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After the initial shock of being given a new diagnosis of cancer, a flood of emotions follow with fear and anxiety being foremost. Questions fill your mind:

How serious is it?

Can 1 be cured?

Am I going to die?

Will I suffer?

What treatments are available?

Can 1 do anything to improve my odds?

What side effects will occur from the treatments?

Will I lose time from work?

Will my insurance cover the cost?

Will I be disfigured?

Will my spouse and family be supportive?

Do 1 have a good doctor?

Bladder cancer, or any serious potentially life threatening illness is generally alien to most individuals. Suddenly, lives are changed and a new reality must be dealt with. Becoming a “patient” or worse “a cancer patient” is not only threatening, but a dreaded proposition. Cancer patients are not happy with the loss of autonomy, the invasion of privacy, the discomfort inflicted upon them and the demands on their time and quality of life. As a patient, being thrust into this altered identity, it is essential to seek out the information you need. Having a fundamental base of knowledge is a must when facing the issues and treatment decisions which lie ahead. In the following pages, together we will explore bladder cancer, a disease which is totally foreign to most of us until the diagnosis is made. I have chosen to present the information in a question and answer format, written in a conversational tone, as if I were having an extended consultation with one of my patients. The questions are typical of what individuals have asked over the years. 1 have covered the key issues and decisions the individual with bladder cancer may face. The answers are to the point and cover the essentials required to make an informed decision for most individuals. For others, a more detailed resource may be required. For helpful sources of additional information see the Appendix.

Each individual’s situation is unique. Decisions on treatment may be modified based on the patient’s preferences and values and altered by other considerations such as age and coexisting conditions. By becoming an individual knowledgeable of bladder cancer, you will be prepared to fully partner with your physician for your best possible outcome. To your companions and family members, this book will serve to answer the many questions and doubts that may arise. Having your loved ones informed and supportive is a big plus for the individual facing this new challenge.

The book is written in a logical sequence starting with finding a qualified urologist to the basics on bladder cancer, its assessment and treatment. At the end of the book, you will find chapters on complementary medicine, advance care planning, and hospice care. The book can be read in sequence or each chapter can serve as a resource covering the basics of the topic. It is my hope this book will help clarify the many issues and options individuals must face with bladder cancer. For family members, significant others and concerned friends, this resource should help improve your understanding and thus your ability to assist your loved one.

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Understanding bladder cancer is a tremendous first step that will assist you in your treatment. Having a qualified urologist administer the actual treatments and care for you is essential for the best possible outcome. In the following chapter, we will explore what you need to know to assure you have the right urologist.

BESIDES LEARNING ABOUT MY DISEASE, WHAT IS MY MOST IMPORTANT FIRST STEP?

Make sure you have an excellent urologist supervising your care. A urologist is a surgical specialist trained to care for conditions involving the male and female urinary tracts and the male reproductive system. The bladder is part of the urinary system, and a urologist is trained to care for problems involving it, including cancer.

IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BOARD CERTIFIED UROLOGIST?

A urologist board certified by The American Board of Urology has gone through an accredited urology training program (generally a four year program), following two years of internship and residency in surgery after four years of medical school. The urologist must be in practice after training and provide a detailed list of surgeries, including complications, over a twelve month period. The doctor will then take a two day oral and written test covering a wide spectrum of urology. If he passes, he is certified for a period of ten years. At the end of the ten year period, he must recertify to maintain his board status. Recertification entails a three month surgical and procedure log and a written test as well as reference letters from those in a position to judge the practicing urologist’s work. Any malpractice or judgments are also reviewed. Although being board certified does not guarantee you have an excellent urologist, it demonstrates that he has the fund of knowledge to practice urology competently. Even though board certification is voluntary, in today’s competitive environment more and more hospitals and insurance plans are requiring their specialists to be certified.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY UROLOGIST IS BOARD CERTIFIED?

The urologist has worked hard to obtain board certification. The certificate from The American Board of Urology is often displayed openly in his office. If you do not see it, you can simply ask him or you can call 1-866-275-2267 or use this web site: www.certified doctor.org

SHOULD I TRY TO FIND A UROLOGIST WHO HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE FOR YEARS OR A NEWLY TRAINED ONE?

