Statement Describing the Challenge
Bladder cancer refers to any type of malignant growth in the urinary bladder. Bladder cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells multiply uncontrollably in the bladder, a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine (located in the lower abdomen). The most common type of bladder cancer begins in cells lining the inside of the bladder (epithelial cells) and is called transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Smoking and genetic disposition are among the greatest risk factors for acquiring bladder cancer, although exposure to aniline-based dyes, petrol, and other chemicals is also dangerous. Bladder cancer may cause frequent or painful urination, blood in the urine, or feeling the need to urinate without results. However, these signs and symptoms are not specific to bladder cancer, and are also caused by other things like prostate infections and cystitis. The treatment of bladder cancer depends on how deep the tumor invades into the bladder wall. Tumors that have not entered the muscle layer can be "shaved off”. Immunotherapy in the form of BCG instillation is also used to treat and prevent the recurrence of superficial tumors. Untreated, superficial tumors may gradually begin to infiltrate the muscular wall of the bladder. Tumors that infiltrate the bladder require more radical surgery where part of or the entire bladder is removed (a cystectomy) and the urinary stream is diverted. Bladder cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the United States, affecting more than 47,000 men and 16,000 women annually.
Non-Drug Treatments
• Don’t Smoke • Drink plenty of fluids • Eat fruits and vegetables • Avoid chemicals, particularly arsenic • Surgery o Early Stage Cancer § Remove tumor § Remove tumor and portion of bladder o Invasive Cancer § Remove entire bladder § Create new way for urine to leave body
Alternative Medicine Treatments
Most information is for fighting cancer generally, although these recommendations are particularly helpful for bladder cancer. • 500mg vitamin C 2x daily • 800iu vitamin E daily • 300ug selenium daily • Omega-3 fatty acids • Protein • Focus on antioxidants o 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables o Green tea o Purple grape juice ADDITIONALLY • Avoid white sugar and white flour • Exercise • Avoid stress
Drug Therapy
• Biological Therapy o Immune-stimulating bacterium o Synthetic version of immune system cell • Radiation Therapy • Chemotherapy o Carboplatin o Cisplatin o Cyclophosphamide o Docetaxel o Doxorubicin o Gemcitabine o Ifosfamide o Methotrexate o Paclitaxel o Vinblastine o Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) o Mitomycin-C (Mutamycin) o Thiotepa (Thioplex) • Immunotherapy