Can I Ever Be Sure The Cancer Will Never Come Back
No, its not possible to guarantee that once you have completed cancer treatment the cancer will never come back. Although your doctor may say, The cancer is gone or I think I removed all the cancer or I see no evidence of any cancer, the fact remains that theres always a chance that there are some cancer cells left in your body that survived, even though they cant be seen or found with any test used today. Over time, these cells can begin to grow again.
While you dont want to ever think about the chance of having a second cancer one thats not related to the first cancer this is also possible. Having one cancer doesnt make you immune to having a second or even a third different cancer.
Also Check: What Happens With Bladder Cancer
Foods Your Bladder Will Fall In Love With
If you have a sensitive bladder, you will not have to miss out on tasty foods this fall. The key is to know which foods are more likely to irritate your bladder and which ones are more likely to soothe. In general, you will want to avoid coffee, alcohol, citrus fruits, tomato-based products, artificial sweeteners and spicy foods. Read on to learn about 10 bladder-friendly foods.
Selenium Intake May Reduce The Risk
A meta-analysis done by the researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre based on data from 7 studies including 6 case-control studies and 1 one population based study published before March 2010, evaluated the association between levels of selenium and bladder cancer. The study found a 39% decreased risk of bladder cancer with the highest levels of selenium. The study also highlighted that the protective benefit of selenium was seen mostly in women.
Read Also: What Causes A Cyst On Your Bladder
Certain Foods May Lower Your Risk For Bladder Cancer
When it comes to preventing bladder cancer, food plays an important role. These fruits, veggies, and beverages offer powerful ways to arm yourself against bladder diseases.
- Remove harmful chemicals with veggies. Bladder cancer can sometimes be the result of chemicals staying in your bladder for too long. Drinking tea and eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, or asparagus can keep things flowing. They can even help slow down or prevent bladder cancer growth.
- Reach for the fruit basket. Antioxidant-packed citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, limes, and lemons help lower your cancer risk. They help keep your bladder clean and functioning properly. Plus, having these antioxidant-rich foods in your arsenal is just what you need now for a stronger immune system.
- Refresh with toxin-fighting tea. The next time you meet a friend for coffee, choose a cup of decaffeinated tea instead. Many teas will do the trick, but black, oolong, and green tea without caffeine can remove toxins from your body and lower your risk for bladder cancer.
- Remember the water. People who drink a lot of fluids, especially water, tend to have lower rates of bladder cancer because they empty their bladders more often, keeping chemicals from lingering too long. Make it your goal to drink enough fluids each day to stay hydrated. Water and other liquids are important for helping cells function, transporting nutrients and oxygen, and protecting organs and tissues.
What You Should Know About Eating Healthily With Bladder Cancer
Eating healthy and having good nutrition during your bladder cancer journey can be hard, but there are several things that you can do to stay healthy and well-nourished.
- Follow a heart-healthy diet. A heart-healthy diet generally includes eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, skinless poultry and fish, low-fat dairy products, nuts and legumes, and non-tropical oils.
- Eat foods with plenty of fiber. This will help ease some of the symptoms associated with bladder cancer treatment.
- Stay hydrated. Each person needs a different amount of water, so talk to your doctor about how much water you should be drinking every day. If you are having trouble drinking plain water, you can stay hydrated with water flavorings such as lemon or lime slices, or unsweetened herbal teas.
- Eat plenty of lean protein. Protein helps your body stay strong throughout your cancer journey.
Also Check: Over The Counter Bladder Medication
Another Option For Reducing Recurrences
Other studies have demonstrated that giving patients with low-grade bladder cancer the chemotherapy drug mitomycin C through a catheter following surgery can reduce the chance of a recurrence. These studies led professional groups in the United States and Europe to recommend this approach for patients with low-grade disease that has not invaded the muscle.
In the United States, however, few patients receive this treatment, in part because of concerns about the side effects of mitomycin C, as well as the availability and cost of the drug, noted Dr. Messing. Mitomycin C can be toxic if it leaks out of the bladder through a hole, and the drug can also cause severe rashes when it comes in contact with skin.
Gemcitabine, on the other hand, is a well-tolerated, readily available drug that “comes at relatively little cost in terms of side effects or expense,” said Dr. Messing. The side effects were similar between the two groups in the trial and were generally manageable, he added.
Some patients with advanced bladder cancer already receive gemcitabine, noted Piyush Agarwal, M.D., who heads the Bladder Cancer Section in NCI’s Center for Cancer Research and was not involved in the trial. “So, it makes sense that the drug would be used to treat patients with low-grade bladder cancer.”
Dr. Agarwal predicted that the new study would lead to revisions in treatment guidelines to include gemcitabine as an option for reducing recurrences in the patients with low-grade bladder cancer.