Surgery is a skill which can only be mastered with experience. The saying “practice makes perfect” definitely pertains to surgery. Although a urology training program offers the new physician years of training, his surgical skills will continue to improve with further experience. However, each individual physician has his own innate skills. Some more quickly learn and are simply better at the technical craft of surgery than others. For the most part, urologists finishing an accredited urology program have the training and skill set required to care for patients with bladder cancer.

Experience also counts. As a physician practices the art of medicine, his depth of knowledge and ability to treat grows. Ask your physician how long he has been treating patients with bladder cancer. If you require major surgery ask how many he has performed and if his complication rate matches what is expected.

Physicians by and large do improve as they practice, and all physicians are required to show that they are continuing to learn by partaking in continuing medical education, a requirement to remain licensed. Most physicians are compulsive in their medical practice and care deeply in the care they deliver. They continually strive to improve.

Some physicians may become “burned out” over the years as they continue to face the pressures of a busy medical practice. Similarly, towards the end of a surgeon’s career, technical skills may slip due to aging. New urologists are trained in the latest techniques and are familiar with recent medical literature, but may lack practical experience. In the end, recommendations from others and reputation may be your best guide to finding a qualified physician.

WHAT QUALITIES SHOULD MY UROLOGIST HAVE?

Ideally, you should have a competent, technically skilled surgeon who is also approachable and compassionate. You should be able to freely ask questions pertaining to your disease and treatment. Your physician should answer your questions forthrightly. Although some patients prefer a surgeon who will take over all aspects of care with no questions asked, most prefer in depth explanations, especially when alternatives exist and risks are involved.

Your urologist must be an individual who takes your concerns, priorities and values seriously. Your urologist should be a good communicator. It is his responsibility to keep you fully informed of your progress, make you aware immediately if things are not going well, and educate you fully in treatment alternatives. Your specific values should be incorporated into the decision process if alternatives are available. Even if your urologist makes a recommendation and you choose an alternative course (unless you are putting yourself in extreme jeopardy), he should honor your choice and continue his care of you. Becoming an educated patient will make your decision making process easier. Granted, your physician should provide you with the basics, however having time to review and digest the material will allow you to fully understand and accept your treatment regimen, providing you with peace of mind.

Beware of the physician who bombards you with statistics and studies and leaves the decision making to you. After all, you are not a physician and don’t have the practical hands on experience he does. Your physician should provide the facts and the statistics, guide you through the information, and make treatment recommendations based on your preferences.

You may find yourself emotionally distraught and overwhelmed. Having a physician on your side is invaluable. You should be able to trust your physician. Complete honesty on the part of your doctor in his care of you is a must. From the doctor’s point of view, trust is also a necessity. Physicians have an extremely difficult time dealing with individuals who do not trust them. Without trust, the physician patient relationship is extremely hindered.

Lastly, your urologist should be compassionate. Having cancer is tough enough, you shouldn’t have to deal with a rude or arrogant physician. Your urologist should be supportive at all times. He should treat you as an individual and not just as “another cancer patient.” People with bladder cancer will require long term follow up and care. Having a compassionate individual to work with will make a tremendous difference

HOW DO I FIND A GOOD BOARD CERTIFIED UROLOGIST?

A good starting point is your primary care physician. He will generally have a number of specialists to whom he generally refers his urology patients. If the primary care physician has been working with these urologists, he should have an appreciation of their skills and temperament. However, this does not mean he is referring you necessarily to the best available urologist in your area. His choices may be limited by insurance or hospital networks. An excellent source of information would be nurses who work in the operating room, recovery room or on the surgical floor where the urologist does his surgery. Asking friends or other individuals who have had experience with the urologist can also prove useful. After a little digging, you can often quickly learn what type of reputation the urologist has in the community. Generally, if an established urologist has a “good reputation” this is an indication that he has pleased many individuals with his care.

SHOULD I CHECK TO SEE HOW MANY TIMES MY UROLOGIST HAS BEEN SUED?

Given the litigious society we live in, most physicians can face at least one malpractice lawsuit during their careers. In urology, two of the most common causes of litigation would be a surgical mishap leading to a complication, or failure to diagnose cancer in a timely fashion.

