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Actos Side Effects:  When applied to TCC, the term “superficial” can be misleading, and some doctors would like to see the term discontinued. Many people equate the term “superficial” with “not very risky,” which isn’t always the case. In general, superficial TCC at the low or intermediate risk levels is a highly treatable form of bladder cancer with a good chance for an excellent outcome despite a moderate to high rate of recurrence (depending on the extent and nature of the tumor). But as we discussed in Chapter 3, some superficial TCCs are considered high risk and cariy an elevated chance that the cancer will not onfy recur, but may have progressed to a more dangerous stage when it does recur.

Luckily, only about 20 percent of those who experience a recurrence are diagnosed with a more advanced type of bladder cancer. What this means is that “superficial” bladder cancer, if and when if recurs, will usually come back again as a superficial cancer that can be managed by local means. However/ understanding your prognosis and being informed about the cancer’s possibility of recurrence are important parts of your overall treatment process.

Make sure that your multidisciplinary team – which may include your urologist, oncologist, pathologist, and radiation oncologist – welcomes your active involvement in your treatment plan and thoroughly explains each step of the process to you. It is worth mentioning that noninvasive bladder cancer is usually managed by a urologist with support from the pathologist and usually does not require a full multidisciplinary team unless it recurs repeatedly.

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Most likely at this point you’ve undergone some of the diagnostic tests discussed in Chapter 2.YouVe had tissue biopsied and classified as superficial TCC, and you probably underwent a flexible cystoscopy, during which your doctor thoroughly examined your bladder wall and made a “map” of the location of abnormal tissue or tumors that other diagnostic tests have confirmed. Sometimes more than one tumor will be present in the bladder, so your urologist will be veiy careful to look at the whole organ from the inside. The next step for you is likely to be resection (removal of the tumor), unless youVe already had a surgical biopsy or rigid cystoscopy. In that case, your doctor may have done a resection to avoid your having to undergo a second surgical procedure under anesthesia.

Undergoing a resection sounds more intimidating than it actually is. Think of it as the removal of the piece of the bladder where the tumor or abnormal cells are growing. This may effectively clear the bladder of tumor, bringing it to a state where only healthy tissue remains. When you have a bladder resection by means of a cystoscopy, as opposed to invasive surgery, you won’t have an incision or stitches, as no external cutting or incision is required.

Resecting (sometimes called endoscopic resection) is performed under general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Your doctor will use a resectoscope, which resembles a somewhat larger cystoscope. Like a cystoscope, it has a lighted lens and is introduced into your bladder through your urethra. (Don’t worry; you’ll be asleep under anesthesia and receiving pain medication while this is happening.)

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Your doctor will fill your bladder with water or a nonirritating clear liquid such as glycine, which expands the bladder walls and makes it easier to see tumors and abnormalities. Guided by the map made during the initial cystoscopy your doctor will use a small wire loop (through which a high-energy electrical current runs) to remove the cancer, a margin of healthy tissue, and a small amount of muscle. Any remaining cells are removed with an electric current or sometimes a high-powered laser. Sometimes your doctor will also take a few random tissue samples from other areas of your bladder to make sure that abnormal cells aren’t developing elsewhere. The tumor, healthy tissue, and muscle are then sent to your pathologist for examination. A small amount of muscle tissue is included in the tissue sample so that the pathologist can make sure the tumor hasn’t spread into the muscle wall. A margin of healthy tissue is taken to help decrease the chances that abnormal cells remain in the bladder.

Resection is usually carried out as outpatient surgery. This means that you probably will be able to go home the same day. (You’ll need to bring a driver with you as you’ll still be recovering from anesthesia and won’t be sufficiently alert to drive a car.) You may have some blood in your urine for a few days after a resection, and you may experience pain or stinging upon urination. The stinging urination can be eased by drinking lots of fluids and by taking simple pain medications prescribed by your urologist. If either condition lingers longer than two or three days, if other painful conditions occur, or if the bleeding becomes extensive, call your doctor right away.

