Alternative Treatments For Bladder Cancer

The year 2013 expects 72,570 new cases of bladder cancer. Death is predicted to reach 15,210. These results come from the American Cancer Society. Part of this statistic may decide on alternative treatments than the conventional methods or a mixture of both. This is because they are being popular among patients, who want more treatments to facilitate success. Some of those alternative remedies that were believed to better their situation were nutritional remedy, physical therapy, mistletoe extract remedy and acupuncture.

Nutritional Therapy

This kind of alternative therapy is way more important for individuals with cancer. The medical professional typically recommends mineral supplements and vitamins to boost the number of nutrients inside their bodies. Beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and eicosapentaenoic acid are some of the nutrients that may possibly be encouraged.

Before this can be completed, nonetheless, it's best that they go through blood examination first to determine the standing of the function of the immune system. The doctor will also evaluate the wellness background of the patients and submit them to physical examination. The nutritionist, on the other hand, will speak with them to gather data on food choices, appetite level and digestive system function, and also to identify pre-existing and forthcoming complications.

Physical Therapy

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America reported that physical therapy increases the tolerance of individuals with bladder cancer to radiation and chemo. This type of alternative cancer treatment consists of exercise programs and other strategies like Swedish massage. Look for massage therapists who are certified and trained to perform this to cancer patients. Your doctor may know of a few people to suggest.

Mistletoe Extract Remedy

Mistletoe extract treatment decreases the chance of tumor relapse after surgery to the particular person with superficial bladder cancer. It has been found out to act positively on proteins and has been useful for many years to care for patients with malignant bladder cancer.

In the study, 30 patients being affected by this type were instilled with water-based mistletoe extract for six weeks four weeks right after the operation. They were able to endure the procedure and no one claimed to have experienced side effects. After a year, only nine of them proclaimed that their cancer has re-occurred.

Acupuncture

Patients may feel better with acupuncture. The acupuncturist utilizes very fine needles and inserts them into particular points of the body. Along the way, it permits the natural healing vigor of the body to flow easily. According to an analysis published in the Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America journal, acupuncture is a safe approach and makes cancer management effective.

The American Cancer Society recommends that you confer with your healthcare team if you're considering alternative cancer treatments. Similarly, learn how to recognize scam, such as clinics that require you to go abroad and that promise guaranteed approaches to any type of cancer. You may also think about calling them to learn more about these.

With research from Steady Health, Dr. Ray Sahelian, American Cancer Society and Live Strong

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Study Finds Bladder Cancer Recurrence And Mortality Could Improve With Better Treatment Compliance

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Urology / Nephrology;??Compliance
Article Date: 05 Jun 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Study Finds Bladder Cancer Recurrence And Mortality Could Improve With Better Treatment Compliance

Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center led by Dr. Karim Chamie, assistant professor-in-residence in the department of urology, have found that the burden of bladder cancer on the population is very high, and that more intense surveillance and treatment in the first two years after diagnosis could reduce the number of patients whose cancer returns after treatment and lower the death rate from this disease. The study was published online ahead of press today in the journal Cancer.

Based on their previous research showing underutilization of care for patients with bladder cancer, this is the first study to examine the natural history of the disease from a population standpoint. To date no one has examined the morbidity of recurrence of disease in the US. Chamie and colleagues found that nearly three quarters of patients with high-grade, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer will suffer return of the disease (recurrence) within 10 years. Thirty-three percent of patients will have their cancers progress to a more advanced form requiring removal of their bladder, radiation therapy, or systemic chemotherapy. An additional 41% will recur without further spread of the disease (progression).

"Even though 80% of bladder cancer patients don't die of their disease within 5 years, most patients will either die of other causes or bladder cancer, require aggressive treatment (removal of the bladder, radiation, and/or chemotherapy), or have recurrence of their disease. What this study hopes to do is highlight the need to comply with treatment guidelines--prevent recurrences by instilling anticancer agents inside the bladder (intravesical) and follow patients more closely within the first two years of diagnosis," said Chamie.

The study was based on a nationwide sample of Medicare Beneficiaries who had high-grade, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. "We have level-one evidence that demonstrates that a single instillation of chemotherapy into the bladder can minimize recurrences, and that six instillations can minimize recurrence and progression," Chamie stated further, "Efforts should be increased to offer patients intravesical therapy with the goal of minimizing the burden of this disease."

The researchers also found that the elderly, women, and African-American patients had higher likelihood of dying of bladder cancer than younger patients, men, and whites, respectively.

This study was supported by the American Cancer Society, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Extramural, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, National Institutes of Health, and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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Bladder Cancer Deserves Urgent Attention

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 09 May 2013 - 2:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Bladder Cancer Deserves Urgent Attention

It is the 4th most common cancer in men[1] (and 11th in women), but bladder cancer remains an extremely low priority in the UK. Action on Bladder Cancer[2] (ABC) reports that almost half (45%) of the UK public do not know that even just one episode of blood in the urine, the most common warning sign, could mean bladder cancer. Smoking is the most common cause of bladder cancer and yet 95% of people are not aware of this. ABC calls for much stronger recognition of bladder cancer amongst the general public and the medical profession in order to prevent avoidable deaths.

ABC welcomes a recent paper[3] which highlights the paucity of clinical studies in bladder cancer compared with other cancers with a similar incidence. Well-designed randomised controlled trials usually provide the strongest evidence possible regarding the efficacy of new diagnostic tools or interventions and yet studies into bladder cancer are comparatively few and those that have been performed are under-utilised.

