Bladder cancer - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and care

About 10,000 people with bladder cancer in the UK every year more than 50,000 in the U.S. diagnosed each year. Account for 90% of cancers of the urinary tract (renal pelvis, ureter, bladder and urethra are omitted) and usually occurs in people over 50 and nearly twice as many men as women from this disease. Although bladder cancer can not be prevented, tobacco use and working with certain chemicals are associated with a higher risk of developing the disease. Drink plenty of fluidsper day may help reduce the risk. The symptoms of bladder cancer include pain and urination and blood in the urine.

The diagnosis of bladder cancer by urologists will be able to test and screen tests to detect potential risk factors are taken into account is determined by the complete medical history and things like smoking and exposure to dyes. The NMP22 ® Bladder ® is a non-invasive urine test, the increased nuclear matrix protein found (NMP) with bladder cancer, the results of this test if they have been used with cystoscopy, to be more effective than other diagnostic tests.

Various imaging techniques can also be carried out, it will include a dye through a vein then administered X-rays are taken as the dye moves through the urinary tract. This provides information about the function of the bladder, ureter and kidney. Other imaging studies have a CT scan, MRI, bone scan and ultrasound. If the bladderCancer is a suspected cystoscopy and biopsy are performed. With cystoscopy a thin telescopic tube, as is connected with a small camera inserted into the bladder through the urethra to detect abnormalities. In the biopsy tissue samples are taken and examined for cancer cells.

Once it has been established that a tumor, the next step is to determine the tumor status. The size of the tumor, where it is, whether it has spread into the surrounding tissue and whether it to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body are distributed all questions that must be answered. The tumor is stage or depth of penetration is limited to one of two categories, (1) superficial, surface tumors to affect only the bladder lining or (2) invasive, deep tumors spread that grow in the deeper layers of the bladder tissue, and may involve surrounding muscle, fat and adjacent organs.

Treatment of bladder cancer is dependent on the stage of the disease, the type ofCancer and the patient's age and general health. Options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Surgery can also remove the bladder, prostate and lymph nodes, which results in the patient with an external device in the urine, but if can be removed at an early stage of a tumor using instruments inserted through the urethra caught.

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, the drugs destroy the cancer cells that are used orally orintravenously. In patients with early stages of bladder cancer drugs can be infused through the urethra into the bladder. Some side effects of chemotherapy may be severe and include headache, abdominal pain, blurred vision, fatigue, heavy bleeding, infection and weakness.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. External radiation is emitted from a machine outside the body and internal radiation comes from pellets implanted in theTumor. Each type can be used after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells. Side effects can Inflammation of the rectum, skin irritation, fibrosis and impotence.

Immunotherapy can be used in cases of superficial bladder cancer. The treatment strengthens the immune system's ability to fight disease. A vaccine is infused through the urethra into the bladder once a week for 6 weeks to stimulate the immune system and destroy cancer cells. Can be side effectsInflammation of the bladder, inflammation of the prostate and flu-like symptoms.
Bladder cancer has a high recurrence rate. Urine cytology and cystoscopy are performed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for the next 2 years and then annually.

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