In some circumstances, your doctor may choose to insert a catheter into your bladder for a short time (usually only one to two days) after the surgery, to prevent blood clots from obstructing the flow of urine and causing discomfort. The catheter allows blood and urine to gently drain out of the bladder and also allows your doctor to irrigate your bladder to promote complete healing of the resected area. On rare occasions, doctors will recommend another resection procedure. Sometimes the pathologist wants to biopsy muscle tissue from deeper in the bladder wall. And sometimes the tumor is too large to be safely removed all at once.

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: The bladder is a balloon-shaped, muscular organ tucked into the pelvis and held in place by fibrous bands and muscle. The bladder is part of a system that includes the kidneys, ureters, and urethra. These work to process the waste products left behind after your body has taken out the nutrients it needs from the food you eat.

The bladder is lined on the inside by a tissue known as “urotheli- um,” the smooth layer that stretches as the bladder fills and prevents excreted material from being reabsorbed into the body. Underneath the urothelium is a mix of fibrous or supporting tissue and muscle, both of which help the bladder to expand (when full) and to contract and excrete urine at the appropriate time.

Not only does the urothelium line the bladder; it also is found as the lining tissue elsewhere in the urinary tract system, including in the ureters (the tubes that drain the kidneys), the urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body), and parts of the male prostate. Urothelial tissue, too, can sometimes develop cancer­ous changes known as urothelial malignancy. The most common type of urothelial malignancy is “transitional cell carcinoma.” (See Chapter 3.)

It’s important to note that when the urothelial tissue is exposed to cancer-causing substances, such as the breakdown products of ciga­rette smoke, the potential exists for cancerous changes to occur in multiple areas. That’s why when bladder cancer is suspected or con­firmed, the whole urinary tract is screened for the possible presence of other cancerous deposits. Other organs, such as the lungs, liver, skin, and intestinal tract, also process waste. These systems work together to balance the chemicals and water that your body needs to function properly.

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The urinary system processes urea, a specific waste product that is produced when protein-containing foods (such as a meat) are broken down in the digestive process.Urea is filtered through the kidneys and together with other waste by-products and water, becomes urine. This is carried by thin tubes called ureters to the bladder, where it is stored. Muscles in the walls of the ureters squeeze out small amounts of urine into the bladder on a constant basis, about every 10 seconds. A healthy bladder can hold about two cups of urine for up to five hours. Healthy adults produce about six cups of urine a day.

A strong muscle somewhat like a rubber band circles your bladder and keeps the urethra tightly closed until nerves in the bladder signal you that the bladder is full and it is time to urinate. Urinary problems include the inability to retain the urine in the normal fashion or to void urine from the body. Sometimes people experience the urge to urinate even if the bladder is not full. Sometimes this is caused by bacteria in the bladder, which can cause an infection called cystitis. This symptom can also be caused by local bladder irritation or by the development of cancer. As with all parts of the human body, the bladder can develop cancer, which can also cause problems with retaining or voiding urine.

The most common symptom of bladder cancer is hematuria, or blood visible in the urine, either with or without any accompanying pain. About 85 percent of the people diagnosed with bladder cancer notice blood in their urine, and it’s often what prompts them to seek med­ical attention.

In some cases, the presence of blood isn’t noticeable to the naked eye and can only be seen through a microscope, usually when a urine test is being done during a routine physical or when an infection of the urinary tract or bladder is suspected. A urine test can detect whether blood is present in the urine and can also rule out whether other things, such as food or medicines, are the cause of red or rusty-colored urine.

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Noticeable blood in the urine is a tricky symptom. It appears in varying colors and at irregular intervals, and as a result, you might overlook its significance or decide to wait and see whether it happens again before checking it out. For example, you may notice blood in your urine or drops of blood in your underwear two or three times in as many days, or you may see it on one occasion but after that your urine appears normal for days or weeks. The same thing can happen with a laboratory urinalysis, where red blood cells may be visible microscopically only intermittently.

You might experience a gush of With the major symptoms bright red blood or notice pink or rusty of bladder cancer acting in brown urine or even little clots of such a variable fashion, blood. To complicate things even appearing in different ways more, foods you eat such as beets or and sometimes disappearing blackberries may produce colored altogether, it’s important to urine, as do a number of medicines, see your doctor immediately food additives, and vitamins. If you notice blood or what

With the major symptoms of bladder you think might be blood in cancer acting in such a variable fash- your urine. ion, appearing in different ways and sometimes disappearing altogether, it’s important to see your doctor immediately if you notice blood or what you think might be blood in your urine. As with most cancers, the key to successfully managing bladder cancer is detecting it early and starting treatment as soon as possible.

