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Sunday, 18 May 2014

Issues In Bladder Cancer Research

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By Minnie Whitley


Doctors are putting in a lot of effort in fighting lethal diseases. They have carried out intensive bladder cancer research in attempts to eliminate it. They are concerned with the genetic changes that bladder cells undergo, using urinal tests in detecting cancer, complete elimination of bladder cancer, and new ways of treating it.

Research on changes in the DNA of bladder cancer cells has made it easier for scientist to understand the prognosis of those infected with cancer. It has also helped them deal with bad cells that come up again after treating the patient.

Researchers are also concerned with carrying out urine tests in diagnosing this cancer. They specifically look for a substance called telomerase which is usually found in large amounts in cancer patients. The urinal test also helps check for recurrence in patients who have already been treated.

Victims of this type of cancer are always faced with the danger of developing cancer cells recurrently. Doctors are therefore, trying to find out methods of absolutely finishing the abnormal cells. They are encouraging; eating certain diets, chemotherapy and some specific medicines. They have also come up with vaccines that can prevent growth of cancer cells.

Surgeons are also adopting new surgical techniques in their dealings with the disease. This surgery involves several surgeons using robotic arms to operate on cancer patients. It involves surgeons carrying out operations on patients through smaller cuts as compared to those in standard surgeries. Therefore, one recovers faster than in a normal surgery. This method is, however, still being tested before being formally endorsed. Doctors are also planning to use some new medicines on the bladder just after an operation to eliminate recurrence of abnormal cells.

Photodynamic therapy is another new treatment being considered in treating this cancer in its early stages. A drug that is sensitive to light is put into cancer cells and left there for some days. An instrument is then used to focus some laser light on the inner parts of it. This light converts the drug into a substance that kills the cells. This therapy eliminates cancerous cells and only affects normal cells to a small extent. This method of treatment is, however, disadvantageous in the sense that, only cells on the surface of the bladder are treated, and worse still, severe burns can be caused if the bladder is exposed to light for long.

Targeted therapy is also being used to a large extend in the treatment. It involves drugs that only target changes involved in bladder cells making them cancerous. Some drugs target blood vessels that facilitate the abnormal growth of cells.

Doctors also use gene therapy in fighting cancerous cells. This is therapy that changes the makeup of these cells. Once the genetic content of cells is changed, cancer is eliminated. This therapy is, however, still under examination to check whether it is good for treating infected cells of the bladder or only works on other types of cancer.




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