Medicine is based on science, but also is an “art.” Individuals do not walk into their physicians offices with a diagnosis and treatment plan always readily apparent. Even the best intentioned, thorough physician will make mistakes. Most of these errors do not result in harm. On occasion they do, and a law suit may follow. If a physician develops a good working relationship with a patient, these bad outcomes more often than not are acknowledged and accepted without legal entanglement. Competent, busy physicians may be dealing with a higher mix of complicated patients, leading to a higher number of potential suits. Physicians who have poor “bed side manner” may find themselves dealing with more suits. If a physician has an inordinate number of suits, “red flags” should go up, as competency may be an issue.

For those individuals who wish to check out the malpractice history of their physician, you may request an inquiry from the National Practitioners Data Bank at: 1-800-767-6732 or check the web site: www.npdb-hipdb.com

Our use of the term or terms Actos Side Effects is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

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Actos Side Effects atients sometimes describe feeling some abdominal pressure or discomfort, but not pain, during the flexible cystoscopy procedure. You will be awake, wearing a gown and lying on an examining table, with your knees draped and held apart. As noted above, your doctor will use anesthetic gel to numb the area where the flexible tube is inserted and then gently guide the cystoscope into the urethral opening (the eye of the penis in a man; the vaginal outlet of the urethra in a woman). Some men experience brief pressure and discomfort as the cystoscope passes over the area where the prostate is located. In most cases, the entire process, including preparation, will take about 15 to 20 minutes, and your doctor will be able to discuss the results of the flexible cystoscopy with you immediately.

The rigid cystoscopy is sometimes done when the tumor is in an inaccessible part of the bladder as well as when a more complicated biopsy is needed. It is performed in a hospital setting and can be either an inpatient or outpatient procedure. While the process is similar to flexible cystoscopy, you will be given general anesthesia and a more rigid tube will be used. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about how to prepare for the anesthesia (you will need to have someone drive you to and from the hospital) and what to expect during the brief recuperation after the procedure. You may be asked to remain overnight if you have other medical problems, such as severe heart disease.

During the IVP, you’ll be lying on a flat table, wearing a hospital gown, with the x-ray machine positioned above you on a movable jointed arm. The radiologist will take some basic x-rays and then will inject a contrast substance (usually iodine) through a vein, usually in your arm. The iodine is carried by the blood system to the kidneys, where it is removed (excreted into the urine). The iodine shows up when exposed in an x-ray. You might feel a sense of heat or burning from the iodine or have a metallic taste in your mouth. However, these sensations usually disappear after a few minutes. If you know that you are allergic to iodine, let the radiologist know and a different contrast material can be used.

As the iodine travels through your urinary tract system, a quick series of x-rays is snapped. Sometimes the radiologist will apply a gentle compression elastic band around your body to help the visualization process. You may be asked to turn over and might even be asked to empty your bladder. (The iodine should not cause any discoloration of your urine or any pain or burning during urination.) The x-rays taken before the iodine was injected and those taken after provide images for your doctor that give a visual picture of the ureters (the tubes between the kidneys and bladder) and the bladder’s anatomy and function.

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The technologist then moves a transducer (an imaging gadget shaped somewhat like an oversized electric shaver with a flat head) over the area where the bladder is located. You probably will be asked to change positions or even to hold your breath for a few seconds during the process. The technologist watches on a screen to make sure that clear images are being recorded.

If any of the tests suggest the presence of a bladder tumor, your doctor will schedule other tests; they might include an MRI or a CT scan, and if a biopsy was not obtained during the flexible cystoscopy process, a surgical biopsy as well. These tests help your doctor determine where the tumors are, what type of cancer you have, and whether the cancer has invaded the muscle wall of the bladder. Depending on the results of those tests, your doctor may order a chest x-ray or even a bone scan to determine whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

A CT scan is a painless, noninvasive test during which low intensity x-rays are repeatedly passed through the body’s soft tissue at different angles. A computer then processes the x-rays to show a detailed cross-section of the tissues and organs – in your case, of the bladder, liver, spleen, abdominal lymph nodes, and surrounding tissues. Sometimes the scanner will be focused on the chest and lungs to see whether cancer has spread there. From the CT scan, your doctor not only can confirm the presence of a tumor in the bladder, but can also measure its size and location, and determine whether it has spread to other nearby tissue.