Bladder cancer does not have a long list of symptoms, and many of the symptoms are typical of other, less severe conditions such as infections or benign tumors. Besides blood in the urine, your symp­toms can include pain or burning during urination, a feeling of having to urinate because of an uncomfortable fullness, or the need to get up frequently at night to urinate. You may also have symptoms such as backache, abdominal pain, and unplanned weight loss, or you may feel more tired and achy than usual.

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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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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MY FAMILY WANTS ME TO GO FOR TREATMENT OF MY BLADDER CANCER TO THE “TEACHING HOSPITAL” IN THE CITY MY LOCAL UROLOGIST IS COMPETENT AND CARING AND I TRUST HIS JUDGEMENT SHOULD I LISTEN TO MY FAMILY AND SWITCH UROLOGISTS?

As we have discussed in the preceding questions, finding an excellent urologist to partner with is a must. A physician established at a “teaching hospital” (a hospital where physicians are trained in their respective fields of specialty) is at the minimum, competent. A large teaching or academic center would not risk its reputation on an individual who is sub par. Some individuals may be world class surgeons, but not all will be. An individual may be an average surgeon, but a gifted teacher or researcher, making them invaluable to their academic center. Your local community urologist will likely be an individual trained at one of these academic teaching hospitals. In addition, community hospitals also have credentialing and quality review programs to weed out incompetent physicians. In general, it is true the academic center will have more stringent standards and review of their staff. Nevertheless, excellent physicians can be found at the community hospital as well.

ISN’T IT TRUE THAT ACADEMIC OR TEACHING HOSPITALS WILL HAVE THE BEST TECHNOLOGY OR MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION TO TREAT MY CANCER?

These hospitals generally are at the forefront of innovation regarding technological advances, testing and implementation of new surgical techniques and chemotherapeutic regimens. However, no one center can be excellent in all spheres of medicine. Each will have particular strengths and weaknesses. We are however, fortunate medical knowledge and innovation are shared openly via medical journals and conferences and other means of information exchange. New information and proven effective techniques are rapidly disseminated throughout the medical community. Some teaching hospitals may be “centers of excellence” for a particular procedure or innovative approach that is available at only a few sites in the country. There is naturally a lag time for some procedures to spread to the local level, and if in fact a new procedure carries substantial benefits compared to the standard, and is not available locally, then a referral may be appropriate.

Medical information is scrutinized in journals and reviewed at conferences. The newest treatment regimens for advanced cancer are explored in clinical trials to determine their efficacy and safety. It is only after they are proven that they become adopted as standard practice by most physicians. For the vast majority of individuals with bladder cancer, excellent, comprehensive treatment can be obtained at the local level. For those requiring more specialized care or for those unfortunate individuals with advanced cancer who desire experimental therapy via a clinical trial for their cancer, a referral to the appropriate center may be appropriate.

IF I HAVE MY MAJOR SURGERY PERFORMED AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL, WILL THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN PERFORM MY SURGERY AND TAKE CARE OF ME AFTERWARDS?

At a teaching hospital, physicians are in training to master their skills before going out into “practice” in their respective fields. Interns are fresh out of medical school with limited practical training. Often they are referred to as PGY 1 (post graduate year 1). Years of training follow (PGY2, PGY3 etc.). Urology residents are required to generally have at least two years of training in a surgical program followed by four years in urology residency. It is the responsibility of the residency director to provide adequate training for these future urologists while assuring patient safety. Practically speaking, there are usually one or more attending physicians who supervise the work of the physicians in training. The attending physicians are board certified, experienced physicians who treat patients while simultaneously training physicians. The residents will be a key component in your care. They will be assessing you both pre- and post-operatively and will be writing orders directing your care. How much of the surgery they get to do is dependent on their years of training and their skills. They will be under the direct supervision of the attending physician. If you have concerns, you should address them with your attending physician.

MY UROLOGIST ALWAYS KEEPS ME WAITING, DOES THIS MEAN HE DOESN’T CARE?

