odds were somewhat greater than 50% that they would not work. The other two options were to remove my bladder and build another one from part of my intestine, which he said if it worked it would be great, if it didn’t it would be a struggle for the rest of my life. The second would be to remove my bladder and surrounding tissue including prostate and nearby Lymph node. That procedure would require that I use an external bladder to replace my original one. I chose the latter and I don’t regret to this day (five years later). It’s slightly inconvenient but in some ways it’s helpful.

What surprised me most that there weren’t any signs or symptoms that I had this problem and if I didn’t urinate blood when I did I wouldn’t be alive today. I guess all I can say in closing is that these things don’t just happen to the other guy, you’re a target too. So be aware.

Paul L.Viverito

http://www.lindasfloridaphotos.com

Follow up screening for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence with only cystoscopy is more
cost-effective than combined cystoscopy with urinary biomarker detection, and is associated with a lower incidence
of false-positive results, according to research presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, held from
March 5 to 7 in San Francisco. (Source: Modern Medicine) Source: MedWorm: Bladder Cancer