Can Bladder Cancer Cause Incontinence

Will I Have Incontinence For My Entire Life

Sometimes incontinence is a short-term issue that will go away once the cause ends. This is often the case when you have a condition like a urinary tract infection . Once treated, frequent urination and leakage problems caused by a UTI typically end. This is also true for some women who experience bladder control issues during pregnancy. For many, the issues end in the weeks after delivery. However, other causes of incontinence are long-term and related to conditions that are managed throughout your life. If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or multiple sclerosis, you may have incontinence for a long period of time. In those cases, its important to talk to your provider about the best ways to manage your incontinence so that it doesnt interfere with your life.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

It can be embarrassing to talk about bathroom habits with your healthcare provider. This embarrassment shouldnt stop you from treating incontinence, though. Often, your healthcare provider can help figure out the cause of your bladder control issue and help make it better. You dont need to deal with it alone. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best ways to treat incontinence so that you can lead a full and active life without worrying about leakage.

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How Is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed

Talk with your health care team if you have a problem controlling your bladder. They will work with you to figure out the reason. They may recommend you writing down some details about your urination, including when you urinate, how often you urinate, and how much liquid is released. This is called a “voiding diary.” Your health care provider may also give you the following tests:

• Tests on a sample of your urine to look for an infection or other problems.

• A test where you cough as hard as you can when your bladder is full.

• Tests to measure pressure in your bladder.

• Tests to measure how well your urine is flowing.

• An ultrasound. This uses sound waves to create a picture of your bladder and the other body parts that control urine.

• A cystoscopy. This test uses a small, lighted tube to look inside your bladder.

• An X-ray of your bladder.

How To Talk About Urinary Incontinence

Bringing up the topic of urinary problems with your doctor or your spouse is never easy most people are at least a bit embarrassed. But open communication can help you find out about the causes of incontinence and whether your medications may be contributing.

One good opener might be something like this: “I have been having bladder troubles.”

If you will be visiting a new doctor, and have not yet selected him or her, you might seek out a doctor of the same sex, if you think that would help you feel more comfortable. Or, you might bring up the topic first with your doctor’s nurse.

Preparing for the conversation about urinary incontinence may help you feel more in control. That means being able to answer the questions your doctor is likely to ask, including:

• When did your urinary incontinence symptoms begin?
• Have you had urinary incontinence symptoms before?
• What medications are you on, and when did you start each of them?

You may find it easier to talk about incontinence if you acknowledge it as a medical condition that needs treatment, just as high blood pressure, arthritis, or high cholesterol does. Treatment options are plentiful, and nearly everyone can be helped so that symptoms, if they don’t abate, improve.

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Risk Factors For Bowel Incontinence

• Chronic constipation
• Constipation due to overflow that can occur when stool becomes backed up and unformed stool leaks around the blockage
• Diarrhea as a result of Irritable Bowel Syndrome , Irritable Bowel Disease , diet, drugs, etc.
• Neurological disability or nerve disorders
• Cognitive impairment

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A Primer On Prostate Cancer

Its important for you to get your prostate checked. The American Urological Association recommends you discuss the benefits and limitations of these tests with your doctor:

A digital rectal exam once a year after age 40, or earlier if you are having symptoms. Although some men consider this test embarrassing, it is a quick, simple procedure that could save your life.A PSA blood test once a year for men over 50 or earlier for men in high risk groups, such as African-Americans or those with a family history of prostate problems.

If you have a positive DRE or PSA, your doctor may order a biopsy to determine if cancer is involved.

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Urinary Tract Infections Can Interfere With Daily Life Intimacy And Even Land You In Hospital What Exactly Are They And How Can You Try And Avoid The Nasty Symptoms

A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection in the urinary system. Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, usually from the bowel. These bacteria are perfectly normal in the bowel but when they move across to the urinary system can result in an infection.

Symptoms to look out for:

• Pain, discomfort or a burning feeling when urinating
• Needing to urinate more often, or urgently
• Pain in the lower abdomen or back
• Urine that looks cloudy or has an unpleasant smell
• Only being able to urinate a few drops at a time
• Fever, feeling like vomiting, vomiting, feeling shaky .

How Bladder Cancer Is Often Discovered

Dr. Tang says, “There is no official screening for bladder cancer but it is usually discovered on a urinalysis that is done at the doctor’s office that may show microscopic blood in the urine. If there is blood found in the urine, then it can be investigated with a cystoscopy which is a procedure that entails a small camera inserted into the bladder and usually done by the urologist.”