Given the monetary pressures in today’s medical practice, some physicians are over booked and cannot see the allotted number of patients scheduled without delays. The theory behind this schedule is the expectation that a number of patients will not show for their appointment, allowing the physician to stay true to the schedule and not fall behind.

However, sometimes all of the patients do show, and the physician is delayed. Even with a carefully thought out schedule, emergencies may arise and some visits unexpectedly take longer than scheduled. The physician wants to devote the time and attention required for each individual. After all, you also expect the same time and attention during your visit. Even the most conscientious physician may find himself running behind in a busy medical practice. This lateness should be recognized by the physician who will often acknowledge it with an apology. If you find it distressing to wait more than fifteen minutes (a reasonable time to wait), you should discuss your feelings with your physician, who often can arrange an appointment at the beginning of the schedule when he will almost be guaranteed to be on time.

WILL THERE BE OTHER PHYSICIANS INVOLVED IN MY TREATMENT OF BLADDER CANCER?

You may need to be referred to an oncologist, a physician specialist in the medical therapy of cancer. At times, a referral to a radiation oncologist, a specialist who treats cancer with radiation, may be required. Other individuals may need to be consulted as well. It is important for your urologist to keep your primary care physician up to date so that he can coordinate your care and if required by your insurance plan, make the appropriate referrals.

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On a regular basis, magazine articles, books, and television shows implore those with major illnesses to seek out a second opinion. The general consensus is there is much to be gained and little to be lost, so why not seek out a second opinion? The issue certainly is more complicated than generally addressed, and deserves a review. The following chapter provides a second opinion on second opinions.

WHAT ABOUT SECOND OPINIONS?

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.

WILL MY UROLOGIST BE UPSET WHEN I REQUEST A SECOND OPINION?

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.

WHY DOESN’T MY UROLOGIST WANT ME TO GO FOR A SECOND OPINION?

Often, the urologist may believe the second opinion is unnecessary and will delay treatment. He may be concerned you will not only have a second opinion, but transfer your future care to the urologist providing the second opinion. He may believe that you may get bad advice. It is possible he may feel threatened the next urologist will not agree with his work up or care of you to date.

WHERE DO I FIND A SPECIALIST FOR A SECOND OPINION?

Start by asking your primary care physician. You may be able to see another urologist in your community. Do not see another urologist in the same group as a conflict of interest may deter a different opinion. If you are considering a different course of action, such as radiation or chemotherapy, a referral to the appropriate specialist should be made.

Many times your urologist will be highly supportive and suggest a second opinion. He will offer his recommendations and facilitate your visit to the appropriate physician. If there is an issue regarding the care given at your local hospital, you may wish a referral to a “tertiary” or teaching hospital. In most areas, a referral for this reason is unnecessary, as excellent care is obtainable in the community hospital.

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?

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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).

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Actos Side Effects: A diagnosis of urothelial cancer (also known as transitional cell cancer) can mean many different things. Urothelial can­cer is not a single type of cancer; it is classified by shape and whether it is restricted to the inner surface of the bladder (superficial to underlying tissues and muscle) or invasive, as well as by stage and grade of development.

The words transitional cells describe how the cells appear under the microscope. Transitional cells share features with various types of cells normally found near the bladder. Since 2009, pathologists have altered the common term to “uro­thelial cancer” to acknowledge the fact that all these cells arise from the lining of the ureters, bladder, and urethra, the urothelium.

The human bladder is composed of several layers. On the innermost surface (which is next to where urine is stored) is a layer of cells known as the transitional cell epithelium. This layer varies in thickness from three to seven cells.

If your doctor described your tumor as being confined to the transitional cell epithelium, the tumor is a superfi­cial tumor. About 74 percent of UCs are noninvasive and superficial when diagnosed, although superficial tumors may eventually progress to a more invasive stage. The word superficial has to be used carefully because it does not neces­sarily mean that the tumor is safe and doesn’t have a dan­gerous potential. In other words, some “superficial” tumors actually have a high malignant potential and the ability to spread elsewhere in the body. A diagnosis of invasive UC means that the cancer has progressed into other layers of the bladder wall, such as the intermediate ceil layer or the muscle.