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The CT scanner can snap about 32 cross-section pictures or “slices” in approximately 10 seconds as the machine moves over your body. This means that you can easily hold your breath as the images are taken. For the CT scan, you’ll be lying on a table, dressed in a gown, and while you’ll be able to talk with the radiology technicians at all times over an intercom, you’ll be alone in the room and asked to lie still and hold your breath while the actual x-rays are being taken.

Like the IVP, a contrast medium is used to help the radiologist see your bladder and urinary tract. Sometimes it may be injected into the veins, as in IVP, or it may be swallowed or sometimes administered as an enema to distinguish bowel tissue from the bladder structure. Usually when diagnosing bladder cancer, doctors will want all three – intravenous, oral, and rectal scans – to help determine how deeply tumors may have invaded the bladder tissue and whether there is any spread to the abdominal lymph nodes or liver.

Some people find the taste of the contrast medium unpleasant, and if an enema is required, you’re likely to feel a brief, uncomfortable fullness while the scans are being taken. However, because of the speed of the process, the feeling that you need to expel the contrast medium doesn’t last long. You might also feel a brief flush or hot sensation when the contrast medium is injected. A CT scan takes anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. Other than mild discomfort, there are few side effects.

Our use of the term or terms Actos Side Effects is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

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Actos Side Effects : Sometimes, in an alternative procedure/ lasers (high-energy light beams) are used to remove superficial TCC tumors. While this is slightly more comfortable than resection for you as a patient, the laser often destroys the tumor tissue, leaving nothing for pathologists to examine. The lack of pathology may limit your medical team’s ability to predict recurrence and target your follow-up plan.

If you have been diagnosed with a low-risk tumor, resection may be the only treatment recommended by your medical team. Or your team may recommend a course of intravesical therapy, too. Intravesical is a medical term meaning “within the bladder/’ Intravesical therapy, therefore, means that treatment – in this case a solution containing anti-cancer drugs – is placed directly in the blad­der instead of being given to you as a pill to swallow or as an injection.

The treatment is given as a liquid poured through an ordinary uri­nary catheter, the same device that is usually used to drain urine from the bladder. In this case, the flow of fluid is reversed, with the med­ication being injected gently up through the catheter into the inside of the bladder. Think of it this way: Remember when you were a kid and filled balloons with water? If you imagine the bladder as that bal­loon, filled not with water but with liquid medication sloshing around inside, you’ll ‘have a good idea of how intravesical therapy works.

Intravesical therapy has been used for about 30 years as a preven­tive treatment to reduce the recurrence rate for superficial bladder cancer. It is believed that intravesical therapy works because it destroys cancer cells that may remain “floating” in the bladder after resection, thereby reducing the possibility of a recurrence. It also may be absorbed directly into any remaining tumor tissue, causing destruction of the tumor. There are two types of intravesical therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, with numerous treatment options within each therapy group.

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Your medical team will take a number of things into consideration when deciding which intravesical treatment option is best for you. Their goal is to balance the effectiveness of the treatment with possi­ble side effects and long-term risks based on the type and seriousness of your cancer. Aggressive treatment options with possibly serious side effects may well be the right choice if you’re dealing with a type of cancer that has a high recurrence rate and often comes back in a more life- threatening form. On the other hand, if your cancer is low risk and has a lesser chance of recurring, a more conservative approach might be taken.

Regardless of whether you’re advised to take chemotherapy or immunotherapy both are administered the same way The procedure can be performed either at the hospital about one to seven days after your resection or in your doctor’s office if a series of weekly treat­ments is recommended. The timing depends somewhat on how extensive the resection has been.

First your doctor will numb your urethra with a topical gel and insert a disposable catheter, which wall be used to fill the bladder with the solution. The catheter is removed after your bladder is full, and you’ll be asked to concentrate on not passing urine for a time, hold­ing the solution inside while you get up and move around. Walking, sitting, and standing while the solution is held in your bladder caus­es it to slosh around and completely coat inside the bladder walls. After an hour or so, you’ll void the solution just as you would pass urine. In most cases, you’ll be asked to minimize your fluid intake before the procedure so that your bladder won’t also be filling with urine that wall put additional pressure on your bladder.

