Introduction

If you notice any changes in your urinary habits or the appearance of your urine, it's essential to consult your healthcare provider, especially if you have risk factors for bladder cancer. In most cases, bladder cancer might not be the cause, but your doctor will assess you for other conditions that could be serious.

Other Therapy

Bladder cancer often recurs. Researchers are exploring methods to prevent it, with chemoprevention being a widely tested strategy.

The idea is to use a safe agent with minimal side effects to alter the bladder environment, making it less susceptible to cancer development.

Vitamins and certain safe drugs are the most studied chemopreventives. Despite efforts, no agent has been proven effective on a large scale in preventing bladder cancer recurrence.

Photodynamic therapy is another ongoing study for bladder cancer. It employs laser light activated by a chemical, making tumor cells vulnerable. Although it selectively destroys tumor cells, it's limited to early-stage cancers.

Follow-up

Post-treatment, a series of tests determine its effectiveness in eliminating your cancer. Further treatment is recommended if cancer remains. Regular follow-up tests are crucial due to the risk of recurrence. If your bladder is intact, urinary tests and cystoscopies are part of the follow-up.

For those who underwent radical cystectomy, chest and abdomen imaging are included in follow-up care.

Prevention

While no foolproof method prevents bladder cancer, risk factors can be reduced. Quit smoking and avoid chemical exposures at work. Drinking plenty of fluids may help dilute potential cancer-causing substances in the bladder.