Could this possibly mean that in the future, chemotherapy, as we know it today, would be gone?

The following are excerpts from different articles on ‘fighting cancer using our own immune systems’.

Inside your body there is an amazing protection mechanism called the immune system. It is designed to defend you against millions of bacteria, microbes, viruses, toxins and parasites that would love to invade your body. To understand the power of the immune system, all that you have to do is look at what happens to anything once it dies. That sounds gross, but it does show you something very important about your immune system. Read more….

The immune system is a complex network of cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by “foreign” or “non-self” invaders. This network is one of the body’s main defenses against infection and disease. The immune system works against diseases, including cancer, in a variety of ways. For example, the immune system may recognize the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells in the body and works to eliminate cancerous cells. However, the immune system does not always recognize cancer cells as “foreign.” Also, cancer may develop when the immune system breaks down or does not function adequately. Biological therapies are designed to repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune system’s responses. Read more…..

Cancer immunotherapy is the technique of harnessing the body’s immune system to attack cancer. The immune system normally responds to threats to the body by distinguishing between itself and foreign invaders. In case of cancer, this is difficult because most tumours consist of the body’s own cells growing out of control. However, many cancer cells display unusual antigens or receptors on their surface that allows them to be identified. Antibodies and cancer vaccines to stimulate the immune system are being developed to attack these tumour cells. Read more ….

Immunotherapy, also known as biological therapy, biotherapy or biological response modifier therapy, is a relatively new addition to the family of cancer treatments. This type of treatment uses the body’s immune system, directly or indirectly, to fight the disease. Immunotherapy is being designed to stimulate the patient’s immune system to work harder or smarter and to enhance the immune system response by administering immune system components such as man-made proteins. The basic idea of cancer immunotherapy is to try to get the immune system to react to cancer cells as if they are foreign. Read more ….

Biological response modifiers (BRMs) occur naturally in the body and can be produced in the laboratory. BRMs alter the interaction between the body’s immune defenses and cancer cells to boost, direct, or restore the body’s ability to fight the disease (see Question 3). Read more ….

The big news now is that J591, and compounds like it, could someday offer cancer patients a brand new weapon as they fight the disease. But Dr. Bander?s team doesn’t expect that cancer patients would rely on PSMA-targeted therapies alone. Read more ….

Researchers have found that interferons can improve the way a cancer patient’s immune system acts against cancer cells. In addition, interferons may act directly on cancer cells by slowing their growth or promoting their development into cells with more normal behavior. Researchers believe that some interferons may also stimulate NK cells, T cells, and macrophages, boosting the immune system’s anticancer function. Read more ….

Some antibodies, cytokines, and other immune system substances can be produced in the laboratory for use in cancer treatment. These substances are often called biological response modifiers (BRMs). They alter the interaction between the body’s immune defenses and cancer cells to boost, direct, or restore the body’s ability to fight the disease. BRMs include interferons, interleukins, colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, and vaccines.  Read more ….

It appears that down the road, cancer may be fought on an entirely different level. This will be wonderful for future cancer and bladder cancer patients.

 Patient, heal thyself.

• Non-invasive

• Invasive

The wall of the bladder wall has three principal tissue layers or coats:

* mucosa
* submucosa
* muscular layer

This is a very simplified explanation. For a more detailed explanation  goto Full Article

Non-Invasive - can generally be killed off without removing the bladder.
The Mucosa membrane lines the inside of the bladder and also lines the inside of the ureters and urethra. This is the area where the non-invasive cancer is found.

Invasive - generally requires the removal of the bladder.
Submucous coat (lamina propria)–areolar connective tissue; interlaced with the muscular coat. This layer contains blood vessels, nerves, and in some regions, glands.
A tumor which has spread to this layer can metastasize to the rest of the body via the lymphatics and blood vessels.

Once the cancer is established within the muscle layer of the bladder, the cancer cells have very little distance to go before they are able to breach the outside of the wall and gain access to the abdominal cavity.

Serous coat (serosa)–covers the outer wall of the bladder facing the abdominal cavity.

Once the cancer cell has breached the bladder wall and has gained access to the abdominal cavity they generally attack the lymph nodes, in the groin,  first. Once the lymph nodes are infected then the cancer can spread to every part of your body by the Lymphatic system.

