Complementary and Alternative Treatments for Bladder Cancer

By Robin Brain

Description

Bladder cancer is frequently mistaken for a bladder infection, because the two conditions share many of the same symptoms. The presence of blood in the urine and painful urination, though, are telltale signs of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer strikes three times as many men as women and is usually found in people over the age of 40. Approximately 40,000 new cases of it are diagnosed yearly in the United States, and more than 15,000 people die from it each year. It is commonly caused by exposure to artificial chemicals and industrial compounds.

Signs and Symptoms

Blood in the urine

Pain during urination

Appetite or weight loss

Low-grade fever

Pain in the pelvic area or lower back

Conventional Medical Treatment

If you suspect that you have bladder cancer, visit your physician immediately. Often the diagnosis is suspected because blood is detected during a routine microscopic examination of urine conducted during an annual physical exam. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may perform a CAT scan, or a cystoscopic examination, during which a scope is passed through the urethra into the bladder to collect a sample of the bladder lining, which is then tested for malignant cells. If bladder cancer is diagnosed early, surgery alone is usually successful in removing the growth. After surgery, the patient must be tested every 3 to 6 months for recurring masses. Approximately 70 percent of bladder surgery patients develop another small tumor within five years.

If the cancer is not diagnosed early and is allowed to penetrate the bladder wall or surrounding layer of fat, the cancer will probably require surgery followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy. During radiation therapy, a focused beam of high-energy radiation is used to destroy cancerous cells. Radiation is targeted only at affected areas as and is performed regularly for a set period of time. During chemotherapy, the patient must take medication (usually intravenously) that is designed to kill cancer cells.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture traditional Chinese Medicine regards cancer as an energy imbalance caused by any number of factors, including poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, environmental toxins, or overwork.

Acupuncture may be used to improve the flow of energy along the bladder meridian and by targeting specific acupoints, which may offer pain relief. It also can be used to help reduce the negative side effects of radiation or chemotherapy.

Acupressure This modality works on the same principles as acupuncture, and the same meridians can be manipulated to help alleviate pain and promote overall energy balance. Herbs that strengthen the immune system may often be very beneficial.

Chinese Herbal Therapy Studies in Japan have demonstrated that fresh aloe vera juice contains chemicals that slow the growth of cancer cells and impair their ability to spread.

Read out for Vitamins. Check out breastfeeding tips and herbal remedies

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Ayurveda and Cancer - Ayurvedic Treatment For Gall Bladder Cancer

By Abdulmubeen Mundewadi

Gall bladder cancer is also known as cholangiocarcinoma and is a malignant growth of the biliary duct system and bile ducts, and may originate either in the liver or outside it. The majority of these tumours are adenocarcinomas, while about 10% are made up of squamous cell tumours. These are slow growing tumours which usually result from chronic infection, chronic inflammation or damage to the biliary duct system. Common symptoms include jaundice, clay-colored stools, dark urine, severe itching, weight loss, abdominal pain, and - in the later stages - a palpable lump in the right upper side of the abdomen.

Gall bladder cancer can be diagnosed with the help of various tests such as liver function tests, ultrasound examination, CT scan, PET scan, MRI, ERCP, brush cytology, and various tumour markers. The tumour is classified according to the TNM (tumour, lymph node, and metastasis) mode of classification or graded from 0 to 4, which indicate the extent and spread of the tumour as well as the overall prognosis. At the time of diagnosis, more than 90% of patients are not eligible for curative surgery, and in spite of aggressive therapy, the overall survival for advanced gall bladder cancer is just about six months. Stent implantation, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are usually used as palliative measures.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment can be judiciously utilised in the successful management and treatment of gall bladder cancer in order to bring about a remission of the tumour, and significantly improve the survival of the affected individual. Herbal medicines which have a specific action on the liver and gall bladder are used in the management of this condition. These medicines act on the gall bladder tumour and bring about a significant reduction in its size within a short span of a few months. Most gall bladder patients, at the time of presentation, have complications like fistula formation, with bile flowing through the fistula. These complications can be managed on an emergency basis with the help of simple herbal medicines which heal the fistula and redirect the bile into the intestines.