Consumption Of Fruits And Vegetables Or Micronutrients In Those And Risk Of Bladder Cancer
A hospital-based case-control study reported that consumption of raw, but not cooked cruciferous vegetables was inversely associated with bladder cancer risk . A strong and significant inverse association was also observed between BC mortality and broccoli intake, in particular raw broccoli intake . These studies suggest that cooking may alter the beneficial effects of protective nutrients and this may explain inconsistent results among different studies. In a population-based case-control study of bladder cancer in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont no association between fruits and vegetable consumption and risk of bladder cancer was observed . Another US case-control study reported significant inverse associations between intakes of total vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, orange vegetables, dark green vegetables but not intakes of total fruits or citrus fruits and BC risk. Interestingly, this study also showed that the protective effect of vegetable consumption, especially cruciferous vegetables may be modified by genetic variants of GSTM1 and NAT2, suggesting that genetic makeup of individuals may also contribute to inconsistent results reported by different studies .
Read Also: Botox Procedure For Overactive Bladder
If You’re Concerned About Bladder Cancer Ask Your Doctor About Cxbladder
Cxbladder is a cutting-edge genomic urine test that quickly and accurately detects or rules out bladder cancer. The test works at a molecular level, measuring five biomarker genes to detect the presence or absence of bladder cancer.
Cxbladder outperforms other urine-based tests in the detection of bladder cancer, and can improve overall detection accuracy when combined with other forms of testing. The majority of symptomatic and post-treatment surveillance patients do not have bladder cancer. Cxbladder enables the accurate rule out of patients presenting with blood in urine and those being monitored for recurrence, reducing the need for further invasive tests.Learn more about Cxbladder Ask our team a question
Foods To Avoid If You Have Overactive Bladder
If you have overactive bladder, you may feel strong, sudden urges to urinate, even during the night. Eating or drinking certain things can make symptoms worse, mainly because your bladder is sensitive to irritants that can trigger the urge to go.Paying attention to these triggersand avoiding them if possiblecan go a long way toward cutting down on sudden bathroom trips. Here are 10 types of food and drink that can worsen overactive bladder.
Recommended Reading: What Causes Overactive Bladder In Women
Intake Of Macronutrients Or Macronutrient Containing Food Items And Risk Of Bladder Cancer
Several case-control studies have documented that diets high in meat or fat is associated with higher risk of BC . A limitation of these studies is that lack of detailed dietary data to examine the intake of different types of dietary fat or different sources of protein intake in relation to the risk of BC. A study that addressed these limitations showed that a 3% increase in the consumption of energy intake from animal protein was associated with a 15% higher risk of developing BC while a 2% increase in energy from plant protein intake was associated with a 23% lower risk of developing BC . This study also documented that dietary intake of fat or carbohydrate was not associated with BC risk. However, other studies have documented statistically signif icant reduced odds of BC for high intakes of -linolenic acid and vegetable fat and borderline statistically significant reduced odds for polyunsaturated fat and linoleic acid, indicating the importance of investigating the type, source and the quantities of different dietary fatty acids consumed . Brinkman et al. reported a statistically significant inverse association between olive oil intake and BC consistent with a linear dose-response relationship.
Other Food Items And Risk Of Bladder Cancer
A limited number of studies have investigated other food components in relation to BC such as dairy, tea, egg and fish. A study conducted among Swedish men and women reported that the total dairy intake, intake of milk or cheese were not significantly associated with risk of BC, but a statistically significant inverse association was observed for the intake of cultured milk . However, The Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer only provided weak evidence that BC risk is inversely associated with lower intake of fermented dairy products . With regard to tea, Wang et al. reported that green tea may have a protective effect on BC in Asians while Zhang et al. observed that in Western countries, an increase in tea consumption in general may reduce the risk of BC. A meta-analysis published in 2013 reported that overall, there was no significant association between egg consumption and BC but, increased risk of bladder cancer was detected in North/South America and fried egg intake positively associated with BC risk . The overall current literature on fish consumption and the risk of BC suggested no association. The studies associating other food items and risk of BC have been summarized in .
You May Like: How To Stop A Leaky Bladder Without Surgery
Meat And Bowel Cancer
There is now convincing scientific evidence that eating processed meat increases bowel cancer risk. The World Cancer Research Fund has recently recommended that people avoid eating processed meat. Processed meats include any meat that has been preserved by curing, salting or smoking, or by adding chemical preservatives. These include hot dogs, ham, bacon, and some sausages and burgers.
It is recommended that children are not given processed meats. This is because many of the habits we develop as children last into adulthood. Substitutes for processed meats that are recommended for children include fish or lean poultry, lean meats or low-fat cheese.
There is convincing evidence that red meat also increases a persons risk of bowel cancer. It is recommended that individuals, particularly men, decrease their intake of red meat. The WCRF recommends limiting the amount of fresh red meat we eat to less than 500 g of cooked red meat a week. Some research suggests that eating burnt or charred meat may increase cancer risk, but the evidence is unclear.The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends consuming a range of variety of foods from the food group lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds and legumes and beans.
