| Description | | | | bladder cancer is diagnosed early, surgery alone is |
| Bladder cancer is frequently mistaken for a | | | | usually successful in removing the growth. After |
| bladder infection, because the two conditions | | | | surgery, the patient must be tested every 3 to 6 |
| share many of the same symptoms. The | | | | months for recurring masses. Approximately 70 |
| presence of blood in the urine and painful urination, | | | | percent of bladder surgery patients develop |
| though, are telltale signs of bladder cancer. | | | | another small tumor within five years. |
| Bladder cancer strikes three times as many men | | | | If the cancer is not diagnosed early and is allowed |
| as women and is usually found in people over the | | | | to penetrate the bladder wall or surrounding layer |
| age of 40. Approximately 40,000 new cases of it | | | | of fat, the cancer will probably require surgery |
| are diagnosed yearly in the United States, and | | | | followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy. |
| more than 15,000 people die from it each year. It | | | | During radiation therapy, a focused beam of |
| is commonly caused by exposure to artificial | | | | high-energy radiation is used to destroy cancerous |
| chemicals and industrial compounds. | | | | cells. Radiation is targeted only at affected areas |
| Signs and Symptoms | | | | as and is performed regularly for a set period of |
| Blood in the urine | | | | time. During chemotherapy, the patient must take |
| Pain during urination | | | | medication (usually intravenously) that is designed |
| Appetite or weight loss | | | | to kill cancer cells. |
| Low-grade fever | | | | Complementary and Alternative Treatments |
| Pain in the pelvic area or lower back | | | | Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| Conventional Medical Treatment | | | | Acupuncture traditional Chinese Medicine regards |
| If you suspect that you have bladder cancer, visit | | | | cancer as an energy imbalance caused by any |
| your physician immediately. Often the diagnosis is | | | | number of factors, including poor diet, lack of |
| suspected because blood is detected during a | | | | exercise, stress, environmental toxins, or |
| routine microscopic examination of urine | | | | overwork. |
| conducted during an annual physical exam. To | | | | Acupuncture may be used to improve the flow of |
| confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may perform | | | | energy along the bladder meridian and by |
| a CAT scan, or a cystoscopic examination, during | | | | targeting specific acupoints, which may offer pain |
| which a scope is passed through the urethra into | | | | relief. It also can be used to help reduce the |
| the bladder to collect a sample of the bladder | | | | negative side effects of radiation or |
| lining, which is then tested for malignant cells. If | | | | chemotherapy. |