Dr Alison Birtle, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer & Consultant Oncologist, Preston; ABC Trustee and Chair of the NCRI Clinical Sub Group on Bladder Cancer says, "Bladder cancer is not just one disease. As our medical understanding is growing, we need to be tailoring information accordingly for patients, so that they receive sufficient information on their condition to be involved in making informed choices about their care options. The type of information that someone with low risk bladder cancer will need is very different from someone who has been diagnosed with very late stage disease."

A more robust framework of support is needed for all patients and ABC is supporting new initiatives to improve the lives of people with bladder cancer. One example is a new group being set up by NHS Lothian in South East Scotland with Maggies, Macmillan and SCAN (South East Scotland Cancer Network).

Mr Param Mariappan, Consultant Urologist, NHS Lothian and Regional Advisor to ABC says, "The focus of the South East Scotland Support Group is an 'out of hospital' service for those affected by bladder cancer to share and learn from others with similar experiences. Supplementing the care provided within the healthcare setting, this group is being established around a 'buddying system' and workshops specifically tailored to different states of the disease. Over and above what we do as Clinicians, extended care is critical for a patient with cancer. I term this CIS (Communication, Information and Support) - Our Support Group looks to bring individuals together who can help others likely to go through a similar experience of care."

Mr Brian Sibbald O.B.E. who has been affected by bladder cancer and involved in the beginnings of the Group says, "At the moment, because of my treatment, I don't have cancer, but I feel I am still on a journey. To me, it is important to find ways, such as a dedicated support group to share and reassure others who are more recently diagnosed with bladder cancer."

Over 10,000 people are diagnosed every year in the UK and ABC, the only UK charity dedicated to bladder cancer, wants to encourage more people to understand more about the disease. Up to date information on the disease and advice on how people can help raise awareness is available through the ABC website. The work of ABC supports the Be Clear on Cancer Campaign run by the Department of Health as well as Bladder Cancer initiatives organised throughout the US during May-July 2013.

Mr Colin Bunce, Chair of ABC and Consultant Urologist in Barnet says: "The profile of bladder cancer and, as a result, the care of patients can be significantly improved by asking the public and healthcare professionals and providers to become involved in our dedicated Charity, ABC - we want to work together".

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our urology / nephrology section for the latest news on this subject. 1) Cancer Research UK, Cancer Stats Key Facts, Bladder Cancer

2) GfK NOP Survey on bladder cancer for Action on Bladder Cancer, April 2012

3) Bassel et al. (2013). Demographic analysis of randomized controlled trials in bladder cancer. BJU International 111:3;419-426

Source: Action Bladder Cancer

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Bladder Cancer Could Reoccur Despite Bladder Removal

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 10 May 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Bladder Cancer Could Reoccur Despite Bladder Removal

Patients with advanced bladder cancers that are surgically removed might need additional therapy to prevent recurrence in certain situations, a new UT Southwestern Medical Center study suggests.

The five-year international study led by researchers at UT Southwestern validates the use of a marker panel to predict which patients are more likely to have a recurrence of cancer after bladder removal, thereby identifying those patients as good candidates for follow-up chemotherapy.

The findings, published in the most recent edition of European Urology, are important because additional molecular information could help bladder-cancer patients and their physicians decide whether administering further toxic chemotherapy is worth the risk, said Dr. Yair Lotan, professor of urology at UT Southwestern and the study's primary investigator and first author.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in men, according to the American Cancer Society. The ACS estimates that more than 72,500 cases will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and that more than 15,200 people will die from the disease in 2013.

Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer typically are treated by removing all or part of the bladder (a cystectomy procedure) but are infrequently given additional chemotherapy, despite an overall relapse rate of one in every three cases.

Using five commercially available markers and the tissues of patients who had their bladders removed, UT Southwestern researchers in the departments of urology and pathology and the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center monitored a group of 216 patients to track if their cancers recurred.

When controlled for pathologic factors such as stage, grade, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node status, surgical margin status, and whether the patients had already received chemotherapy, the number of altered biomarkers were found to be an independent predictor of recurrence and cancer-specific mortality, the researchers found.

"It is well known that bladder cancer tumors have certain molecular alterations, but the problem is that there has been little data regarding which patients should get additional therapy, especially if there is no radiologic or pathologic evidence that the cancer has spread beyond the bladder," Dr. Lotan said. "This situation exists despite the fact that approximately 35 percent of patients treated by cystectomy develop metastatic disease and many of these individuals die of their disease."

The investigation's goal was to establish whether molecular markers that are involved in cell cycle regulation and proliferation could help identify those patients at higher risk for recurrence or metastasis following bladder-cancer surgery, Dr. Lotan said.

The next steps will be to try to incorporate the molecular marker panel into clinical practice. Dr. Lotan is also a member of the Simmons Cancer Center.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our urology / nephrology section for the latest news on this subject. Other UT Southwestern researchers involved in the study are Dr. Arthur Sagalowsky, professor of urology and surgery; Dr. Ganesh Raj, associate professor of urology; Dr. Payal Kapur, associate professor of pathology; Dr. Vitaly Margulis, assistant professor of urology; Dr. Yull Arriaga, assistant professor of internal medicine; Dr. Aditya Bagrodia, urology resident; and medical student Varun Rachakonda. Medical oncologists and urologists from NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center; the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan, Italy; and the University of Heidelberg’s Mannheim Medical Center in Germany also contributed to the research.
Please visit the Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center to learn more about clinical services for oncology at UT Southwestern, including highly individualized treatments for cancer at the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated center.
UT Southwestern Medical Center Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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