The chemotherapy drugs that are used in this way include doxoru­bicin (brand name Adriamycin), epirubicin (Pharmorubidn), mitomycin C (Mutamydn), and occasionally thiotepa (Thioplex). Chemotherapy solutions have proved effective in reducing recurrence rates by about 30 percent. However, chemotherapy has little or no effect in prevent­ing superficial cancer from progressing to a more serious stage. What this means is that chemotherapy will often stop the superficial cancer

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Although BCG is highly effective, it also has some toxic side effects, and as such is used primarily as a treatment for patients with high-risk types of superficial bladder cancer and those who have had repeated recurrences or CIS. Side effects may include a burning sensation in the bladder as well as fatigue, chills, and fever. A prolonged high fever and general feel­ing of being ill may be a sign that the BCG bacteria have spread through the body. Because BCG is the bacterium that causes a type of tuberculosis, antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis are usually pre­scribed when an infection occurs shortly after BCG immunotherapy. Another type of immunotherapy is interferon.This is naturally pro­duced in your body’s cells and works much as BCG does in stimulat­ing your body to attack cancer cells in the bladder. Temporary side effects, which usually disappear once interferon therapy is stopped, include muscle and bone aches, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches.

In almost all cases, intravesical therapy (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) is most effective when the first dose is given 6 to 24 hours after resection. Sometimes a single dose is given as a prophy­lactic (preventative) measure and is not repeated. More commonly, you’ll have one dose immediately after resection and then five more treatments on a weekly basis in your doctor’s office. In some cases, if a large tumor has been resected, leaving a larger area of ulcerated bladder surface, intravesical chemotherapy will be delayed for a few days to prevent the drug’s being absorbed through the damaged sur­face lining of the bladder. Your doctor may recommend a follow-up cystoscopy after the intravesical treatments are completed.

Keep in mind that there are several types of superficial bladder cancer, some of which have a high risk of recurrence or progression to a more serious stage. Treatment options, including resection and intravesical therapy, are different for each person and depend upon each person’s circumstances, For example, you may start talking to someone in your urologist’s waiting room who has had great results and few side effects from a single dose of mitomycin C (MCC) chemotherapy. Even more impres­sive, he hasn’t had a recurrence since his diagnosis three years ago. You, on the other hand, are on your fourth BCG treatment, and each one leaves you feeling as if you have severe bladder irritation for several days afterwards. “No side effects and no recurrences” sounds like a better deal than what you’re experiencing. So why wasn’t MCC prescribed for you?

Our use of the term or terms Actos Side Effects is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

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Actos Side Effects: In general, a competent physician will recommend a second opinion if there is uncertainty regarding your care. This uncertainty could involve the pathology report or debate regarding the most appropriate treatment options. Certainly if the pathology report is in question, a second opinion is mandatory! Your urologist should be able to spell out his treatment plans for you, what to expect and what alternatives may be required, depending on the seriousness of your disease. The plan may change over time as your disease improves or worsens.

You may need a second opinion if you are not doing well and your physician is unable to provide satisfactory explanations and solutions. Occasionally, your urologist may recommend a second opinion if your problem is unusual or particularly complicated. Having a physician you can trust is mandatory when dealing with cancer. Don’t let anyone pressure you into a second opinion if you feel confident in your physician’s abilities. On the other hand, if you are uncomfortable with your progress or a treatment recommendation, if you are not satisfied with the explanations given to you, don’t hesitate to seek out a second opinion. Your urologist should not feel threatened by this request as he wants you to feel comfortable with the plan of action. Only by partnering with your physician can he be most effective.

