Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
The most common type of bladder cancer, urothelial carcinoma, is very
strongly associated with cigarette smoking. About 50% of all bladder cancers in
men and 30% in women may be caused by cigarette smoking. The longer and heavier
the exposure, greater are the chances of developing bladder cancer. The toxic
chemicals in cigarette smoke, many of which are known cancer causing substances
(carcinogens), travel in the bloodstream after being absorbed from the lungs
and get filtered into the urine by the kidneys. They then come in contact with
the cells in the inner lining of the urinary system, including the bladder, and
cause changes within these cells which make them more prone to developing into
cancer cells. Quitting smoking decreases the risk of developing bladder cancer
but takes many years to reach the level of people who have never smoked.
However, as time passes after the quit date, the risk progressively decreases.
In view of the above, it is extremely important for patients with bladder cancer
to stop smoking completely since the chances of the cancer coming back after
treatment are higher in those people who continue to smoke.
Age and family history are other risk factors as is
male sex. Most bladder
cancer is diagnosed in people over 60 years though in exceptional cases it may
be seen in the third or fourth decade of life. Men are more prone to developing
bladder cancer probably due to a higher incidence of smoking and exposure to
toxic chemicals. A close relative with a history of bladder cancer may increase
the predisposition for the development of this disease.
Exposure to toxic chemicals such as arsenic, phenols, aniline dyes,
and arylamines increase the risk of bladder cancer and may be responsible for
up to 25% of cases in some regions. Dye workers, rubber workers, aluminum
workers, leather workers, truck drivers, and pesticide applicators are at the
highest risk.
Radiation therapy (such as that for
prostate or cervical cancer) and
chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) has been shown to increase the risk
for development of bladder cancer. Moreover, it may also delay the diagnosis of
bladder cancer in patients presenting with symptoms of bleeding in urine since
this bleeding may be incorrectly attributed by the patient and/or the physician
to the bladder irritation caused by the chemotherapy or radiation (radiation
cystitis).
Long-term chronic infections of the bladder, irritation due to stones or
foreign bodies, and infections with the blood fluke prevalent in certain regions
of the world (as mentioned earlier) are some other factors which predispose to
bladder cancer.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Hydronephrosis is a condition in which the kidney swells, due to a backup of urine. Hydronephrosis generally occurs with another disease.Symptoms of hydronephrosis include nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infection, fever, painful urination, increased urinary frequency and urgency, flank pain, and swelling of the abdomen. Treatment of hydronephrosis depends on the cause.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Arsenic comes in two forms, inorganic and organic. Organic arsenic poisoning is usually not poisonous to humans; however, inorganic arsenic in large enough amounts can lead to shock and death. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, dark urine, vertigo, delirium, shock, and death. Treatment for arsenic poisoning includes Hemodialysis and a variety of drugs.
Schistosomiasis (snail fever), a disease caused by parasites, causes a variety of symptoms and signs, such as cough, rash and bloody diarrhea. Praziquantel is used in the treatment of schistosomiasis.
Tumor grade is a system used to classify cancer cells in how likely the tumor is to grow, and how abnormal they look under a microscope. Tumor grade is not the same as tumor stage. A biopsy is taken to determine if the tumor is benign (non cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Urethral cancer is a rare form of cancer that primarily affects white females, people over 60 years of age, and those who have stds or who experience frequent urinary tract infections. Symptoms and signs of urethral cancer include blood in the urine, interrupted urine flow and discharge from the urethra. Treatment involves surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Smokeless tobacco can have negative health effects such as cancers, poor oral health (gum disease and tooth decay), infertility, pregnancy complications, and nicotine addiction.
Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
Disease prevention in men includes routine screening tests that are part of basic prevention medicine. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. Age of screening and timing of screening depends upon the condition being assessed.
Disease prevention in women includes screening tests that are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests
are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere.
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