Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Bladder Cancer Research In The Modern World

By Minnie Whitley


There are many emerging issues in medicine today. Bladder cancer research is one these issues. Scientists are working overtime to eliminate this cancer completely. They are looking at changes in the DNA of the particular cells, carrying out urinal tests to detect bladder cancer, elimination of this cancer, and modern ways of handling cancer

A keen study of genetic changes in cells has made it possible for doctors to know the prognosis of victims of cancer. In addition, it has made it possible for them to deal with infected cells that are always reappearing even after treatment.

Doctors have also taken interest in using tests on urine in detecting this cancer. They usually search for a chemical substance; telomerase in the cells. This is a substance that is usually associated with cancer patients. This test also helps detect recurrence of cancerous cells among patients.

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.

With regards to treatment, surgeons are involving new surgical tactics in dealing with the particular cancer. This surgery involves a panel of surgeons manipulating robotic arms to carry out surgery. In this kind of surgery, surgeons operate on a patient through small incisions and not large ones like the commonly used surgery. Patients, therefore, recover more quickly as compared the normal surgery. This surgery has been successful with many other types of cancer, but is still being compared to the standard surgery for removing this part of a body. Researchers are also considering using a number of new drugs to see if they can be put into the particular part of the body after surgery to reduce the danger of recurrence.

Photodynamic therapy is another method being applied in treating cancerous cells while still in their initial stages of development. A drug that quickly responds to light is introduced into the cancerous cells, and after some days, laser light is concentrated on the interior regions of affected bladder. Light changes the drug to a chemical that denatures affected cells. The therapy gets rid of cancerous cells and does not have a lot of negative effects on normal cells. This method, however, only treats cells located on the anterior part of the bladder, and worse still, can cause severe burns if the this part of the body meets too much light.

Targeted therapy is another treatment being used by doctors in treatment of affected cells. It is mainly the use of medicine that specifically focuses on changes in these cells due to cancer. Some drugs target blood vessels which bring about cancerous cells and when treated they reduce the versatility.

Gene therapy entails changing the genetic makeup of cells to prevent them from being infected. The infection is eliminated when genes that lead to abnormal development of cells are removed from the cells. This therapy has not been approved yet; doctors are still working on it.




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