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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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In this Article

• Disease prevention in men introduction
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia
• Type II diabetes mellitus
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Cancer of colon and rectum /polyps of colon and rectum
• Prostate cancer
• Glaucoma
• Melanoma and other skin cancers
• Bladder cancer
• Disease Prevention in Men Index

• Urine examination for blood cells. This may be done by dipstick tests with confirmation by microscopic examination of the urine, or by initial microscopic examination.
  
  
• Bladder cancer can cause either gross hematuria (visible blood in the urine) or microscopic hematuria (blood in the urine only visible with a microscope). It is important to note that bladder cancer is only one of many causes of blood in the urine.

Who to test and how often

All individuals who are former or current cigarette smokers or who have a history of occupational exposure to certain chemicals often used in the dye, leather, tire and rubber industries should have a urine examination for blood periodically after age 60.

Benefits of early detection

• Early bladder cancer may produce no symptoms and no visible bleeding in the urine, and blood in the urine commonly microscopic.
  
  
• Treatment can be effective if the cancer is detected early, and survival is strongly associated with stage of disease at time of treatment.
  
  
• Cessation of cigarette smoking is always advisable.

Previous contributing author and editor: Daniel L. Gornel, M.D., MPH and Dennis Lee, M.D.

REFERENCE: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. Braumwald E, Fauci AS, et al. 17th Edition. 2007. McGraw Hill