Dr. Stoll explains, “The best way to diagnose bladder cancer is through a procedure called a cystoscopy. This is primarily performed in a urologist’s office. It is often combined with urine cytology where cancer cells in the urine may be discovered. Imaging is usually needed including either a CT scan, ultrasound, MRI, or IV pyelogram. A TURBT is needed for diagnosis and staging purposes. This would also give us an idea of how to treat bladder cancer.”

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Relieving The Symptoms Of A Uti

• Make sure the person you care for drink enough to help flush out bacteria
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs can ease symptoms of a UTI like pain, fever and inflammation.
• Use a heating pad on the lower back or stomach to relieve pain or discomfort

* Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs is a class of analgesic medication that reduces pain, fever and inflammation.

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How We Diagnose Bladder Cancer:

• Urine analysis to determine if microscopic blood is present in the urine can be a way to detect bladder cancer. Cytology is also a way to examine a sample of urine for cancer markers that may be present with bladder cancer.
• Cystoscopy, or examining the bladder with a tiny camera is another way to diagnose and even biopsy/treat bladder cancer.
• CT/MRI imaging. Depending on risk factors, findings on urine analysis and overall suspicion, advanced imaging may be used to view the bladder and surrounding organs.

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Bladder Cancer Can Cause Changes In Urination

In addition to blood in the urine, bladder cancer may cause urinary changes, such as:

• Pain or burning sensations during urination
• A need to urinate more frequently than usual
• Urinary urgency, even when the bladder is not full
• A weak urine stream
• A need to urinate many times during the night

Much like bloody urine, however, these symptoms are more likely to have other causes, such as a urinary tract infection, overactive bladder or enlarged prostate .

How Do Doctors Find The Causes Of These Symptoms

If you experience swelling in the feet, especially if you also experience symptoms related to urination, then your healthcare provider will probably perform a physical examination in addition to several types of diagnostic tests to find out the cause of the symptoms. A urine sample may be tested to check for signs of infection or other possible problems. A procedure called a cystoscopy can be used to examine the inside of the bladder and the urethra, the hollow tube-like organ that connects to the bladder and allows urine to flow out of the body. During cystoscopy, a small sample of tissue may be taken for a biopsy, in which the cells are examined for possible signs of cancer.

Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer usually have further testing to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This may include a CT scan, MRI, chest x-ray, and/or bone scans.

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How Is Urinary Incontinence After Prostate Surgery Treated

If you find youre having issues with mild to moderate leakage after surgery, your healthcare provider might suggest starting with noninvasive therapies like medications or physical therapy exercises for the pelvic floor muscles. These treatments may also cut down on the number of times that you have to get up each night to pee.

These methods can sometimes help men who have mild to moderate leakage. Men who have persistent leakage or a more severe problem may need surgery if they do not want to continue to use pads.

Transurethral Resection Of A Bladder Tumour

If abnormalities are found in your bladder during a cystoscopy, you should be offered an operation known as TURBT. This is so any abnormal areas of tissue can be removed and tested for cancer .

TURBT is carried out under general anaesthetic.

Sometimes, a sample of the muscle wall of your bladder is also taken to check whether the cancer has spread, but this may be a separate operation within 6 weeks of the first biopsy.

You should also be offered a dose of chemotherapy after the operation. This may help to prevent the bladder cancer returning if the removed cells are found to be cancerous.

See treating bladder cancer for more information about the TURBT procedure

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Incontinence As A Symptom Of Bladder Cancer

An under-recognized symptom of bladder cancer is urinary incontinence. While rare, urinary incontinence can manifest due to bladder tumors or structural changes to the urethra. Oftentimes this symptom is overlooked due to the prevalence of urinary symptoms in the aging population, which overlaps with the demographic of patients that are most commonly diagnosed with bladder cancer. For instance, in males aged 55 and older, urinary incontinence is most commonly associated with diseases of the prostate. In women, urinary incontinence is highly prevalent. Indeed, a woman in her 50s complaining of urinary incontinence is so common that this symptom would rarely be considered an indication of bladder cancer. For this reason, it is important that changes in urinary habits be fully examined.

How Long Does It Take To Flush Out A Uti

Most UTIs are curable. Symptoms of a bladder infection generally disappear after 24 to 48 hours following the commencement of treatment. If you have a kidney infection, symptoms may take anywhere from one week to one month to cease.

Kidney infections are more serious and can lead to severe complications.

