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Normal |
Abnormal |
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- Cancer can occur in the lining of the bladder, with symptoms similar to those of Bladder Infection (i.e., inflammation), for which it is often mistaken. As both conditions may occur simultaneously, if, after treating the Bladder Infection the
symptoms remain, it is important to check carefully for
cancer.
- Three times as many men contract
cancer as women.
- It is generally attributed to
injurious chemicals in the urine, such as the byproducts of
smoking.
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- Blood in urine
- Urinary frequency
- Urinary
urgency
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- In women, a pelvic exam may reveal a mass.
- An Advanced exam may reveal the following:
- Swollen legs
- Enlarged Liver
- Enlarged lymph glands above the clavicles
- Urinalysis may show
blood and occasionally white blood cells
- Blood Urea nitrogen
may be elevated
- Anemia may occur
- Urine cytology (urine checked for cancer
cells)
- Intravenous urography (dye injected and X-Rays of bladder
taken)
- Ultrasound
- CT Scan
- MRI
- Cystourethroscopy -- a scope is passed from the urethra
into the bladder to look for
cancer.
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- Cigarette smoking
- Industrial dye exposure -- textile
industry, hairdressers, printers, and painters
- Industrial solvent exposure --
i.e., those who use solvents for metal, rubber, and leather
- Race may play a role -- Caucasians seem to develop TCC more than
African-Americans.
- People over the age of 60 are at
high risk.
- Those with a history of TCC are at high risk.
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- The decision as to which treatment to use depends on the
size, degree, and spread of the bladder cancer.
- Intravesical chemotherapy is administered by using a
catheter to inject the chemotherapy directly into the
bladder.
- Surgical options depending on extent of spread:
- Limited resection of the tumors in the early stages is
often done through a cystoscope, which is passed through
the urethra (without cutting the abdomen, as in
cystectomy), and is referred to as a transurethral
resection (TUR).
- Partial bladder removal or partial cystectomy
- Removal of the total bladder is known as a radical
cystectomy of the prostate, seminal vesicles, and other
surrounding areas.
- Radiation therapy may be administered from outside the
body, or via a radioactive material placed in the
tumor.
- Immunotherapy, which uses the body's own immune system
(natural defense), may be used for early stage
tumors.
- Chemotherapy (intravenous) -- for advanced
disease
- Cisplatin
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- Be sure to ask your doctor, usually an oncologist (cancer specialist), to let you know of the latest research and ongoing clinical trials on new treatments, or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
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