Many physicians may feel slighted when a patient requests a second opinion. Your urologist may feel somehow you don’t trust his explanations, skill, or judgment. On the other hand, when a new patient faces a difficult or unexpected diagnosis, the urologist may find the request not at all unusual. It is important you explain to your urologist why you feel a second opinion is warranted. Urologists are professionals and will graciously facilitate your request. The experienced urologist comes to realize that despite his best efforts, some patients will seek a second opinion. If a patient is particularly concerned or nervous about a proposed treatment regimen, your urologist may welcome your request. Your urologist should facilitate your second opinion by sending appropriate records and telling you whether or not it is necessary for you to bring X rays or pathology slides with you. Your primary care physician may need to be contacted for the referral if your insurance requires it.

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More than 90% of bladder cancers arise from the lining bladder cells called transitional cells. Bladder cancer is almost always transitional cell cancer. These cells are also present in the urethra (the body tube which drains the bladder), as well as the renal pelvis (inner lining of the kidneys), and the ureters (the body tube draining the kidneys). Bladder cancer can vary from the non serious, low grade superficial type (approximately 70%), to the invasive, aggressive type that can spread and prove to be fatal (approximately 30%). 5% of bladder cancer is accounted for by squamous cell carcinoma. This cancer is usually secondary to long term inflammation or infection of the bladder. Even rarer is adenocarcinoma, which accounts for less than 2% of all bladder cancers.

A mutation is a disruption in the DNA of a cell, leading to a loss of regulated cell growth. Mutations can occur spontaneously as we age. It is truly amazing that all of us don’t develop cancer as we are composed of trillions of cells dividing regularly over decades. Fortunately, our cells have repair mechanisms which can often fix damaged cells before cancer arises. In addition, the immune system can destroy cancer cells before they have a chance to grow into tumors.

Mutations and cancer can also be triggered by environmental factors. Certain chemicals have been identified to be particularly effective at inducing mutations in our DNA and subsequent cancer. These chemicals are called carcinogens. Smoking is the most common culprit! Cigarette smoking has a strong link with bladder cancer. Studies have shown approximately 50% of bladder cancer is secondary to tobacco smoke. Smoking releases dozens of carcinogens into the lungs and then into the blood stream. Many of these carcinogens are excreted by the kidneys. After years of being exposed to this toxic soup, a smoker’s bladder has a much greater chance of developing bladder cancer, two to three times, and in heavy smokers up to five times the rate compared to those people who have never smoked. The risk clearly correlates with the number of years the individual has smoked and the number of cigarettes smoked per year. Fortunately, after you stop smoking, your risk gradually decreases. Once you develop bladder cancer, it is mandatory to stop smoking. It is now known failure to stop smoking leads to a much worse outcome compared to those with bladder cancer that stop smoking.

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Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, an extremely addictive chemical. Men overall find it easier to quit smoking than women. When facing the prospects of losing your bladder to cancer or possibly your life, most individuals will become convinced and many simply stop smoking “cold turkey.” Unfortunately, many choose not to quit until their cancer repeatedly recurs or becomes invasive, needlessly placing their health at risk. For those who need assistance in quitting, nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges are all available over the counter. These products allow the smoker to quit without experiencing the discomfort of withdrawal from nicotine. Many smokers also find hypnosis or support groups useful. In addition, prescription medication is available.

The basic building block of the body is the cell. Cells are specialized to perform a particular function. Skin cells are distinctly different from liver cells which are different from bladder cells. An organ is composed of various cells working in unison to carry out a body function. Cells eventually get old and die. New cells are created by cell division. When cells are behaving normally, they only generate enough new cells to replace the old dying ones. Occasionally, cell growth becomes unchecked. As the cells continue to divide, a tumor (abnormal growth of cells) may form. Such tumors may be benign (no ability to spread beyond their organ of origin) or cancerous (a malignant tumor with the ability to spread beyond their organ of origin and cause harm and possibly death).

Our use of the term or terms Actos Side Effects is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

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Actos Side Effects:  Bladder cancer, or any serious potentially life threatening illness is generally alien to most individuals. Suddenly, lives are changed and a new reality must be dealt with. Becoming a “patient” or worse “a cancer patient” is not only threatening, but a dreaded proposition. Cancer patients are not happy with the loss of autonomy, the invasion of privacy, the discomfort inflicted upon them and the demands on their time and quality of life. As a patient, being thrust into this altered identity, it is essential to seek out the information you need. Having a fundamental base of knowledge is a must when facing the issues and treatment decisions which lie ahead. In the following pages, together we will explore bladder cancer, a disease which is totally foreign to most of us until the diagnosis is made. I have chosen to present the information in a question and answer format, written in a conversational tone, as if I were having an extended consultation with one of my patients. The questions are typical of what individuals have asked over the years. 1 have covered the key issues and decisions the individual with bladder cancer may face. The answers are to the point and cover the essentials required to make an informed decision for most individuals. For others, a more detailed resource may be required.

