Bladder Cancer Therapies(1)

Bladder cancer has a relatively high recurrence rate. Researchers are trying to discover ways to prevent recurrence. One strategy that has been widely tested is chemo-prevention.

• The idea is to use an agent that is safe and has few, if any, side effects but is active in changing the environment of the bladder so another cancer cannot develop so easily there.
• The agents most widely tested as chemo-preventives are vitamins and certain relatively safe drugs.
• No agent has yet been shown to work on a large scale in preventing recurrence of bladder cancer.

Another treatment for bladder cancer that is still under study is called photo-dynamic therapy. This treatment uses a special type of laser light to destroy tumours.

For a few days before the treatment, you are given a substance that sensitizes tumour cells to this light. The substance is infused into your bloodstream via a vein. It then travels to the bladder and collects in the tumour.

• The light is then aimed at the tumour and destroys tumour cells.
• The advantage of this treatment is that it kills only tumour cells, not surrounding healthy tissues. The disadvantage is that it works only for tumours that have not invaded deeply into the bladder wall or to other organs. This treatment is not readily available in most centres in the United States and is not widely used.

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For more on photochemistry treatment:
medicinenet.com

Photo Chemicals

Bladder Cancer Symptoms

Bladder cancer often causes no symptoms until it reaches an advanced state that is difficult to cure.

The most common symptoms of bladder cancer include the following:

• Blood in the urine (haematuria)
• Pain or burning during urination without evidence of urinary tract infection
• Change in bladder habits, such as having to urinate more often or feeling the strong urge to urinate without producing much urine

These symptoms are non-specific. This means that these symptoms are also linked with many other conditions that have nothing to do with cancer.

Having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have bladder cancer.

People who can see blood in their urine, especially older males who smoke, are considered to have a high likelihood of bladder cancer until proven otherwise. Other high risks are working in environments that contains high levels hydrocarbons gases; e.g. petroleum, paint, cleaning and perfume vapours

• Blood in the urine is usually the first warning sign of bladder cancer.
• Unfortunately, the blood is often invisible to the eye. This is called microscopic haematuria, but is detectable with a simple urine test stick.
• In some cases, enough blood is in the urine to noticeably change the urine colour. The urine may have a slightly pink or orange hue, or it may be bright red with or without clots.

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