How Can I Manage Bladder Irritation
You can manage discomfort by avoiding foods you have identified as bladder irritants. But removing foods from your diet doesnt mean you can never have them again. You might be able to enjoy them in moderation . Drinking plenty of water will help reduce pain from any bladder-irritating foods you might ingest, in moderation or accidentally.
Don’t Miss: Reasons For Frequent Bladder Infections
Whole Grains: Good For The Whole Body
The next time you step up to the deli counter, remember this: Bland white bread cant compete with hearty whole wheat in taste or nutrition. Maybe youve heard about revised federal nutrition guidelines that recommend half of all the grains you eat rice, cereal, and even chips should be whole. Thats why even sugary kids cereals and frozen pizzas are loading up on whole-grain ingredients.
Whole grains deliver plenty of fiber, but while diets high in vegetables and fruits have been linked with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, it isnt yet clear how dietary components, such as fiber and certain types of fats, affect colorectal cancer risk. Still, whole grains contain other substances that might battle cancer, including lignans, which act as antioxidants, and saponins, which could keep cancer cells from multiplying. Look for bread labeled 100% whole wheat rather than simply wheat bread, which likely contains refined grains. For even more lignans, choose a whole wheat bread sprinkled with flax or sesame seeds.
Show Sources
World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research: Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective.
HelpGuide.org: Cancer Prevention Diet.
National Cancer Institute: Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention Cruciferous Vegetables and Cancer Prevention Questions and Answers About Lycopene and Garlic and Cancer Prevention.
Cancer.net: Food and Cancer Prevention.
Lower Your Risk With Antioxidants
Plant-based foods are rich in nutrients known as antioxidants that boost your immune system and help protect against cancer cells.
- Diets high in fruit may lower the risk of stomach and lung cancer.
- Eating vegetables containing carotenoids, such as carrots, Brussels sprouts, and squash, may reduce the risk of lung, mouth, pharynx, and larynx cancers.
- Diets high in non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, and beans, may help protect against stomach and esophageal cancer.
- Eating oranges, berries, peas, bell peppers, dark leafy greens and other foods high in vitamin C may also protect against esophageal cancer.
- Foods high in lycopene, such as tomatoes, guava, and watermelon, may lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Read Also: Bcg Chemo For Bladder Cancer
Are There Benefits To Juicing For Those With Bladder Cancer
Juicing does increase the nutrients you consume daily. It can also benefit people who have difficulty chewing and/or digesting their food.
However, when using a juicer, you remove the fiber from produce, which is an essential nutrient for gut health. If you’re not having difficulties feeding, you should get your five servings of fruit and vegetables before you juice, and then add on the juicing of fruits and vegetables. You may want to add in more veggies than fruits since they have less sugar.
You may want to add protein to your juice if you have issues maintaining a normal blood sugar level. Keep in mind when buying pre-made juices from the grocery store that many don’t have the nutrients your body requires as it fights cancer, so thoroughly read labels before buying anything.
Bladder Cancer Treatment Symptoms: Constipation
Constipation is another symptom those with bladder cancer may experience. Try to keep your liquid intake up by drinking at least eight cups of fluids a day. Fill up a jug with eight cups of liquid and finish the jug each day so you can track your fluid volume. Hot liquids like tea, coffee, broths and soup can move the contents through your gut more quickly.
You May Like: Cranberry Juice Cure Bladder Infection
Vitamin E Intake May Reduce The Risk
A meta-analysis done by the researchers from the Second Military Medical University and Tongji University in China using 11 prospective studies including 3 clinical trials and 8 population based studies with 575601 participants, obtained through literature search in online databases found that vitamin E intake was associated with a reduced risk of bladder cancer.
Hence, including Vitamin E rich foods such as sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, avocados, squash, kiwifruit, trout, shrimp, olive oil, wheat germ oil, and broccoli as part of the diet may reduce the risk of bladder cancer.
Healthy Diet Happy Bladder
- Original: May 8, 2019
Everywhere we look in the media, we find claims that different diets can improve our quality of life.
Everywhere we look in the media, we find claims that different diets can improve our quality of life. Experts and gurus suggest that we increase our water intake, avoid sugar, become vegetarian, or try a vegan or gluten-free diet. If we follow this advice, experts say, our heart, pancreas, and colon will become healthier.
Sadly, very few experts discuss diets that support and promote bladder health. At the same time, with baby boomers continuing to age, bladder problems such as urinary urgency, frequency, and leakage are becoming very common.
Consider these statistics:
- One in four women over age 26 experiences stress incontinence at some point in her life.
- About 17 percent of women in the United States suffer from urge incontinence or overactive bladder .
- Some women have both stress and urge incontinence , and these often have the most severe urinary symptoms.
The good news? Research indicates that diet modifications can be an effective conservative therapy for all three types of urinary incontinence. Believe it or not, what you put in your mouth really can affect the health and the behavior of your bladder, especially if you suffer from symptoms of urinary incontinence.
Recommended Reading: Can Stress And Anxiety Cause Overactive Bladder