Each individual’s situation is unique. Decisions on treatment may be modified based on the patient’s preferences and values and altered by other considerations such as age and coexisting conditions. By becoming an individual knowledgeable of bladder cancer, you will be prepared to fully partner with your physician for your best possible outcome. To your companions and family members, this book will serve to answer the many questions and doubts that may arise. Having your loved ones informed and supportive is a big plus for the individual facing this new challenge.

The book is written in a logical sequence starting with finding a qualified urologist to the basics on bladder cancer, its assessment and treatment. At the end of the book, you will find chapters on complementary medicine, advance care planning, and hospice care. The book can be read in sequence or each chapter can serve as a resource covering the basics of the topic. It is my hope this book will help clarify the many issues and options individuals must face with bladder cancer. For family members, significant others and concerned friends, this resource should help improve your understanding and thus your ability to assist your loved one.

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A urologist board certified by The American Board of Urology has gone through an accredited urology training program (generally a four year program), following two years of internship and residency in surgery after four years of medical school. The urologist must be in practice after training and provide a detailed list of surgeries, including complications, over a twelve month period. The doctor will then take a two day oral and written test covering a wide spectrum of urology. If he passes, he is certified for a period of ten years. At the end of the ten year period, he must recertify to maintain his board status. Recertification entails a three month surgical and procedure log and a written test as well as reference letters from those in a position to judge the practicing urologist’s work. Any malpractice or judgments are also reviewed. Although being board certified does not guarantee you have an excellent urologist, it demonstrates that he has the fund of knowledge to practice urology competently. Even though board certification is voluntary, in today’s competitive environment more and more hospitals and insurance plans are requiring their specialists to be certified.

Surgery is a skill which can only be mastered with experience. The saying “practice makes perfect” definitely pertains to surgery. Although a urology training program offers the new physician years of training, his surgical skills will continue to improve with further experience. However, each individual physician has his own innate skills. Some more quickly learn and are simply better at the technical craft of surgery than others. For the most part, urologists finishing an accredited urology program have the training and skill set required to care for patients with bladder cancer. Experience also counts. As a physician practices the art of medicine, his depth of knowledge and ability to treat grows. Ask your physician how long he has been treating patients with bladder cancer. If you require major surgery ask how many he has performed and if his complication rate matches what is expected.

Physicians by and large do improve as they practice, and all physicians are required to show that they are continuing to learn by partaking in continuing medical education, a requirement to remain licensed. Most physicians are compulsive in their medical practice and care deeply in the care they deliver. They continually strive to improve.

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Your urologist must be an individual who takes your concerns, priorities and values seriously. Your urologist should be a good communicator. It is his responsibility to keep you fully informed of your progress, make you aware immediately if things are not going well, and educate you fully in treatment alternatives. Your specific values should be incorporated into the decision process if alternatives are available. Even if your urologist makes a recommendation and you choose an alternative course (unless you are putting yourself in extreme jeopardy), he should honor your choice and continue his care of you. Becoming an educated patient will make your decision making process easier. Granted, your physician should provide you with the basics, however having time to review and digest the material will allow you to fully understand and accept your treatment regimen, providing you with peace of mind.

Beware of the physician who bombards you with statistics and studies and leaves the decision making to you. After all, you are not a physician and don’t have the practical hands on experience he does. Your physician should provide the facts and the statistics, guide you through the information, and make treatment recommendations based on your preferences.

You may find yourself emotionally distraught and overwhelmed. Having a physician on your side is invaluable. You should be able to trust your physician. Complete honesty on the part of your doctor in his care of you is a must. From the doctor’s point of view, trust is also a necessity. Physicians have an extremely difficult time dealing with individuals who do not trust them. Without trust, the physician patient relationship is extremely hindered.