What is the lymphatic system?

The lymphatic system is a system of thin tubes that runs throughout the body. These tubes are called ‘lymph vessels’. You may also hear them called ‘lymphatic vessels’.

The lymphatic system is like the blood circulation - the tubes branch through all parts of the body like the arteries and veins that carry blood. Except that the lymphatic system carries a colourless liquid called ‘lymph’.

Lymph is a clear fluid that circulates around the body tissues. It contains a high number of lymphocytes (white blood cells). Plasma leaks out of the capillaries to surround and bathe the body tissues. This then drains into the lymph vessels.
The fluid, now called lymph, then flows through the lymphatic system to the biggest lymph vessel - the thoracic duct. The thoracic duct then empties back into the blood circulation.

Lymph glands
Along the lymph vessels are small bean-shaped lymph glands or ‘nodes’. You can probably feel some of your lymph nodes.

There are lymph nodes

* Under your arms, in your armpits
* In each groin (at the top of your legs)
* In your neck

There are also lymph nodes that you cannot feel in

* Your abdomen
* Your pelvis
* Your chest

From this simplified explanation, you can see why it is so important to have bladder cancer diagnosed and treated before the cancer breaches the bladder wall.

Further information

When the bladder is infected with cancer AND if it is diagnosed early, the cancer can generally be removed without having to take out the bladder.

If the cancer is NOT diagnosed for a period of time, it will eventually invade the bladder wall. The outside of the bladder wall leads to the abdominal cavity. If the cancer has invaded the bladder wall, it can eat right through the wall and get into the abdominal cavity. From the abdominal cavity, it can spread throughout the body.  Secondary cancer sites can be set up in the lungs, the liver, or any organ carried there by the infected lymphatic system. The lymph nodes in the groin are generally the first organs infected when the cancer breaches the bladder wall.

Further details in next post.

 Cancer Concerns: Bladder Treatment

The use of video is beginning to become popular since we live in a visual society.

Below, is my first attempt at producing a video article. The written article can be found in the Main Menu under Articles. It is called “What Urologists Fail To Tell Bladder Cancer Patients”.

When the pouch was first invented in the 1920‘s, bladder cancer patients were only surviving for a few month or perhaps a year or two after the surgery.

Today, the advances in surgical technique and especially in the field of chemotherapy have been fantastic. The advances in public education has gotten the public to be more aware of bladder cancer and to seek medical advice much earlier.

The combination of these three factors means that bladder cancer is being caught in the early stages of the disease.

Therefore patients are living much longer after their surgery.

This is great but …

Some of us, including myself, who are heading towards the 10 years mark since surgery are running into skin problems under the pouch. Imagine having a large bandage glued to your body 24/7 for close to 10 years. The skin is constantly moist with either urine or sweat.

The human skin was not meant to be subjected to this kind of treatment. The skin his not being allowed to breath properly and rejuvenate itself.

Since last January, I have been having more and more skin problems around the stoma. Talking to others who are reaching their 8 to 10 year survival mark, they are running into the same problem. If you have a parastomal hernia, as I have, your problems seem to be compounded.

Yes, the stoma could be moved to the other side of the abdomen, but is this going to solve the problem if we happen to live another 10 years? If you have a parastomal hernia on the first site, the stoma can never be moved back. I feel that if my parastomal hernia could be repaired, my problems would decrease dramatically. The success rate with these hernia repairs is less than 10%.

The Medical Community and the manufacturers of pouches need to revisit ‘the glued on pouch’ and come up with a more skin friendly method of collecting the urine from the stoma.

So far, those of us who are having this problem, are on our own.

We would appreciate help from the Medical Community and the Urostomy pouch Manufacturers.

by Eugene Broccolo; via Orange County (NY) Ostomy Support Group

This article is provided to JDBS courtesy of Stillwater-Ponca City (OK) Ostomy Outlook and is Copyright by Stillwater-Ponca City (OK) Ostomy Outlook.

From Stillwater-Ponca City (OK) Ostomy Outlook October 2007:

Hernias can develop postoperatively through any surgical incision. Incisions that are not closed tightly are more prone to hernias. Colostomies represent surgical incisions that cannot be closed tightly because to do so could result in a stricture or narrowing of the bowel opening.

