Posts Tagged ‘bladder’

Bladder cancer – symptoms, causes and treatment

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in your bladder, a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. This is the fourth most common cancer in men and eighth most common type in women. Tumors can develop on the surface of the bladder wall or in severe cases, inside the walls and muscles underneath. Bladder cancer typically affects older adults but can occur at any age. Tumors of the bladder are 2-3times more common in men.

Causes of bladder cancer

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

There is limited evidence that Diet plays a role in the development of bladder cancer, but a diet with fruits and vegetables and low in fat may help reduce the risk. Urinary tract infection, kidney stones and bladder, and other causes of chronic bladder irritation has been linked to bladder cancer (especially squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder), but not necessarily cause cancer of the bladder.

The signs of bladder cancer

Where start and about 25% of patients had no> Symptoms. Usually the first sign of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, pain after urination, frequent urination and dribbling. But these signs and symptoms are not specific for bladder cancer and may also be caused by tumors, including prostate infections and cystitis.

Types of bladder cancer

Tumors are divided into invasive disease and superficial. Superficial bladder cancer is limited to the inner lining ofbladder. invasive bladder cancer has at least penetrated the muscular layer of the bladder wall. Less than 5% of bladder cancer in the United States in squamous cell carcinoma, but the world is the most common form, accounting for 75% of bladder cancer in underdeveloped countries. Urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma) is by far the most common form of bladder cancer in the United States.

Diagnosis of bladder cancer

CancerBladder is usually curable if diagnosed with cancer, while it is still contained in the bladder, and up to 80% of cancers diagnosed at this early stage. A biopsy of bladder cancer is usually done during cystoscopy. Ultrasound and CT arteriography and urine tests can also be done.

Treatment of bladder cancer

Treatments include bladder surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy. The scene and the quality of cancerprovide important information and can guide treatment. Superficial bladder tumors are removed surgically with chemotherapy is added to the regimen to help prevent recurrence. Radical cystectomy and urinary diversion (an external bag) is usually undertaken to invasive carcinoma of the bladder.

Several new compounds have shown activity against cancer of the bladder transitional cell, and is now being tested in combination with chemotherapy trials. BCG immunotherapy is the mosteffective 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 recurrences of superficial tumors. Alternative treatments such as the treatment of bladder cancer herbal can also be of some benefit.

Reducing risks

Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of bladder cancer, and if you have been diagnosed with superficial bladder cancer, quitting smokingTo reduce the risk of developing tumors in the future. Bladder cancer recurrence by 50% -80%, and thus, doctors recommend cystoscopy screening every three months during the first two years after treatment. People who drink lots of fluids every day have a lower rate of bladder cancer.

Survival rate

The prognosis depends on the stage of the tumor, whether it is superficial and invasive bladder cancer has spread and whetherin other parts of the body. superficial bladder cancer has a favorable prognosis, with 5-year survival rates of 82-100%. If a tumor is growing in the lining of the bladder, but has not spread to other organs, treatment usually involves surgical removal of the tumor, or combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with a five-year survival of 60% to 75%. Patients with more deeply invasive tumors, which are usually less well differentiated and those with lymphovascular invasionexperience with the 5-year survival of 30% to 50% after radical cystectomy.

Complementary and alternative treatments for bladder cancer

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Description

Bladder cancer is often mistaken for a blaasinfeksie because the two conditions share many of the same symptoms. The presence of blood in the urine and painful urination, however, are all signs of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer occurs three times as many men than women and is usually found in people over 40 years. About 40,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States and more than 15,000people die every year. This is usually caused by exposure to art and industrial compounds.

Signs and symptoms

Blood in urine

Pain during urination

Appetite and weight loss

Laegraadse fever

Pain in the pelvic area or lower back

Conventional medical treatments

If you suspect that you have bladder cancer, visit your doctor immediately. Often the diagnosis is suspected, because blood is found during aRoutine microscopic examination of urine samples taken during the annual physical examination. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor performs a CAT scan or a cystoscopic examination, where a quantity passed through the urethra into the bladder to collect a sample from the lining of the bladder, which is then tested for malignant cells. If bladder cancer is diagnosed early, surgery alone is often successful in removing growth. After surgery, the patient should be examined every 3 to 6 monthsrecurrent masses. About 70 percent of patients undergoing surgery of bladder cancer develop a second small, within five years.

If cancer is not diagnosed early and allowed to penetrate the bladder wall or fat that surrounds the cancer will probably require surgery followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy. During radiation therapy uses a concentrated beam of high energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is directed only to the affected areas, andperformed regularly in a while. During chemotherapy, the patient must take medication (usually intravenously), which was designed to kill cancer cells.

Complementary and alternative medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture Traditional Chinese Medicine with regard to cancer as an energy imbalance caused by a number of factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, environmental toxins, or overwork.

Acupuncture can be used toimprove the flow of energy along the bladder meridian, and by focusing on specific acupoints that pain has to offer. It can also be used to help reduce the negative effects of radiation or chemotherapy.

Acupressure This method works on the same principles as acupuncture, meridians and the same can be manipulated to help relieve the pain and the overall energy balance for the promotion. Herbs that strengthen the immune system can often be very advantageous.

Chinese Herbal therapy studies inJapan has shown that the fresh Aloe Vera juice contains chemicals that inhibit the growth of cancer cells and inhibits their ability to diversify.