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Actos Side Effects: Similarly to the narrowing that can occur at the connection between the ureters and the bowel, patients with ileal conduits can experience narrowing of the stoma at the level of the skin, which can impede the drainage of urine into the bag. This is known as stomal stenosis. Although this can be managed in the short term by simply placing a catheter into the stoma to allow drainage of urine, a surgical proce­dure is often necessary to revise the stoma. This procedure can generally be done on an outpatient basis. There are several long-term complications specifically related to the fact that urine comes in contact with the intestinal portion of the diversion. Metabolic complications, such as acidosis, can occur but are often not clinically significant. The risk for clinically significant acidosis is higher in patients with continent urinary diversion because there is more intestinal surface area that comes in contact with the urine. Your physician will periodically monitor you for metabolic changes simply by checking lab tests. The majority of metabolic disturbances can be treated with dietary supplementation. Five to 10 percent of patients with urinary diversion form urinary stones at some point in their life, and approximately the same number experience repeated bouts of urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis.

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Continent urinary diversions have several complications that are unique compared with that of the ileal conduit. Patients with continent catheterizable diversion over time can experience leakage of urine from their catheterizable channel. Scar tissue can also form at the site of the cath­eterizable channel, causing difficulty with catheterization. Both problems generally require a secondary procedure to revise this portion of the diversion. Men and women with orthotopic urinary reconstructions can experience both urinary incontinence and urinary retention. The incidence of incontinence is greater in men than in women, but the incidence of urinary retention is greater in women. Urinary retention is often managed with clean intermittent catheterization, which consists of self-passage of a urinary catheter via the urethra several times a day to empty the diversion. If the idea of self-catheterization is unpalatable to you, this is something you should keep in mind when considering your choice of urinary diversion.

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Each intravesical (within the bladder) agent used for the treatment of bladder cancer has its own side-effect profile, but they all cause some degree of lower urinary tract symptoms during and for several weeks after treatment. These symptoms can vary from mild to severe from individual to individual and consist of painful urination, urinary frequency, and urinary urgency. These symptoms are very similar to a urinary tract infection but are actually caused by bladder inflammation and irritation from the intravesical therapy. Mitomycin C can cause a skin rash (usually on the hands) that generally resolves when ther­apy is discontinued. Although bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy is highly effective in treating non-muscle- invasive bladder cancer, some patients experience a certain degree of side effects related to treatment. Lower urinary tract symptoms can occur in as many as 80-90 percent of those treated. Less common side effects include blood in the urine, fevers, fatigue, and nausea. If you experience significant symptoms, your urologist can decrease the BCG dose, which makes treatment tolerable for many more patients. Because BCG is a live, attenuated vaccine (made from live organisms that have lost their virulence but still produce an immune response), it can cause severe infections in very rare circumstances. Infections associated with a high fever may require complete discontinuation of the BCG and antibiotic therapy for up to 6 months.

Our use of the term or terms Actos Side Effects is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

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Actos Bladder Cancer 12/20/2011: The elderly, frail individuals with multiple coexisting chronic illnesses, individuals that are weakened through mahiutrition or who have compromised immunity all would face substantially increased risk of complications from standard chemotherapy regimens for bladder cancer. Unfortunately, cisplatin is toxic to kidneys, and many individuals with bladder cancer have compromised kidney function which effectively rules out the use of platinum based chemotherapy. Other treatment regimens exist and are being worked on for these individuals, but none show the efficacy of the standard therapy which includes cisplatin.

Most individuals treated with standard chemotherapy regimens with metastatic bladder cancer will have recurrence and progression of their disease. Multiple treatment regimens have been utilized with overall response rates of 10-40%.^[1] To date, regimens have generally used taxanes, both docetaxel and paclitaxel. Ifosfamide has been shown to have significant single agent activity as well, but is extremely toxic. Combination therapy with taxanes and ifosfamide are presently being tested.

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Our use of the Terms Actos Lawsuit ,Actos Side Effects is not intended to imply or insinuate that there is any relationship or connection between Best Legal Source and the maker of Actos. “Actos” is a trademark of its manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Best Legal Source is not the maker of Actos nor do we have any connection with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

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