Herbal medicines are also used to prevent the spread of the gall bladder tumour into the surrounding parts of the abdomen as well as prevent metastasis to other parts of the body. Some medicines which are useful in the management of gall bladder cancer include Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Yashtimadhuk (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Punarnava (Boerhaavia diffusa), Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata), Bhumiamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri), Arogyavardhini, Punarnavadi Qadha, and Varunadi Qadha. In addition to treatment which is specific for gall bladder cancer, immunomodulatory treatment is also a must in order to boost the immune status of the affected individual. The building up of a strong immune system helps to bring about a faster therapeutic response, a longer survival, and improved chances of a complete remission of the tumour.

Most individuals affected with gall bladder cancer require aggressive Ayurvedic herbal treatment for about 9 to15 months in order to get significant improvement in the condition. Regular Ayurvedic treatment on a long-term basis can help in improving the chances for survival, and the earlier treatment is instituted, the better. Depending upon the presentation of symptoms and the severity of the cancer, Ayurvedic treatment needs to the tailor-made for each individual affected with this condition, in order to derive maximum benefit from treatment. Ayurvedic herbal treatment undoubtedly has a definite role to play in the management and treatment of gall bladder cancer.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com
The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of over 25 years and clinical research experience of 12 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.

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Benefits Of Selenium In Preventing Bladder Cancer Symptoms

By Kirsten Whittaker

Experts report that one of the benefits of selenium intake might include a lower risk of bladder cancer symptoms, most especially for women. Selenium is a trace mineral that comes from plant foods and meats of animals that grazed on grain or plants in selenium rich soil. It's also found in abundance in Brazil nuts. Adults with low blood levels of the mineral selenium are more likely to develop bladder cancer - the lower the level the higher your risk.

In the study, the researchers combined information from seven previously published works to do their own meta analysis. They examined selenium levels taken from blood samples and toenail clippings and determined each subject's risk of developing bladder cancer. Both U.S. and European (Belgium, Finland and the Netherlands) subjects were included in the analysis.

The researchers found a 39% decrease in bladder cancer for those with the highest levels of selenium in the blood. The protective benefit was seen mostly in women, and the team believes this might be due to differences in how men and women's bodies break down and remove the mineral.

More work is needed before a recommendation of raising selenium intake is made. Researchers will be looking at the dose response relationship so that recommended daily intakes can be set. There also may be subsets of the general population who are more in need of selenium supplementation - this too will be identified in future studies.

Currently the recommended daily allowance for selenium is 55 micrograms, and the National Institutes of Health believes most American diets supply enough of this mineral, and that no one should exceed 400 micrograms of selenium daily.

In the United States, most of us get our selenium from meats and bread sources. Experts maintain that deficiency is rare in the U.S., but is seen in other nations, like China and New Zealand, where the soil naturally has less selenium. If you're worried about your own levels of this mineral, talk to your doctor before you take any supplement - too much selenium can be bad for you.

Our bodies use selenium to make selenoproteins that work as antioxidants in the body to prevent cellular damage. There are studies that suggest selenium can offer protection against some cancers, but clinical trials on selenium supplements have brought conflicting results.

In nature, the selenium content of the soil determines the selenium content of the plants grown in it or the animals that graze upon it. Experts know that the soil in the high plains of northern Nebraska and the Dakotas have very high levels of selenium. People who live in these areas generally have high levels of selenium in their blood.

Besides those tasty Brazil nuts, some other all natural sources of selenium include:

- Tuna

- Beef

- Cod

- Turkey, light meat

- Chicken breast, meat only

- Enriched noodles, macaroni

- Eggs

- Cottage cheese

- Oatmeal, instant

- Rice, white, enriched, long grain, brown

- Bread, white or whole wheat

- Cheddar cheese

While you wait for more research on the benefits of selenium with regards to preventing bladder cancer symptoms, consider the growing body of evidence that eating a balanced diet AND making lifestyle choices that reduce your risk for disease are your best bets for protecting your body from some pretty serious health problems... today and in the future.

FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from Daily Health Bulletin and click the link now to discover more about bladder cancer symptoms and other effective methods that help with prevention and treatment.

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Preventing Cancer With the Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin Vaccine

By Anna Celestino

Up to this date, only chemotherapy and radiotherapy remain to be the top prescribed treatments for cancer, because their therapeutic effects have been well-documented to be generally effective against preventing cancer cells from spreading further.

One emerging idea about treating cancer is that concerning the keyhole limpet hemocyanin or KLH. For most people, this term may sound foreign, but it is actually a protein found in the giant keyhole limpet, a marine mollusk native to Southern California coasts. KLH is basically a large metal ion-carrying protein that thrives on the fluid in the circulatory system of the keyhole limpet. Its vital feature lies on its oxygen-carrying capacity, much like the ability of the human red blood cell. Essentially, KLH is immunogenic, which means that it is capable of producing an immune response, making it an effective vaccine carrier protein. Its safety for use among humans is established, but it cannot be produced synthetically; the only means to acquire this beneficial substance is for the keyhole limpet to undergo a complex, purified biological process.

What exactly gives KLH the chance to showcase a promising feat for cancer management? The answer lies in the development of cancer vaccines. To date, no absolute cure has been presented that will fully eradicate cancer cells with excellent prognosis. With that said, primary interventions like preventive measures are strongly encouraged by medical professionals. To combat the development of cancer and curb the risks of contracting it, scientific experts are painstakingly working on various vaccine formulations that will protect a person from this deadly condition. In fact, a vaccine is readily available for the prevention of cervical cancer, which has saved millions of high-risk women all around the globe.

Various studies have actually demonstrated the effectiveness of KLH in cancer treatment. In a randomized study by the Department of Urology at General Hospital Celle in Germany, a group of bladder cancer patients who had their tumors removed were immunized with KLH. This group displayed a significantly lesser number of cancer recurrence compared to another group that received a different agent. Another study conducted by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York revealed promising results: the administration of KLH was well-tolerated by breast cancer patients, although a more comprehensive study on a larger sample was recommended by the researchers.

Not many studies, however, have been documented to establish that KLH has the same effectiveness during chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as vaccines are essentially administered for preventive purposes. However, a study in the University of Minnesota Cancer Center showed that following chemotherapy, the administration of KLH provided significant immune recovery, rendering the immune system stronger to prevent cancer relapse.

How does the KLH vaccine prevent cancer, exactly? Principally, it works by producing a sufficient number of antibodies to strengthen the immune system. This will help the body combat various diseases that occur because of cancer, considering that high-risk people and even those with cancer are already immunocompromised. Moreover, KLH is capable of selectively eliminating cancer cells because of its cytotoxic or "cell-killing" properties. Prototypes of KLH vaccines are already in use, and these are proven effective to prevent the occurrence of bladder, breast and digestive cancers. Moreover, they are guaranteed to be safe and relatively harmless.

Prevention is indeed a wiser path to tread than actual treatment. With chemotherapy or radiation, clinical problems like adverse effects, metastasis and complications have to be prevented as much as possible. With immunization, however, the initial development of cancer is halted even before it sets in to do damage on normal cells. Concerns about unpleasant side effects, life-threatening complications and even costly medications will not be experienced if cancer is prevented. For those who have successfully been treated with either chemotherapy or radiotherapy, a KLH immunization does well to prevent recurrence, so that cancer cells will no longer have a chance to grow and replicate once more. The quality of life, hence, is significantly improved with this beneficial vaccine.

Anna Celestino is a nurse, pet enthusiast and a freelance writer. She specializes in content focusing on health, wellness, beauty, pet care and travel, but she can adjust to any niche. For high-quality and unique content, send her an e-mail at katcelestino@gmail.com.

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Bladder Cancer: Diagnosis Doesn't Mean Death

By Joshua Myers

The American Cancer Society projects that in 2013, nearly 73,000 new bladder cancer diagnoses occur. Most of the cases--nearly 55,000 will occur in men--about 18,000 in women. New diagnoses rates have stabilized in the last few years and have even dropped slightly in women. A bladder cancer diagnosis isn't an automatic death sentence. There are over a half a million bladder cancer survivors in America today.

