Is there a benign form of bladder cancer?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 18, 2024
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Tumors are divided into two main categories: benign tumors and malignant tumors. The malignant tumors that occur in epithelial tissues are called cancers, such as lung cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer. Therefore, bladder cancer is malignant; there are no benign bladder cancers. Cancer, in contrast to benign tumors, tends to metastasize to distant locations, grow rapidly, and can spread through blood, lymph nodes, and local invasion. Thus, it is termed as cancer and is malignant, which means there is no such thing as benign bladder cancer.

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Written by Wu Xia
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Diet for Bladder Cancer Patients

From the perspective of Western medicine, the diet for bladder cancer patients involves drinking plenty of water, avoiding spicy foods, and abstaining from alcohol and tobacco. Patients should also ensure they get enough vitamins by consuming fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, it is important to consume adequate nutrition including eggs, meat, and fish, and patients should not hold in urine. However, from the perspective of Chinese medicine, bladder cancer patients should avoid foods that induce excessive internal heat, such as lamb and seafood, and should also avoid cold or chilled foods.

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Written by Guan Hai Fang
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The difference between bladder tumor and bladder cancer is that a bladder tumor may be benign or malignant, whereas bladder cancer specifically refers to a malignant tumor.

The difference between bladder tumors and bladder cancer generally lies in whether the growth inside the bladder is benign or malignant. Normally, nothing should grow inside the bladder. However, if a growth does appear, it can be referred to as a bladder tumor if it is benign, or bladder cancer if it is malignant. Bladder tumors are typically round with clear boundaries, which can be observed through ultrasound or cystoscopy. On the other hand, if the growth in the bladder resembles seaweed or cauliflower, with unclear boundaries, erosion, bleeding, or other symptoms, it can be referred to as bladder cancer. Generally, the primary treatment for such cases is surgical removal.

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Written by Liu Liang
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Is the bladder cancer embryonic antigen high?

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is significantly elevated, mainly seen in gastrointestinal tumors, especially in colorectal cancers such as colon and rectal cancers, where CEA elevation is more pronounced. It can also be notably higher in patients with lung adenocarcinoma, and bladder cancer might show an increase in CEA as well. However, the increase in CEA is not necessarily consistent, and its diagnostic value for bladder cancer is limited due to low specificity and sensitivity, making it not very instructive. The definitive diagnosis of bladder cancer primarily involves cystoscopy and taking a biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer.

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Written by Liu Mei Fen
Medical Oncology
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What is the best medicine for bladder cancer infusion?

Bladder perfusion chemotherapy involves infusing chemotherapy drugs directly into the bladder through a catheter to control tumor growth and reduce the recurrence rate after surgery. Generally, the drugs with significant effects on bladder perfusion fall into three categories. The first category is the anthracyclines, including doxorubicin, epirubicin, and pirarubicin. The second category includes platinum-based drugs such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. The third category is vinorelbine. According to current big data research, vinorelbine bladder perfusion tends to have a lower recurrence rate. Without postoperative bladder perfusion chemotherapy, 60%-70% of patients will eventually experience recurrence. With bladder perfusion chemotherapy, the recurrence rate can be reduced to 20%-30%.

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Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
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How is bladder cancer treated?

How is bladder cancer treated? Currently, the primary treatment option for bladder cancer is surgery, which can include procedures like transurethral tumor resection, bladder tumor resection, urethral tumor resection through the bladder, and cystectomy, among others. The specific surgical approach is selected based on factors such as the location and size of the bladder cancer. Besides surgical removal of the bladder, other treatment methods such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, new technology treatments, and traditional Chinese medicine are also available as adjunct therapies. The formulation of a treatment plan should comprehensively consider factors such as the location, size, and stage of the bladder cancer.