In some patients with bladder cancer, the cancer can be completely eliminated or eliminated with treatment (chance of cure). However, anticipating the end of treatment can be both stressful and worrying. You may be relieved that you have finished the treatment, but it is impossible not to worry about the recurrence of the cancer. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, this feeling and anxiety is and will always be very common.
In some other patients, bladder cancer may never be completely removed with treatment (no chance of cure), or it may recur in another part of the body. There may be a need for regular treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other treatments to try to keep the cancer under control. Learning to live with completely incurable cancer can also be quite difficult and very stressful.
Life after bladder cancer means going back to some routines and also making some new choices.
Monitoring and Control
Patients with bladder cancer have a very high risk of recurrence after treatment, and therefore, close monitoring at regular intervals is required. During these checks, your doctor will ask questions about any problems you are experiencing and may request examinations, laboratory tests and imaging tests regarding cancer symptoms and/or side effects of treatment. The side effects of some treatments can last for a long time and can occur even years later. This is a good time to ask your doctor questions at these check-ups, and is an opportunity to share any changes or problems you notice or any concerns you have. degree, what treatments you receive, and some other factors. It is recommended that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding the tests to be requested in the follow-ups. In these controls, urine tests, physical examinations are performed to see if the cancer has recurred or if a new tumor has developed in the bladder or renal pelvis and ureters. r, imaging tests (such as X-rays, MRIs or CT scans) and blood tests, and if your bladder has not been removed, regular cystoscopy exams will also be performed every 3 months for at least the first 2 years. These doctor visits and examinations will be made less frequently as time goes on and there are no new negative findings.
If your bladder was removed and urinary diversion was performed (artificial bladder, ileal loop), signs of infection and your kidneys You will be asked to check for changes in its functions. Urine tests, blood tests and some imaging methods can be used to do this. Tests will also be done to look for signs of cancer in other parts of your urinary tract (kidney tract). Vitamin B12 level will be checked at least once a year, as it may affect B12 absorption in patients with intestinal use. Your doctor will also talk to you about how well you can control your urine.
Monitoring and Planning of Daily Life
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1- A program for early detection tests for secondary cancer types that may be other than bladder cancer, or some screening tests you may need to investigate the long-term effects of cancer treatment on general health, and
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2- It is very important to get information about possible late or long-term side effects of your treatment, including what you should pay attention to and when you should consult your doctor.
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3- It would be useful to discuss with your doctor about known dietary and physical activity recommendations and determine what diet and physical activity regimen would be
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4 - Regular records of all transactions in physical or electronic media and keeping them under a file is a factor that prevents mistakes in the management and administration of the disease.
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5-Tests, doctor visits and treatments are very expensive. It may be costly, calculating costs and planning is another aspect of this job.
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6-At some point in your cancer treatment, you may find yourself seeing a new doctor who is unaware of your medical history. your new doctor It is important that you keep copies of your medical records to provide details of your diagnosis and treatment.
Can I reduce the risk of cancer progression or recurrence
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For patients with bladder cancer, it's important to know things that can reduce the risk of cancer growth or recurrence, such as exercise, a certain type of diet, or diet. A healthy-natural diet can reduce the risk of bladder and other cancers. However, studies to date have not found conclusive evidence that any vitamins or food supplements help prevent bladder cancer.
Progress or recurrence of bladder cancer General recommendations to prevent recurrence are as follows:
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1-No smoking, Smoking's tumor recurrence and progression proven to increase risk. Although it is still controversial whether smoking cessation of bladder cancer patients will positively affect the outcome of treatment, patients are advised to definitively quit smoking because of the overall risks associated with tobacco smoking.
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2-It is recommended to adopt healthy behaviors such as eating naturally, doing regular physical activity and staying at a healthy weight, but there is no publication that can be considered as evidence on this subject yet. . However, we do know that they can have positive effects that can prevent your risk of developing bladder cancer or other cancers.
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3- Food supplements: To date, no dietary supplement ( vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) have not been shown to clearly help reduce the risk of progression or recurrence of bladder cancer. This doesn't mean that no supplements will help, but it's important to know that none of them have been proven to do so. It is recommended that you do not allow food supplements and complementary medicine products to harm you, and that you stay away from products that will hinder or hinder your current treatment. These types of dietary supplements are proven to be effective and safe before being sold, although there are limitations to their use. No proof of that is required. So if you're considering taking any type of nutritional supplement, talk to your healthcare team. They can help you decide which ones you can use safely while avoiding those that may be harmful.
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How to return to daily life and routines after bladder cancer?
For patients with urostomy:
strong>If you've had a radical cystectomy and you're carrying a urostomy bag on your abdominal wall, you may even worry about daily activities at first. You may need to change some of your daily routines due to changes in the way you urinate. Other issues related to sexuality may also cause concerns, and it's perfectly normal to have worries and concerns while getting used to such a big change. Adhering the urostomy bag in the right direction, fitting it correctly, and emptying it before sex reduces the possibility of urine leakage. It may be important to choose sexual positions that prevent your partner's weight from rubbing against the pouch. To assist patients with urostomy, healthcare professionals specially trained can teach you to deal with urostomy and help you cope with the changes it brings. You can also get help about programs that offer information and support in your area, and some associations.
Sexuality: In radical cystectomy, Along with the bladder, prostate and seminal vesicles are also removed and these changes affect your sex life deeply. These structures form the semen, removing them means that a man will no longer ejaculate. In other words, there is a dry orgasm, semen is not possible. Due to nerve damage during surgery, erection abilities are negatively affected in many male patients. This erection problem may improve somewhat over time in some patients. The younger the patient, the higher the probability of regaining the ability to have a full erection. It is necessary to discuss this issue with the healthcare team before the operation. New surgical techniques have undergone some improvements to reduce the possibility of erection problems.
Sexual effects of radical cystectomy in women: This surgery removes the uterus, ovaries, and usually the upper/front part of the vagina. This can often make sex very uncomfortable for women. Reconstructing the vagina may require a related intervention (vaginal reconstruction). Whether you're reconstructed or not, there are many ways to make sex more comfortable. During radical cystectomy, if the nerve bundles that run on either side of the vagina are damaged, it can affect the ability to orgasm. In cases where the entire urinary tract (urethra) along with the bladder needs to be removed, blood flow to the clitoris may be affected and this may affect sexual arousal.
Emotional support: When bladder cancer is a part of your life, it's normal to feel a little depressed, anxious, or anxious. Some people are affected more than others. However, patients can seek help and support from friends and family, some religious groups, some support groups and associations, more professional counselors, or other people if they wish.
Secondary Cancers After Bladder Cancer
Patients with bladder cancer may develop another type of cancer, namely a secondary cancer. Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer are at a higher risk of developing some other secondary cancer types compared to the normal population. This is called secondary cancers. Many of these cancers have been clearly associated with smoking, a major risk factor for bladder cancer.
The types of cancer you can get apart from Bladder Cancer are:
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Secondary of another type of bladder cancer (different from the primary cancer)
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Cancer of the renal pelvis / ureter (ureter, tubes connecting the kidney to the bladder; The part where the kidney is attached is called the renal pelvis), the risk is quite high (4-7%)
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Pancreatic cancer
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Larynx cancer ( larynx)
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Eesophageal cancer
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