Diet After Bladder Cancer Surgery

Nutrition And Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is the sixth most prevalent malignancy in the United States. The standard treatment for advanced bladder cancer involves radical cystectomy , which is plagued by high rates of complications and mortality in part due to infection and rapid skeletal muscle wasting. Poor nutritional status is associated with higher complications rates following RC.

Keeping Health Insurance And Copies Of Your Medical Records

Even after treatment, its very important to keep health insurance. Tests and doctor visits cost a lot, and even though no one wants to think of their cancer coming back, this could happen.

At some point after your cancer treatment, you might find yourself seeing a new doctor who doesnt know about your medical history. Its important to keep copies of your medical records to give your new doctor the details of your diagnosis and treatment. Learn more in Keeping Copies of Important Medical Records.

What Is Transurethral Resection Of Bladder Tumor

TURBT is the procedure done to diagnose and to treat early stage bladder cancer at the same time. The initials stand for transurethral resection of a bladder tumor. This procedure is the first-line diagnostic test and treatment for bladder cancer. Men are almost four times more likely than women to be diagnosed with this type of cancer.

The majority of people have bladder cancer that hasnt invaded the muscle wall when first diagnosed. Almost everyone diagnosed with bladder cancer will undergo bladder tumor biopsy and resection.

A biopsy is a procedure in which a doctor takes a tissue sample from the area where cancer may exist. During the biopsy procedure, the doctor also will try to remove the cancerous growth. This is called resectioning. The entire procedure for bladder tumor biopsy and resection is known as transurethral resection of bladder tumor .

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What Foods Are Best When You Have Bladder Cancer

Many studies have explored if specific foods can fight bladder cancer. There have not been any conclusive results, but some research has shown that specific foods, especially those high in antioxidants, may have anti-cancer effects.

For now, the recommendation is to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, which has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer recurrence and death.

A healthy eating pattern includes:

Build A Better Bladder With Good Food And Healthy Habits

Food alone cant prevent bladder diseases. But studies are clear: A diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and other plant foods can lower your risk. Good nutrition along with other healthy habits such as not smoking and staying active can help you keep this important little muscle in good working order.

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Bladder Cancer Treatment Symptoms: Diarrhea

Diarrhea is also associated with bladder cancer treatment. Stay hydrated as much as possible to replace the fluid loss that comes with diarrhea. Before drinking carbonated liquids, let them lose their fizz since carbonation contributes to gas and discomfort.

Consume smaller meals and replace your electrolytes like potassium and sodium through apricots, bananas, broth and nuts. Consume low-fiber, lower-residue foods too. Drink your beverages and eat foods at room temperature, and try to avoid:

• Greasy and spicy foods

• Alcohol

The Impact Of Early Feeding After Radical Cystectomy For Bladder Cancer

Subjects preparing to undergo radical cystectomy and urinary diversion for bladder cancer that provide informed consent will be randomized into 1 of 2 study arms. The experimental arm will be offered clear liquid diet 24 hours after extubation and advanced to regular diet 24 hours later if clear liquids are well tolerated. The standard/control arm will receive a clear liquid diet at the time of return of bowel function, determined by significant flatus or bowel movements.

Information related to time to return of bowel function, frequency of nausea/vomiting, hospital complications and length of stay will be recorded. Patients will be followed with phone calls and chart reviews at 30, 60 and 90 days following surgery. Additional hospital admissions and/or complications will be determined with those phone calls.

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Selecting And Testing Gemcitabine

When Dr. Messing began research on gemcitabine as a possible way to reduce recurrences more than a decade ago, the drug was not widely used for bladder cancer. “We tried to pick an agent that we thought would be safe and effective,” he said.

The researchers decided to compare gemcitabine against placebo rather than mitomycin C, based on studies showing how infrequently patients received some form of chemotherapy following surgery despite guidelines recommending this approach.

“If the new procedure were adopted widely, we could spare patients a lot of suffering from repeated surgeries and save health care costs associated with those surgeries,” Dr. Messing said.

“Now that we have the results of the trial,” he went on, “we hope that patients and physicians will embrace this approach to treatment.”

Role Of Diet In Bladder Cancer

Although tobacco smoking and exposure to chemicals are considered as the major risk factors/causes for bladder cancer, diet may also play an important role in increasing or reducing the risk of this cancer. In this blog, we will elaborate on some of the studies carried out by researchers across the world, which evaluated the association between the intake of different types of foods/diet and the risk of bladder cancer.