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If the results of your tests-—-either scans or biopsies-—- show that cancer has spread to other tissue or organs, your doctor will want to confirm that. Clarification of the stage of your cancer comes through looking at the cancer cells from those organs under the microscope. Tissue samples may be taken at the time of your biopsy, or sometimes a needle biopsy is done, bypassing the need for additional surgery.

Pathologists stage bladder-cancer tissue by using a stan­dardized system known as TNM, which stands for tumor- nodes-metastases. A typical TNM might be “T2aNlM0” (T-two-a-N-one-M-zero). Looks like mumbo jumbo, doesn’t it? Try thinking of it as medical shorthand, with each letter and numeral having a defined value that gives doctors and pathologists a specific, consistent way to describe how deeply a cancer has invaded the body’s tissue and organs. The TNM system uses the letters T, N, and M followed by numerals to describe the stage of invasiveness of your cancer. The letter T followed by a numeral from one to four (1 to 4) describes the depth of invasiveness of your tumor. The lower the number, the less invasive the cancer.

The T scale has additional, more detailed levels as well. These levels add the lowercase letters a and b to the T score to delineate more precisely how far into the bladder your cancer has spread and whether it has moved into other areas of your body. It fine-tunes the pathology information to help your doctor make treatment recommendations.

The first T level refers to Ta or Tl tumors, which are superficial in nature. These noninvasive tumors can be pap­illary or carcinoma in situ (CIS), and have penetrated only the epithelium or intermediate cell layers of the bladder. This is an early, highly treatable stage of bladder cancer. The Ta tumor is the least invasive (or most superficial) variant, whereas theTl tumor shows the beginnings of invasion into the first layer of the bladder wall (before muscle is reached).

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Tumors that are invasive and have moved into the mus­cle layer of the bladder are classified as T2. The lowercase letters a and b are used to describe how far into the muscle the tumor has spread. A T2a tumor has not penetrated as deeply into the muscle as a T2b tumor.

Tumors classified as T3, which can be further classified by the letters a and b, have penetrated beyond the bladder wall and into the fatty tissue surrounding the outside of the bladder. A T3a tumor is visible only with a microscope. A T3b tumor is visible in scans or to the naked eye during surgery. AT4 tumor, the most serious and advanced of this local tumor grouping, has spread to other tissues or organs. A T4a tumor has inyaded the nearby uterus or vagina in a woman or the prostate in a man. A T4b tumor has spread through the pelvic or abdominal wall into the body.

The letter N, followed by a numeral from one to three (1 to 3), tells your doctor whether your cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the bladder and how deeply the cancer has penetrated the nodes. The higher the number, the more lymph nodes are involved and the more enlarged the nodes are. The letter Mfollowed by a one or a zero (1 or 0) indicates whether your cancer has spread to lymph nodes in other parts of the body (beyond the pelvis) or to other organs such as the lungs or liver. A zero indicates that the cancer has not spread to other organs; the number one means that it has.

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Actos Side Effects: 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.

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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.

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Given the monetary pressures in today’s medical practice, some physicians are over booked and cannot see the allotted number of patients scheduled without delays. The theory behind this schedule is the expectation that a number of patients will not show for their appointment, allowing the physician to stay true to the schedule and not fall behind.

However, sometimes all of the patients do show, and the physician is delayed. Even with a carefully thought out schedule, emergencies may arise and some visits unexpectedly take longer than scheduled. The physician wants to devote the time and attention required for each individual. After all, you also expect the same time and attention during your visit. Even the most conscientious physician may find himself running behind in a busy medical practice. This lateness should be recognized by the physician who will often acknowledge it with an apology. If you find it distressing to wait more than fifteen minutes (a reasonable time to wait), you should discuss your feelings with your physician, who often can arrange an appointment at the beginning of the schedule when he will almost be guaranteed to be on time.

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Actos Side Effects:Your procedure will likely be scheduled at the hospital surgicenter as an outpatient. Depending 011 the extent of surgery and your general health, you may be required to stay in the hospital afterwards. There will be numerous forms to fill out, including consents for surgery and anesthesia. You will be asked whether or not you have a living will or power of attorney. Both the expected surgery and anesthesia planned will be fully discussed with you, including potential risks and alternatives. Your urologist will perform a history and physical exam to make sure you are fit for surgery. If you have multiple potentially serious medical problems, you probably have already had a pre operative visit with your internist, cardiologist or appropriate primary care physician.