Hernias of colostomies, or pericolostomy hernias, can occur frequently. They can be apparent in the immediate postoperative period, or more often, develop years after the original surgery. They can be recognized as a bulge forming around the colostomy, most noticeably when the patient is standing. Good bowel function is dependent on good abdominal musculature and is especially dependent on the muscles around the colostomy site. Therefore, a colostomy hernia would give symptoms of poor colostomy functions, e.g., incomplete evacuation, difficulty in irrigation and discomfort during elimination.

Most hernias will cause fewer symptoms with some external support, e.g., an abdominal binder, but the colostomy itself and whatever appliance is used will interfere with good compression. Therefore, surgical repair has to be considered for the hernia.

Since the very same problems exist at the time of repair as were present at the original surgery, e.g., inability to obtain a tight closure, the recurrence rate for this type of hernia is much higher than with other hernias.

Because of the possibility that even in the best of circumstances a colostomy hernia can recur, the decision to proceed with surgery should be made only after consideration of all the factors, such as general health and nutrition, the degree of disability and the level of physical activity required.

Read the original article

The Urologist ran several tests, the last one being a bladder scope where she discovered a nylon stitch that was looped in the bladder. She said that the stitch was not pulled tightly when the suspension was done. She said he being “older” and such. ²

After the cystoscopy is complete, you / your child will be taken to the post anesthesia care unit to awaken from anesthesia. The surgeon will discuss with you the findings from the procedure immediately after. ³

Cystoscopes are tubular instruments equipped with lights and viewing devices used to examine the interior of the urinary tract. There are two types of cystoscopes: a standard rigid cystoscope and a flexible cystoscope. The choice of which scope to use depends on the purpose of the exam. ⁴

Water or saline is injected through the cystoscope to fill the bladder. As this occurs, you will be asked to describe the feeling. Your answer will reveal information about your condition. ⁵

After an abnormal digital rectal exam or a high PSA your doctor may suggest a closer look. Find out what to expect from a prostate cancer biopsy or ultrasound and how to prepare for them. ⁶

During the procedure, water is inserted through the cystoscope and into your bladder. Your doctor will ask you a series of questions regarding how you feel when your bladder is filled. When the bladder is full of water, it stretches. This allows your doctor to view the entire bladder wall. ⁷

Some research suggests that high levels of testosterone may increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. The difference between racial groups in prostate cancer risk could be related to high testosterone levels, but it also could result from diet or other lifestyle factors. ⁸

You may feel slight discomfort when the cystoscope is passed through the urethra into the bladder. You will feel an uncomfortable, strong need to urinate when your bladder is full. ⁹

You may feel discomfort as the cystoscope is placed into the urethra and bladder. You will probably feel a strong need to urinate when the water fills the bladder. If a biopsy is taken you may feel a slight pinch. ¹⁰

Am on antibiotics for pelvic infection plus have bladder problems. Trying to keep positive and have been out today but now in pain. Hubby brilliant- Gp very unsympathetic. ¹¹

If they are just doing a cysto you will be fine, its just a catheder. The cool thing is you will be able to see your bladder on the TV screen, and it is really something to actually see what is causing all these problems. ¹²

While you are recovering from surgery, you may have trouble controlling your bladder. The scab inside the bladder may become loose and bleed. If this happens, you may notice blood in your urine or have trouble urinating because of blood clots. Rest in bed and call your provider if it continues more than 1 day or gets worse. ¹³

Credit goes to the individual Authors of the above quotes.

The video, I shot throughout Southern Ontario over a number of years.

This version of O’Canada is my favorite, although it is not the official version of our National Anthem. This version was produced in the early 1980’s by, I believe, Quincy Jones and Stephen Foster. It features Canadian singers such as Anne Murray, Gorden Lightfoot, Murray McLaughlan, Tommy Hunter and many others.

If anyone has a original copy of this tape, I would appreciate a copy. In moving a few years ago, I lost my original copy. All I have left is the portion of this sound track.

Most of the footage was shot on an old shoulder VHS without stabilization. I need to redo this video with some enhancement.

Sorry if you do but I feel that any method of getting a very important message out to people is appropriate.