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Is There A Recommended Diet For Bladder Cancer

There are many factors in determining the right eating pattern for you. If youre feeling fatigued or experiencing other symptoms, it can be hard to eat well. You may not be able to eat the way you used to. The goal is to eat a variety of nutritious foods to support your health.

Theres no one specific diet recommended for the treatment or prevention of bladder cancer. However, some research suggests that certain dietary patterns may help reduce the risk of bladder cancer and cancer in general.

An Italian case-control study showed some advantages of a Mediterranean diet for reducing bladder cancer risk. The Mediterranean diet is a nutrient-dense diet rich in foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. It also includes healthy fats from fish, nuts, seeds, and olive oil.

The Mediterranean way of eating has other health benefits, such as lowering inflammation and risk of heart disease.

Summary

Theres no one recommended diet for people with bladder cancer, but the Mediterranean diet may have some benefits.

A Providence Physician Introduces Foods That Can Help A Sensitive Bladder

National Bladder Health Awareness Month in November is a time to raise awareness about bladder care. One of the best ways to do that is with a healthy diet. Good nutrition can help prevent all kinds of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Whether youre hoping to lower your risk or maintain a healthy lifestyle after cancer treatment, the foods you eat are a crucial piece of the puzzle. Weve put together some must-have food tips that can help you feel good, keep your bladder healthy and improve your overall health.

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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.

Initial Findings And Next Steps

Enrollment for this study opened in Spring 2019. Our initial findings are showing an improvement in outcomes.

Results from our pilot study have been published by the journal European Urology.

We partnered with The University of Kansas Health System and Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network to produce a series of videos that provide important information about nutrition and bladder cancer, including how to prepare tasty healthy recipes, how to incorporate a healthy diet into your lifestyle and how to manage nutrition-impact symptoms during treatment. You can find great tips and recipes using these resources.

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Dried Fruit Consumption May Reduce The Risk

Researchers from the University of Missouri, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Womens Hospital in the US did a systematic review of 16 observational studies that were published between 1985 and 2018 to assess the possibility of any association between traditional dried fruit consumption and cancer risk in humans. The studies included in the analysis were mostly conducted in the United States, Netherlands and Spain with a total of 12,732 cases from 437,298 participants. They found that increasing the intake of dried fruits to 3-5 or more servings per week may reduce the risk of cancers of the digestive system such as stomach, bladder and colon cancers.

Why It Is Important To Do This Review

Bladder cancer is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Malnutritionmay be associated with a poorer outcome but the evidence base for nutritional interventionis limited. It was noted that the evidence related to benefits of nutrition support inpeople undergoing RC was equivocal and that randomised trials are needed to assess theeffect of perioperative nutrition in this patient group . Results from questionnaires completed by urologists performingcystectomies in the UK indicated a diversity in practice, not all based on clinicalguidelines . It has been suggestedthat there is a need to demonstrate the best indices of preoperative nutritional status,and whether nutritional intervention can alter the poorer prognosis for people who arenutritionally deficient undergoing RC . Current guidelines for nutrition in surgery support the integration ofnutritional support in to perioperative management for patients . In undertaking this review usingCochrane guidelines to investigate the use of perioperative nutrition in this group weaimed to produce a methodologically rigorous systematic review including a comprehensiveliterature search, with a focus on patientimportant outcomes and rating of the quality ofevidence using GRADE. We expect that this review will contribute to raising awareness ofthe need to consider nutritional issues as part of the supportive care for peopleundergoing RC.

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Myth : Artificial Sweeteners Can Lead To Cancer

Artificial sweeteners are sugar-free substitutes you add to food to make it sweeter without added calories. Back in the ’70s, studies showed cyclamate, an additive that has since been removed from the U.S. market, combined with saccharin led to bladder cancer in lab animals. Bladder cancer incidences in rats that received high saccharin doses also rose.

But this doesn’t seem to occur with humans. Rats make sodium salts that contribute to the formation of tumors in their bladders, but mice, humans and monkeys don’t do this, so consuming these compounds didn’t cause bladder cancer in these cases.

How The Intervention Might Work

Malnutrition has been linked to complications following RC. Thirteen out of 33 people undergoing RC in one US series were described as malnourished. Malnutrition wasassociated with significantly increased perioperative morbidity, mortality and days inintensive care, compared with wellnourished counterparts . In a more recent report of 538 peopleundergoing RC, 19% met the study criteria for nutritional deficiency and the resultsshowed that they were at a greater risk of death within 90 days of the surgery 1.36 to 6.23 P 0.01) and less likely to bealive three years later, compared to those judged to be well nourished .

