Bladder Cancer And Treatment

Bladder cancer is any malignant growth found in the urinary bladder. Just like other types of cancers, bladder cancer is a disease where abnormal cells reproduce uncontrollably. The symptoms of the disease can be detectible through blood in the urine or only identified by using a microscope. However, these can also be symptoms of other conditions or diseases such as cystitis and prostate infection. Before treating your symptoms, it is always advisable to have a proper diagnosis first. This will ensure the right treatment for you. Let’s talk about the diagnosis of bladder cancer and treatment.

Diagnosis

When planning to get treatment for bladder cancer, it is important to get the proper diagnosis for the disease. Visit your doctor so he or she can give you some tests and analyze if bladder cancer is present and what stage it is. Your doctor will use a variety of diagnostic tools including cystoscopy, radiology, and pathology. The best way to diagnose bladder cancer is by analyzing bladder tissue. Treatment will really depend on the stage of the cancer, its type, the patients age, and health.

Bladder Cancer And Treatment

Treatment for bladder cancer includes radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Treatments are either stand-alone treatments or a combination of treatments.

With radiation, high-energy x-rays destroy cancer cells. Either external beam radiation or radioactive seeds are used to treat bladder cancer.

Surgery is performed usually on early bladder cancer, where the tumor is removed. Segmental cystectomy is the partial removal of the bladder. The procedure is sometimes performed before radiation therapy.

Urinary tract diversion may also be performed on a patient with bladder cancer. In this case, an artificial opening and external bag may be created to aid in urinary function. The continent urinary reservoir is a procedure where a pouch is formed from a part of the colon to hold urine. Similar procedures include the neobladder procedure and ileal conduit.

Chemotherapy utilizes drugs to eliminate cancer cells and can be taken orally or through the vein. Common drugs used in the treatment of bladder cancer are thiotepa, doxorubicin, valrubicin, and mitomycin.

Immunotherapy is another treatment option for bladder cancer patients. This treatment acts to strengthen the immune system and aid in the destruction of cancerous cells.

Preventive Treatment

Since individuals who’ve just had treatment for bladder cancer have a high risk of developing the disease again, preventive treatment is a must. A urine cystoscopy and cytolofy should be undergone every 3 months for 2 years initially until a yearly performance is recommended.

Other preventive measures that can be taken to lower your risk for bladder cancer include avoiding exposure to industrial chemicals, quitting smoking, and immediately treating bladder infections and/or inflammation.

Bladder cancer, like other types of cancer, can spread (later stages of cancer) if not detected early or treated accordingly. This is why it is important to practice healthy habits, have health checks regularly, and treat malignant growths immediately. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical advice on bladder cancer and treatment.