Surviving Bladder Cancer

A common question most patients ask after a diagnosis relates to survival rates. Like many other cancers, bladder cancer survival rates correlate to the stage of cancer present. While statistics represent a massive amount of patients studied over several years, each person's situation is different and many factors contribute to a person's survival.

The most recent study, according to the American Cancer Society, yields positive survival rates for patients diagnosed with stage zero (98%) or stage one (88%) bladder cancer. As expected, survival rates tend to decline depending on the advanced stage of diagnosed cancer. The rates are:

• Stage two: 63%
• Stage three: 46%
• Stage four: 15%

Keep in mind that these statistics reflect thousands of patients studied over time. Some people who don't get diagnosed until stage four survive and live for years afterward.

Risk Factors

It's unclear what causes bladder cancer, but certain risk factors raise the likelihood of developing cancer. These risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Growing older
• Being Caucasian
• Being male
• Prior cancer treatments
• Certain diabetes medications
• Recurring inflammation in the bladder from infection and other disorders
• Family history

Like many other cancers, a patient may not meet any of these criteria and develop cancer.

Types of Bladder Cancer

Cancer occurs when cells inside the bladder start growing abnormally, meaning they don't divide and grow like other cells. These cells don't die like typical cells and result in a tumor. There are three types of cells in the bladder that may mutate into cancer. The type of cell where the cancer originates dictates the type of cancer a patient has. Some cancer patients' cases consist of multiple cell cancers.

When cancer originates in the cells that line the interior wall of the bladder, the resulting cancer is transitional cell carcinoma. This type of cells stretches and shrinks according to the amount of urine present in the bladder and make up the interior of the urethra and ureters. Transitional cell carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed cancer.

Squamous cells are found in the bladder when an infection or inflammation present. When these cells mutate, squamous cell carcinoma occurs. This type of cancer is rare in the U.S., but much more common in areas of the world where parasitic infection rates are higher.

Another rare form, adenocarcinoma, occurs in the mucous-making cells in the bladder.

Bladder Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of this cancer closely mimic the symptoms present in a bladder infection. This might be part of the reason that diagnosis is delayed because patients see a physician for symptoms and are treated for an infection rather than cancer. Symptoms are:

• Urine that's bright red, looks like dark soda, or very dark yellow
• Urinating often
• Pain when urinating
• Pain in the back or pelvis

Any time a patient experiences symptoms that are concerning, a visit to the doctor is needed, especially if symptoms persist for a long period of time.

Josh Myers, a St. Louis personal injury attorney is a partner at Schultz and Myers law firm, LLC. As a Missouri personal injury lawyer, he has received many awards including Missouri's most winningest trial lawyer awarded by Missouri Lawyers in 2013. His law firm exclusively represents injured individuals to maximize recovery in personal injury cases. Located throughout Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas, his law firm represents clients throughout the entire Midwest. Contact his office toll-free at 888-956-2487.

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Bladder Cancer And It's Causes

By Michael Russell

Bladder cancer is not the most common form of cancer, although it can be as deadly as other cancers. Bladder cancer is not a hormone-linked cancer such as breast, ovarian, prostate, or colon cancers. In addition, there is no evidence to support the idea that bladder cancer is inherited; it simply does not run in families. So what seems to be the root cause of bladder cancer? Bladder cancer would appear to be, from the available evidence, a cancer caused by carcinogenic compounds absorbed from outside the body. Bladder cancer is a cancer caused by environmental pollutants, whether they are lifestyle related, such as smoking, or chemicals in the workplace like benzidine.

Smoking is one of the most obvious risk factors that can contribute to bladder cancer. What's worse, by the time bladder cancer starts to appear, the patient has likely been smoking for what may amount to decades. The ongoing deposit of carcinogens in the lungs and through the lungs into the blood stream has been considerable.

Bladder cancer rates tend to be higher among men than women, in addition, the rates are higher among men in the age of 50 years old and up. Smoking men in the over 50-age group have the highest rates of bladder cancer. Also working in an environment where certain carcinogenic chemicals are used seems to contribute as a risk factor.