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High Blood Pressure Medicine As A Cause Of Urinary Incontinence

Also called alpha-adrenergic antagonists, these medicines — including Cardura, Minipress, and Hytrin — work by dilating blood vessels to reduce your blood pressure.

In women, alpha blockers can relax the bladder. “So, if they cough or sneeze, they might lose urine,” says Rodney Appell, MD, director of the Baylor Continence Center at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.

If you are a woman on an alpha blocker and you are experiencing urinary incontinence, Appell has this advice: “Go back to the internist who prescribed the alpha blocker and ask if there is something else you can be treated with.”

In men, these medications actually are prescribed to help with urination problems. In men with an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, alpha blockers can help relax the muscles in the bladder neck, letting urine flow more easily and improving symptoms of BPH.

How Can I Manage Incontinence At Home

Incontinence can be uncomfortable and disruptive. It can cause sleeping problems, make you feel ashamed or angry, or affect your daily life in other ways. In addition to working with your health care team to find the best treatment, there are things you can do at home to help make incontinence better or more comfortable.

• Limit how much you drink, especially coffee and alcohol. Avoid foods that can irritate the bladder, including dairy products, citrus fruits, sugar, chocolate, soda, tea, and vinegar.

• Go to the bathroom right before bedtime and any vigorous activity.

• Wear an absorbent pad inside your underwear or disposable incontinence underwear.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight can put pressure on the bladder and muscles that support it.

• Go to the bathroom regularly each day. Do not wait too long or put off going.

• Quit smoking. Nicotine can irritate the bladder. It can also make you cough and leak urine.

• Do Kegel exercises. Ask your health care team about doing Kegel exercises at home. They can make your bladder stronger. To do Kegel exercises, first tighten the muscles you use to stop the flow of urine. Then, relax those muscles. Repeat the exercise several times. During this exercise, relax the muscles in your belly, buttocks, and thigh.

Finally, it can help to find support. Talk with your health care team or join a support group for people with bladder problems. It can help you feel better to know that other people are also dealing with incontinence.

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I Have A Cancer Diagnosis: Will I Have Incontinence Too

Loss of urine control is among the many fears people may experience upon a cancer diagnosis, but incontinence does not always occur with cancer.

There are many causes of bladder incontinence, including cancer and cancer treatment. Arm yourself with knowledge about incontinence and cancer to help you manage it.

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What Is Prostate Cancer Who Does It Affect

Prostate cancer also enlarges the prostate, due to a growing cancerous tumor within the prostate. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 7 men. In 2015, approximately 220,800 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. The average age of men diagnosed are 65 or older, and it is rage before age 40. The majority of men are diagnosed at age 66. Apparently the risk of prostate cancer in younger men has increased nearly 6-fold in the past 20 years.

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What Is Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer affects both men and women and is responsible for approximately 3% of all cancers diagnosed in Australia each year.

The risk of developing bladder cancer increases with age. In fact, most people diagnosed are 60 or older , with men about three times more likely than women to be diagnosed with bladder cancer. Currently, there is no screening test used routinely to screen for bladder cancer in Australia.

Statistically, there were 2,459 new cases of bladder cancer in Australia in 2010 . Since then, more than 2400 Australians have been diagnosed with bladder cancer each year . However, that figure is tipped to rise by 2020, when it is estimated that around 2,800 Australians will be diagnosed with bladder cancer .

But there is some good news. Incidence rates for bladder cancer have decreased in recent years, from 17.9 cases per 100,000 people in 1982 to 10.1 cases per 100,000 in 2010 .

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How May Erectile Dysfunction Affect My Sex Life

Most men find that their sex life is different after prostate cancer treatment. Some men question their manliness when they cannot have an erection or find that they are not interested in sex. This can happen even if you are not currently in an intimate relationship. You may find this upsetting. Even if one of the medications or erection aids is helpful, having sex using these things may take some getting used to. It may not feel entirely natural. You can talk with your doctor or healthcare team about these feelings. Counseling may also help.

If you have an intimate partner, it is important for you to talk to your partner about how you are feeling. There is an old saying that a problem shared is a problem halved. Not everyone wants a sexual relationship. Dont try to guess or assume what your partner wants. Have an open and honest discussion with your partner.

This may seem unnecessary in long-term relationships as people tend to assume they know all there is to know about their partner but this is not always the case. With time, you and your partner may be able to find satisfying ways to have a sex life even though you have erectile dysfunction. Your partner will also have concerns about your sex life as well as concerns about your health. Talking about your feelings is very important during this time.

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