When the complexity of case mix and risk factors for RC were examined in a prospectivestudy of 2538 people, preoperative factors associated with mortality and prolonged lengthof hospital stay were old age, American Association of Anesthetists score of 3 ormore, dependent functional status and low serum albumin. While it was noted that somefactors could not be altered, it was felt that preoperative nutritional supplementationmay be beneficial. Since there was significant weight loss greater than 10% in theprevious six months in 5.4% of people and which was associated with increased mortality at30 days 2.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.4) and at 90 days , this factor may also be amenable to preoperative nutrition intervention .

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Can A Certain Diet Cause Bladder Cancer

Some research has suggested that consuming certain foods and drinks may be related to an increased or decreased risk of developing other types of cancers, but there is not yet enough evidence for links between diet and bladder cancer. Despite the lack of evidence, there are many claims in the media and online that suggest following certain types of diets or taking dietary supplements will prevent cancer. It is important to remember that these claims are not supported by science.

In The Operating Room

Just before surgery, you will be connected to monitors, given blood thinners to prevent clots and given antibiotics to prevent infection. Then, the anesthesiologist will put you to sleep with a general anesthetic. Usually, surgery takes four to six hours. The OR nurse will update your family periodically during this time.

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Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer

One of the most common symptoms of bladder cancer include blood in urine, medically known as hematuria, which may cause urine to appear bright red and is usually painless.

Other less common signs and symptoms of bladder cancer include:

• Increased frequency of urination

• Bone pain
• Swelling of the legs

If any of these signs or symptoms of bladder cancer are noticed, one should get it checked by a doctor.

Chewing Areca Nut May Increase The Risk Of Cancer Recurrence In Non

A study done by the researchers from The Second Xiangya Hospital in China and The Queens Medical Research Institute in the United Kingdom, involving 242 patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer , who underwent transurethral resection surgery, evaluated the risk factors for cancer recurrence. The researchers found that high areca nut chewing was associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence in the NMIBC patients.

Chewing Areca Nut may even impact the prognosis of bladder cancer.

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Should I Be Careful With What I Eat Or Drink With A Urostomy

No, just drink plenty of fluids, like water. Itâs best to limit caffeine and alcohol, because theyâre less likely to keep you hydrated. Thatâs important to lower your chance of infection.

Go easy on beverages near bedtime, and attach a larger night drainage bag to hold more urine while you sleep.

Your pouch is odor-proof, so you wonât smell anything until you empty it. If your pee has a very strong odor, it could be a sign of an infection. But other things can affect the smell, too:

• Foods, like asparagus, coffee, fish, garlic, and onions
• Medicines, such as antibiotics
• Supplements, like vitamins

When Should I Call My Doctor

Let your doctor know if you think you may have an infection. Also tell them if:

• You have bleeding from the stoma that doesnât stop with a little pressure.
• You have pain, cramping, or swelling in your belly.
• Your pouch leaks regularly or doesnât stay in place.
• Your skin around the stoma keeps getting red or sore.
• The stoma turns dark purple, brown, or black.

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Myth : Eating Sugar Will Cause Cancer To Grow

Your body is made up of healthy and cancer cells that convert sugar, or glucose, into energy. There haven’t been any studies that show sugar consumption makes cancer worse. Nor have there been any studies showing sugar avoidance will eliminate or shrink your cancer.

Overeating does contribute to obesity and being overweight, which are risk factors for cancer. If you have bladder cancer, you should focus on fresh foods and not packaged ones that may be high in sugar. But the occasional treat will not impact your cancer.

Water Supply And Bladder Cancer Risk

Strong evidence does show that people who drink water from wells that contains a chemical called arsenic have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer.1,2 This is not generally a concern for people in the United States whose water is provided through a public water system. However, it may be an issue for people who drink water from private residential wells, especially older ones. If you are concerned that your homes water well may contain arsenic, it is important to have your well water supply tested to make sure it is safe.

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Can I Lower My Risk Of The Bladder Cancer Progressing Or Coming Back

If you have bladder cancer, you probably want to know if there are things you can do that might lower your risk of the cancer growing or coming back, such as exercising, eating a certain type of diet, or taking nutritional supplements. Unfortunately, its not yet clear if there are things you can do that will help.

Adopting healthy behaviors such as not smoking, eating well, getting regular physical activity, and staying at a healthy weight might help, but no one knows for sure. Still, we do know that these types of changes can have positive effects on your health that can extend beyond your risk of bladdercancer or other cancers.