The most common symptoms of bladder cancer are blood in the urine, very frequent urination, or a pressure to urinate, only to find that you can't urinate. Any of these symptoms could have other causes, but certainly are worthy of a visit to a doctor. Bladder cancer is one cancer where early detection can result in a much less severe treatment option.

Basically there are two types of bladder cancer, a very superficial cancer on the lining of the bladder and a deeper cancer that has penetrated well into the tissues of the bladder. The more superficial cancer on the surface of the bladder lining can develop into the deeper cancer if left untreated. This is why it is important to respond to symptoms such as painful urination or blood in the urine and seek treatment.

The approach to dealing with these forms of bladder cancer can vary from burning off or cauterizing a superficial cancer; to removing part, or all, of the bladder in the case of a deeply rooted cancer. In addition, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have proven useful in dealing with bladder cancer. In the case of chemotherapy, a number of drugs are used. With radiation therapy, a radioactive dispenser can be installed in the bladder to give appropriate dosages of radiation to counter the cancer.

Obviously if the patient wants to avoid a reoccurence of the cancer, lifestyle changes may be in order. If the patient is a smoker, then trying to find a strategy to quit smoking would helpful. If the cancer seems to be provoked by a chemical in the workplace, then avoiding this chemical may be a good idea. Unfortunately, up to 30 percent of bladder cancers occur without any obvious environmental causes. Some people have suggested that chlorine in the water supply may be the culprit. A water filtration system, some of which can be reasonable in cost, would serve well here.

Whether your interest in bladder cancer is based on a desire to identify and understand a cancer risk, or if you are interested because of more personal reasons, there are a few basic concepts to keep in mind. As with any cancer, early detection is essential in terms of chances of survival. In addition, try to identify and minimize risk factors. With this approach, the odds of success are in your favor.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Bladder Cancer [http://bladder-cancer-guided.com/]

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Innovative Robotics in Surgery - Forget the Invasive and Unrefined Methods

By Pete Jameson

Technological advancement has answers to several questions. Inception of robotics in surgery has blessed millions of patients with accurate surgical procedures along with faster relief. The Da Vinci robotic surgical system is now popular due to the highest effectiveness in its class. Expert doctors handle the robot arms through a console and perform the laparoscopic surgery. The distinct features offered by this system are

• Lesser blood loss
• Minimally invasive method
• Faster recovery
• Accurate surgical processing with precise monitoring methods
• Lesser pain and scarring
• Faster resumption of daily routine

These advantages prove to be beneficial for patients and even for the treating hospitals. They have complete control of the entire operation. The state of the art system transfers the movement of Surgeon's hands and fingers into the robot arm in real time. The 3D projection of the inside of the patient's body is visible in the console window, and Surgeons can decide over the surgical process. This is good news for patients who fret about surgical incisions. Da Vinci robotic surgery is now preferred by thousands of patients over to the regular surgical process.

Bleeding in Urine is alarming - Wake up before it's too late!

Some diseases are silent till they sore to be the worst nightmare. Bladder cancer is such a disease, where acute symptoms are visible only during the advancement of cancer. Unfortunately, at this stage the cancer is not curable, at the most with proper care and treatment it can be controlled from growing into further complications. Some signs you need to watch:

• Hematuria - In this case, blood is found in urine. In earlier stages of bladder cancer, the blood occurrence can be identified only by laboratory tests. However, in advanced stages, red colored urine with blood clots is observed.
• Burning sensation- This is one of the prominent symptoms of bladder cancer. However, this symptom is also found in urinary tract infections.
• Painful urination - When patients complain about painful urination, there are high chances of positive bladder cancer. However, pathological tests can diagnose the exact cause of painful urination.
• Change in pattern - The normal urination pattern is disturbed and people complain of sudden urge for urination without much urination.

All these symptoms together are indicative that the person may be a candidate of bladder cancer. However, it is not compulsory that the occurrence of these symptoms is confirmation of cancer. Consultation from expert doctors and pathological reports offer the exact diagnosis of bladder cancer.

The Urology Care in Kansas City carefully implements robotics in surgery for effective treatments. Find out more.

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