You will be asked whether or not you have any drug allergies, artificial joints, or other medical devices implanted, such as a pacemaker. An IV (intravenous line) will be inserted into a vein in your hand or arm. You will be wheeled on your stretcher to the cystoscopy room and then positioned on the cystoscopy table. Small paste on leads will be placed to monitor your heart and a small device will be clipped over your finger to monitor the level of oxygen in your blood. You will then be given your appropriate level of anesthesia. Depending on the size and location of the tumor(s) and the difficulty of the procedure, your urologist will likely make a recommendation to you regarding the level of anesthesia required. He may give more than one choice. Risks of each will be reviewed with you by the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist (a nurse specialized in giving anesthesia).

Local with sedation: a numbing gel is squirted into your urethra and you are given intravenous sedation. Advantages include the lowest level of anesthesia, potentially with the least side effects and risks and quickest post op recovery from anesthesia. Many individuals are concerned they will experience pain. For small tumors and relatively minor surgery, this is an excellent form of anesthesia with very few patients experiencing pain or adverse reactions. If you do experience significant discomfort, your level of anesthesia can be changed to spinal or general.

Spinal anesthesia: accomplished by passing a fine needle into the lower spinal canal and injecting an anesthetic. Advantages include the ability to provide almost complete blockage of all pain and sensation during the surgery. The patient can continue to breathe on his own (a possible advantage for those with lung disease). Disadvantages include the occasional difficulty in giving the spinal (usually done rapidly with minimal pain, but sometimes difficult with pain), slower recovery from anesthesia (the length of spinal anesthetic is based on the amount and type of agent used and can generally be timed to match fairly closely the anticipated length of your procedure) and the possibility of a post spinal headache (not very common, but can last a day or more and be moderate to severe).

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General anesthesia: delivered through IV medications and anesthesia in a gaseous mixture via a mask or endotracheal tube (a tube inserted down your throat into your trachea, your main airway). The choice of mask or endotracheal tube is generally decided by the anesthetist. This decision is based on the length of the anticipated procedure, your general health, and how easy it is to “ventilate” or provide oxygen to you with a mask alone. The advantage of general anesthesia is total blockade of all pain and sensation (you are unconscious). For healthy individuals with large tumors or with expected difficult surgery, this method is often the best form of anesthesia. For those in whom spinal anesthesia is not possible and a large tumor is present, general anesthesia is the best option.

For many years, hospitals required indiscriminate preoperative testing, often including numerous lab studies, chest X ray and EKG. Today, the medical industry is more cost sensitive. Most centers will require only necessary tests based on your age, medical history, and medications. An EKG is often requested for those with heart disease and for individuals over the age of 50. Specific labs are required if you have a chronic illness or are taking medication which can change the bodies normal chemical balance. Reserving blood from the blood bank is rarely required unless you present with a low blood count from hematuria or from another illness.

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The urologist will often start by introducing a rigid cystoscope to examine the urethra and bladder. During the exam, your bladder will be filled with sterile water which travels through the scope. This is necessary to expand the bladder lumen fully, allowing a complete examination. Patients often are concerned too much fluid will be instilled, resulting in possible injury to the bladder or worse, a rupture. Because the water is instilled with only minimal pressure, bladder injury should not be a concern. The urologist can shut off the irrigation readily when the bladder is full and can empty the bladder at any time. After the cystoscopy is completed, the urologist then removes the bladder tumor(s).

If the tumors are small, he may simply use a biopsy forceps through the cystoscope (an instrument which has a small cup like end to remove pieces of tissue). Deep biopsies at the base of the tumor (especially when one is dealing with solid tumors as opposed to papillary variety) may be obtained using the same biopsy forceps. The tumors and deep biopsies are sent to the pathologist for examination. Additional biopsies from any suspicious areas or possibly the prostatic urethra may be done. After the tumor removal and biopsies are completed, electric current is used to stop any bleeding. The urologist steps on a pedal to turn the electric current on when the cable is touching the bleeding blood vessel.

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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.

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