Bladder cancer

Our kidneys function as a blood purification. They take waste from our body and solve in water. The result is urine. This urine through the ureters to the bladder and transported there temporarily stored. Urine through the urethra exits the body eventually.
In bladder cancer can occur. Approximately 90% of people with bladder cancer, it is a tumor that originated from the lining of the bladder. On this form of bladder cancer, this text.

Possible causes?

On the causes is still poorly understood. It is known that smokers have a greatly increased chance of getting bladder cancer.
There is also a hereditary form of bladder cancer. Where more than one immediate family bladder cancer is detected, can be more at risk of this form of bladder cancer. It is important that the doctor.

How can you recognize?

In most cases a tumor in the bladder in the early symptoms are not clear. The complaint most commonly reported blood in urine, usually without pain. Often that is bleeding spontaneously over again. It is still wise to pay attention here, even if the urine is clear again. Other symptoms that may occur (but not necessarily indicate bladder cancer) are:

    pain when urinating
    frequent urination


When complaints, it is important to discuss them with the (family) physician. He will do a physical examination and jointly discuss the complaints. He will probably also blood and urine examinations. Usually requires further examination by the urologist.
The urologist will show pictures of the kidneys and bladder. With a view study examines whether a tumor in the bladder. If so then the tumor removed. They know better what type of tumor it is and how deeply he is stuck in the wall. This is done under anesthesia with a viewing instrument through the urethra. In the laboratory, all deleted weefel investigated. Usually the bladder after surgery with a drug rinsed worden.Wanneer however the tumor deep in the wall, there is 'additional' research is needed such as ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan to find the best adjuvant treatment to be determined.

What is there to do?

Treatment depends on:

    the type of tumor
    ingrowth into the wall: superficial or deep
    the number of tumors
    whether it has spread
    The general condition

Treatment depends on the stage of the disease is located. Most patients with bladder cancer, the tumor is superficial and can be removed during the surgery everything. Then it starts again with a clean slate.
These patients are to heal properly. Their lives are not threatened by the disease. But the disease can be easily recur. A long monitoring is therefore sensible. The tumor is deeply ingrained there must often be done in order for healing to come. The most common treatments are outlined below. Sometimes a combination of different treatments.

Internal operating
The tumor can be removed through the urethra. Sometimes two treatments to get rid of when surgery is already somewhat unclear whether the tumor is superficial or deep. Research in the laboratory provides the final assurance.

Bladder rinses
The goal is to strengthen the defenses of the body (immunotherapy) or the breakdown of tumor cells. When the superficial tumors recur or when there are multiple or fast growing (aggressive) tumors, may, after cleaning the bladder, bladder lavage are recommended. By flushing the chance that the tumor comes back smaller. There are also indications that it addresses the aggressiveness of the tumor can be inhibited. The liquid from the rinsing comprises a substance that strengthens the immune system of the bladder (such as BCG rinses). In other flushing uses a cell-killing substance, such as mitomycin.

Externally operate
If the tumor is deep seated in the bladder wall and can not be removed through an internal operation is a bigger surgery. While the bladder is removed. In order to store urine and ultimately discharging a solution which is a part of one's own gut is used. The technique here is different depending on the options. Some have a stoma. The urine is then always end in a bag. There are also stomas created a reservoir that stays in urine, also known as continent stomas. One can regularly emptying the reservoir with a tube (catheter). For some, a stoma is not necessary. The new bladder is connected to its own urethra. Thus, one can usually return to a natural ponds.

External radiation
Cancer with radiation attempts to destroy an external radiation is often done when the tumor is deep in the wall and a removal of the bladder is not possible.

Internal radiation
If the tumor is deep in the wall and not too large, may also think of an internal radiation. First, the bit where the bladder tumor is removed while preserving the rest of the bladder. Needles are then placed around the area where the tumor Sat The needles is a substance that irradiation of the surroundings. They are removed after a few days.

At 8 to 9 of 10 people with bladder cancer, the disease is not life threatening, but strong influence. A long, intensive monitoring is required. At 1-2 of the 10 people with bladder cancer is the disease in a more severe stage of healing and radical treatments. Very occasionally there may be metastasis. The chance of cure is small. Treatment consists of chemotherapy. About one in five people respond well to it. If a reply is good, healing is no longer possible. Treatment consists of good coaching and the best possible remedy for the complaints.